Royal Reading: Potential free targets for the Kings

The 2020 NBA free agency class isn’t rich in big names. Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet is the big fish this offseason, while Sacramento Kings sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanovic will have his suitors as well.

New Kings general manager Monte McNair will almost certainly look to re-sign Bogi, who fits in very nicely next to star point guard De’Aaron Fox. Sacramento will also have the mid-level exception to add some pieces and could move out some money for future financial flexibility as well.

Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale put together a free-agent wish list for every NBA team. Favale has Bogdanovic as the No. 1 priority and added a couple of interesting names below him:

“Torrey Craig’s career 32 percent clip from three will make some flinch, but he genuinely soups up the defense, matching up with guards, wings and select bigs. Of note: He’s also 28-of-78 from deep in the playoffs for his career (35.9 percent).

Michael Carter-Williams poses even more spacing constraints. The 29.3 percent he shot on threes with the Magic is...a career high. But they unleashed his defensive range to the umpteenth degree, using him against everyone from Trae Young to James Harden to Khris Middleton. Though he’s not playable beside Fox and a non-shooting 5, the optionality he brings on defense is worth the low cost of admission—especially if his downhill playmaking persists.”

Craig’s 113.3 defensive rating was the second-worst of any Denver Nuggets player who suited up for more than 20 games. His offensive limitations make him a weak link on a team like the Kings, who need to add some pieces who can help space the floor for Fox to create.

Cater-Williams is intriguing. The former NBA Rookie of the Year averaged 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 45 games with the Orlando Magic last season. Carter-Williams is also a liability shooting from beyond the arc at just 29.3%, but he can create with the ball in his hands. His 108.1 defensive rating was sixth-best of any Orlando player who suited up for more than 20 games and his 1.4 net rating ranked second on the Magic.

McNair should be able to add some help with the MLE, especially with the free-agent market being a buyer’s market due to the economic fallout of the pandemic.

Which free agents would you like the Kings to go after with the MLE?