Sacramento Kings waive guard Jaylen Nowell
Oct 19, 2023, 10:39 PM
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Minutes following the Sacramento Kings’ preseason finale on Thursday night, the team trimmed its roster to 17 players as they look ahead to the regular season.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Kings waived guard Jaylen Nowell in a move that gives Sacramento roster flexibility.
The Sacramento Kings are waiving guard Jaylen Nowell, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 20, 2023
Over two appearances with the Kings in preseason, the 24-year-old averaged 2.5 points over just 6.4 minutes per game.
Nowell, who inked a training camp deal with Sacramento earlier this month, played in 65 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2022-23 season, where he averaged a career-high 10.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game to go along with 44/28/77 shooting splits (65 games, two starts).
Over four seasons with the T-Wolves, Nowell posted averages of 9.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 44 percent from the field and 32 percent from deep.
The Kings are deep at the guard spot with Colby Jones emerging as a realistic option to crack head coach Mike Brown’s rotation, so it’s a possibility that general manager Monte McNair could look to fill Sacramento’s final roster spot with a forward or more depth at the center spot.
If defense is a priority for McNair and Brown, there are players searching for a home in free agency like Darius Bazley, a 6’8 forward who the Brooklyn Nets released on Thursday.
While it’s unknown if the Kings are interested in Bazley, adding a defensive forward would undoubtedly add to what Sacramento is attempting to build on that end of the floor.
Current Sacramento Kings roster breakdown by position
Guards (7)
- De’Aaron Fox
- Davion Mitchell
- Malik Monk
- Kevin Huerter
- Colby Jones
- Jordan Ford (two-way)
- Keon Ellis (two-way)
Forwards (7)
- Harrison Barnes
- Keegan Murray
- Chris Duarte
- Trey Lyles
- Sasha Vezenkov
- Kessler Edwards
- Jalen Slawson (two-way)
Centers (3)
- Domantas Sabonis
- Alex Len
- JaVale McGee
Open Roster Spots: 1
Next Game
Next time, it’s for real.
The Kings will open their 2023-24 regular season on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City, Utah, for a matchup against this same Jazz team.
Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Jazz coverage, beginning at 4:30 PM PST on Game Night before a 6:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Salt Lake City.
Sacramento Kings 2023-24 Regular Season Schedule
- Wednesday, October 25th – Sacramento Kings @ Utah Jazz – 6 PM PST (Season Opener)
- Friday, October 27th – Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors – 7 PM PST (Home Opener)
- Sunday, October 29th – Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 6 PM PST
- Wednesday, November 1st – Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors – 7 PM PST
- Saturday, November 4th – Sacramento Kings @ Houston Rockets – 5 PM PST
- Monday, November 6th – Sacramento Kings @ Houston Rockets – 5 PM PST
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