Report: Sacramento Kings submit offer to Sasha Vezenkov

Jun 26, 2023, 8:39 AM

KAUNAS, LITHUANIA - MAY 21: Sasha Vezenkov, #14 of Olympiacos Piraeus during Turkish Airlines EuroL...

(Photo by Francesco Richieri/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

Once the 2023 NBA Draft ended on Thursday night, one thought raced to the front of countless Sacramento Kings fans: How long will it take for the Kings to submit an offer to Bulgarian forward Sasha Vezenkov?

According to reports coming out of Greece, that question has been answered.

Harry Stavrou of the Greek outlet Sport24.gr reported on Friday afternoon that Sacramento has submitted an offer to the 27-year-old that would be worth part of the team’s mid-level exception.

According to Stavrou’s report, Kings general manager Monte McNair’s offer to Vezenkov is “slightly lower” than the $8.4 million that reigning All-Rookie First Team forward Keegan Murray will make during the 2023-24 season.

While it was previously rumored that Vezenkov, who is line to make $1.62 million with Olympiacos next season, was seeking an NBA deal in the neighborhood of $3-4 million, it looks like Sacramento is sweetening the deal to make a big push for the 6’9 forward.

The Kings-Vezenkov rumors have been swirling since the conclusion of Sacramento’s season, although the two sides were unable to sit down and officially discuss the possibility of a reunion in 2023 until Thursday’s NBA Draft concluded.

Stayrou’s report indicates that the Kings wasted little time in presenting Vezenkov with an offer, one that would net the two-time Greek League MVP a salary over $7 million on a team that just finished with the third-best record in the Western Conference.

By using a chunk of the team’s $12.4 million mid-level exception, Sacramento can operate in free agency with the majority of its recently-created $35.6 million in cap space that was created following the team’s trade of center Richaun Holmes to Dallas.

Bringing Vezenkov, a stretch-four with a quick release, into the fold for the 2023-24 season appears to be a priority for McNair, and the Kings are looking to bring the Bulgarian into the fold in the early stages of the offseason before free agency opens up at 3:00 PM PST on Friday (June 3oth).

Over 37 appearances in the EuroLeague and Greek League this season, Vezenkov averaged 17.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 65 percent on two-point field goals and 39 percent from beyond the three-point arc.

The Kings hold Vezenkov’s NBA rights thanks to a draft day deal with the Cleveland last June that netted the Cavaliers the 49th overall pick in the 2022 draft (Isaiah Mobley was later selected).

Will the early stages of the offseason finally bring Sasha Vezenkov to the Sacramento Kings? We could have an answer this week.

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