Examining Kings' Salary Cap, Decisions for 2024 NBA Free Agency After Pelicans Loss

After snapping a long playoff drought last year, the Sacramento Kings remained in the postseason race in 2024.

Unfortunately, though, they had another brief stay.

Sacramento fell to the New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference play-in tournament after beating the Golden State Warriors in its first game.

The future is still bright, however. De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis are signed to long-term contracts, and Keegan Murray is playing out his rookie deal. They'll be the foundation of a roster that is certain to undergo some—but likely not drastic—changes this offseason.

As currently constructed, the Kings have $152.1 million committed to the players under contract for next season.

Sacramento doesn't hold any team options, so there's no built-in flexibility with the roster. The front office must be creative to make changes while likely staying below the projected luxury tax of $172 million.

Right now, Sacramento has a full non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $12.9 million. That number may drop if Malik Monk is back, but trading any of Davion Mitchell, Chris Duarte or Sasha Vezenkov, for example, would return some space for that NTMLE.

Sabonis is due a team-high $41.8 million next season, swapping places with Fox ($34.8 million) atop the ledger.

Murray, the fourth overall pick of the 2022 draft, is slated to earn a team-friendly $8.8 million in his third NBA season.

While the Kings have six impending free agents, Malik Monk is clearly the most impactful player of the group.

Monk averaged more than 15 points and five assists this season, holding a critical role off the bench. His blend of playmaking, shooting range and energy is not impossible to replace but certainly isn't easy to do.

Sacramento otherwise needs to determine the futures of Alex Len, JaVale McGee and Walker Kessler. Len supplanted McGee later in the season and will be relatively inexpensive, so he'll likely be the priority. Kessler is probably worth keeping as wing depth, too.

The other conversation is a potential trade, though.

Harrison Barnes ($18 million) and Kevin Huerter ($16.8 million) are both signed for two more seasons. However, if the Kings end up pursuing a fourth star—Mikal Bridges, for example—one of Barnes or Huerter will undoubtedly be moved in the agreement.

Even if the Kings target an upgrade in the starting lineup, they absolutely must improve the bench unit.

Monk, assuming he's re-signed, can be the primary ball-handler, and Trey Lyles has become a vital reserve. Beyond them, the team's depth—Mitchell or Keon Ellis at guard, Duarte or Vezenkov at wing and Len or McGee in the post—has been unspectacular.

Two players stand out as prime NTMLE targets to bolster the group.

Kyle Anderson has carved a career out of being a deliberate, crafty playmaker and versatile defender off the bench. He's averaged four-plus assists in each of the last two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Royce O'Neale, meanwhile, is a quality three-point shooter and passer with flexibility on the defensive side.

Both of them earned just over $9 million in 2023-24.

If the Kings can utilize the maximum NTMLE—which mostly depends on Monk's contract and other potential moves—they should be able to land a major contributor in free agency.