Sacramento Kings Seek Reinforcements Amid Injury Crisis
Amidst a recent wave of injuries affecting their roster, the Sacramento Kings are actively seeking to bolster their lineup. In a move reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto, the Kings have come to terms on a 10-day contract with guard Killian Hayes.
Killian Hayes Joins the Kings
Hayes, who has been honing his skills with the Cleveland Charge, the G-League affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers, showcased impressive stats by averaging 22.4 points and 8.5 assists over nine games.
Prior to his stint in the G-League, Hayes played six games in the NBA during the 2024-25 season with the Brooklyn Nets, where he recorded an average of nine points in 27 minutes per game. A notable figure in the basketball community, Hayes was drafted seventh overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons and has four seasons under his belt with the team. His peak performance came during the 2022-23 season, where he hit career-best numbers with 76 games played and averages of 10.3 points, 6.2 assists, and 1.4 steals.
Injury Updates and Additional Signings
In addition to signing Hayes, the Kings made headlines with the announcement that DeAndre Hunter will miss the remainder of the season due to ongoing complications from an eye injury, specifically left eye iritis, which necessitated surgical intervention. According to a release from the team on February 20, Hunter underwent successful surgery to address a retinal detachment and is expected to fully recover in about eight weeks.
This unfortunate news follows injuries to other key players, including Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, prompting Sacramento to look for further reinforcements.
To add to their roster depth, the Kings also signed Patrick Baldwin Jr. to a two-way contract. At 23 years old, Baldwin recently played for the San Diego Clippers, the G-League partner of the Los Angeles Clippers, and will aim to contribute to the Kings as they navigate the challenges of the current season.
