4 Kings Training Camp Storylines to Monitor

There are four starters locked into place: Fox, DeRozan, Murray, and Sabonis. But, who will take the fifth spot?

The Kings re-signed reigning Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Malik Monk to a four-year, $78 million contract, and the electric playmaker has expressed his desire to start alongside his college teammate in the past.

Another option is for Mike Brown to grant Kevin Huerter his starting job back following shoulder surgery, adding another lethal shooter to the group.

The most likely scenario is for Ellis to earn the starting job to be a defensive enforcer next to the star trio and Murray, but training camp should reveal who the starting shooting guard will be.

Kevin Huerter in a new role

While Huerter could earn his starting spot back, he will likely be moved to be a backup wing option. Recent pictures show a seemingly beefed-up Huerter, as fans speculate he is putting on muscle to prepare to play more small forward than shooting guard.

Huerter is 6-foot-7, so he possesses the frame to switch positions if necessary. The only concern with Huerter playing the three is that he would have to defend opposing forwards, which could be an issue.

Huerter could thrive in his new role as a backup wing, as Kings fans hope he gets his rhythm back following a disappointing 2023-24 season.

October's training camp will tell us exactly what kind of role Mike Brown will be putting Huerter in for this season.

Isaiah Crawford's development

It is no secret that the Kings have a serious lack of wing depth, but could an undrafted rookie be the solution? After trading their second-round pick in the 2024 Draft, Sacramento took to the undrafted free agency market to pick up a couple of studs in Isaiah Crawford and Isaac Jones.

Crawford, 22, is a 6-foot-6 wing with an impressive 7-foot-1 wingspan. The rookie out of Louisiana Tech averaged 16.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game with 48.5/41.1/72.8 shooting splits throughout his fifth season.

Crawford is a monster on the defensive end, and back-to-back collegiate seasons of a 40+ percent three-point clip are impressive.

The Kings signed Crawford to a two-way deal, but he could fall into a similar situation as Keon Ellis, who also emerged as a rising star on a two-way contract.

Sacramento is very thin at the wing position, and it would not take much for Crawford to see opportunity during the regular season, but training camp will be a start to gauge his development.