Two years ago, the Sacramento Kings made Devin Carter the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. After 74 games, they gave up on him.
A franchise known for dysfunction and struggling to capitalize on high picks traded him to the Atlanta Hawks this summer. The return? The draft rights to Alpha Kaba, the last selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The Hawks have a crowded backcourt. That now includes Kingston Flemings, the eighth overall choice in this year's draft. They didn't have room for Carter. The incentive was adding the 2033 second-round pick they got with him.
After Atlanta waived the former Providence standout, he returned to New England. He initially joined the Boston Celtics on an Exhibit 10 deal. However, he immediately became the favorite to land the organization's final two-way deal. It's a contract that he signed over the weekend. Meanwhile, the Kings are currently on the prowl for a point guard.
The Kings gave up on Devin Carter too early
Sacramento could not have predicted that Ben Simmons would tear his Achilles. It's an extremely unfortunate setback for a former All-NBA selection who still has tantalizing upside. The former first overall pick was finally healthy and ready to return. Now, he faces another major obstacle in his career path.
Meanwhile, the purple and silver are now on the hunt for another point guard, per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. That could lead them to sign Kevin Porter Jr. or Walter Clayton Jr. Both were waived by their respective teams, the Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies, before final cuts.
Even with the Kings selecting Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 pick in this year's draft, Carter, a defensive bulldog, could have complemented the promising scoring guard. Choosing Houston guard Emanuel Sharp, a teammate of Celtics rookie Chris Cenac Jr. in college, in the second round didn't change that.
They didn't have to move on from Carter so early. Granted, there was a regime change. Monte McNair was the general manager when Sacramento selected the six-foot-two guard. Scott Perry is now in charge. Still, why not see how his game blossoms? What is the harm in bringing him to training camp and seeing what improvements he made over the summer?
The players the Kings should be anxious to move on from are veterans like Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, and De'Andre Hunter. The same goes for Domantas Sabonis. However, the three-time All-Star has more value on the trade market. Young players with winning skill sets, like Carter, a possession maxxer and tenacious defender, are the ones they should hang onto tightly. Like when they gave up on Neemias Queta too early, the Celtics get to benefit from Sacramento's poor decision.
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