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Can Hunter, Karaban Revive Kings 3-Point Shooting?
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- Can Hunter, Karaban Revive Kings 3-Point Shooting?
(Sergio Estrada/Imagn Images)
The Sacramento Kings couldn't find their rhythm from three, finishing dead last at 34%, but De'Andre Hunter and Alex Karaban could help revive the team's three-point shooting next season.
A league-worst percentage stems from Sacramento rostering only three legitimate shooters: Zach LaVine (39%), Malik Monk (39.5%) and Doug McDermott (39%). Most of the roster shot under 35%, including Keegan Murray , whose efficiency has continued to fall every year.
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Hunter enters the fray shooting 36.4% on 4.9 attempts for his career, and Karaban shot 37.4% on 5.2 attempts in four seasons at UConn . Karaban is part of a crowded forward rotation as a rookie; Hunter, Murray and Precious Achiuwa are ahead of him.
Matt George, host of "The Matt George Podcast," highlighted how he could crack the rotation in Tuesday's episode . He said the two could play a similar role throughout the season as floaters at the three-point line, which Karaban did often in the Las Vegas summer league.
"He was floating a lot from that corner three up to the curve of the arc at that wing three," George said. "That was his domain."
Karaban kept the spacing open for his teammate, Darius Acuff Jr., to work with. Defenders couldn't double-team Acuff without leaving an open shooter, creating an advantage that breaks the defense.
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That same philosophy should carry over to the regular season when the sixth overall pick is tasked with handling the ball and getting past strong perimeter defenders.
Sacramento needs all the shooting it can get to improve its chances of winning. The timely threes are the most crucial ones, whether it's cutting a deficit to single digits or creating a comfortable cushion in the closing minutes.
George believes the floating three-pointer role is perfect for Karaban and Hunter. It simplifies their actions on the court and allows them to read the defense and react as a shooter or cutter.
Thriving in that role could earn Karaban rotation minutes in his rookie campaign and increase Hunter's chances of receiving a contract extension. A season-ending right eye injury limited the seven-year veteran to two games after the Kings acquired him at the trade deadline.
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He is the team's wild card next season , as they must determine his future when healthy during a contract year.
Acuff's development will likely be the story of the season for Sacramento, but its three-point shooting is an underrated storyline impacting its positioning in the Western Conference.
