Kings leave Las Vegas with win over Bucks. Who were Sacramento’s summer league standouts?
The Kings concluded their 10-day stay in Las Vegas with a 92-84 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday at Thomas & Mack Center despite sitting most of their summer league standouts.
Rookie second-round draft pick Jalen Slawson had 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Souley Boum scored 16 points. Mike Daum added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Kings, who chose to sit Jordan Ford, Keon Ellis, Kessler Edwards, Colby Jones and Neemias Queta.
The Kings went 2-0 at the California Classic in Sacramento and 3-2 in the Las Vegas Summer League. Second-year forward Keegan Murray stole the show in a surprise cameo appearance in Sacramento before Ford, Ellis, Edwards and Jones took center stage beneath the bright lights in Las Vegas.
Third-year center Neemias Queta went down with a stress reaction in his right foot while awaiting a resolution to his contract situation after two weeks as a restricted free agent. Queta averaged 7.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in Las Vegas after putting up 10.0 points on 61.5% shooting with 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 blocks at the California Classic.
Queta certainly had his moments, but here’s a look at Sacramento’s top summer standouts.
Keegan Murray
Murray, an All-Rookie First Team selection last season, made a cameo appearance in Sacramento, playing in both games at the California Classic. Murray averaged 35.0 points – including a 41-point game against the Miami Heat – while shooting 51.4% from the field and 45% from 3-point range. Murray, who started 78 games last season, is poised for a big sophomore campaign after breaking the rookie record with 206 3-point goals.
Jordan Ford
The former Folsom High School star impressed from the first day of minicamp as the Kings prepared for summer league play. He averaged 16.3 points and 5.3 assists over four games in Las Vegas, making a strong case for a two-way contract if not a regular roster spot as the team’s third point guard behind De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell.
Keon Ellis
Ellis averaged 14.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.3 steals over four games in Las Vegas. He shot 50% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc on 5.3 attempts per game. Ellis, a 6-foot-5 guard entering his second season on a two-way contract, is a nice 3-and-D wing prospect who could get converted a standard NBA contract at some point.
Kessler Edwards
Edwards averaged 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 38.1% from long distance in Las Vegas. He didn’t dominate the way he could have for a player who has appeared in 84 NBA games over three seasons, but he’s still an intriguing 22-year-old small forward who stands 6-foot-8 with a 6-11 ¼ wingspan.
Colby Jones
Jones, a rookie who came out of Xavier as the No. 34 pick in June’s NBA draft, had some impressive moments during summer league play. He averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals while shooting 37.5% from 3-point range at the California Classic. He didn’t shoot as well in Las Vegas but still contributed in all aspects of the game.
Mike Daum
The “Dauminator” made an indelible mark on this year’s summer league squad. The undrafted 27-year-old rookie played all five games in Las Vegas, averaging 10.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. He shot 38.1% from the field and 34.5% from long distance, but he made some big shots along the way.
