The Kings are shaking things up, waiving center Orlando Robinson while keeping veterans Jae Crowder and Doug McDermott around for the rest of the season.
It’s a move that gives Sacramento some breathing room – and an open roster spot to play with.
The financial side isn’t pretty for Robinson. The Kings will take a $959,779 hit on their salary cap, about half of what they would’ve owed him next year.
They’re keeping their veteran core intact though. McDermott, Crowder, and Keon Ellis are all staying put, with the team committing about $5.8 million total to keep them in Sacramento uniforms.
This leaves the Kings with some interesting options as the February 6 trade deadline approaches. They’ve now got an empty roster spot to work with – perfect timing for making moves.
The numbers look good too. Sacramento’s sitting pretty at $3.2 million under the luxury tax line and $7 million below the first apron.
For GM Monte McNair, this creates some nice flexibility. The Kings could now pull off a 2-for-1 trade, grab someone from the buyout market, or upgrade one of their two-way players to a regular contract.
Robinson’s time in Sacramento was brief. The 24-year-old appeared in just nine games off the bench this season, putting up modest numbers: 2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in about 6 minutes per game.
He came into the league undrafted in 2022, spending his first two seasons with the Miami Heat. Over his career, he’s averaged 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds across 76 games, shooting a respectable 50.6% from the floor.
But his numbers took a dip in Sacramento. His shooting percentages dropped across the board, with his efficiency ratings hitting career lows.
The Kings are clearly positioning themselves for something bigger. With the trade deadline just a month away, don’t be surprised if this is just the first move in a larger plan.
