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Kings Make Another Backcourt Signing to Fill Out Roster
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- Kings Make Another Backcourt Signing to Fill Out Roster
(Benny Sieu-Imagn Images)
Photo Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
The Sacramento Kings have made some intriguing moves this offseason, which have included signing Ben Simmons as well as drafting rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr.
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With that said, the Kings have made yet another move, and it is actually an additional backcourt signing as they have signed veteran guard Elfrid Payton to a training camp deal, per senior NBA insider Michael Scotto .
This is a very interesting move, especially considering the depth that the Kings already have in the backcourt with veterans like Zach LaVine , Ben Simmons , and Malik Monk in addition to young players like Darius Acuff Jr. and Nique Clifford .
While it may seem like the Kings have overloaded the guard position, this may actually be a good move because now Sacramento will be prepared for injuries in the backcourt if they do happen.
Additionally, it is important to note that Scotto mentioned Payton will compete for a roster spot, as it is just a training camp deal, so there is no guarantee that he will be on the roster for the 2026 season, but if Payton has a solid training camp, he should be on the team at the start of the regular season.
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Another element of this that is very interesting to keep in mind is the fact that Payton and general manager Scott Perry were actually together on the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic , so with that experience, it does appear that Perry likes Payton's skill set and believes he could be a good fit in Sacramento.
In terms of Payton's career averages, he has been pretty solid as he has averaged 9.8 points, four rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
As a shooter, Payton is decent, as he has a career shooting percentage of 44.4 percent from the field. However, he is inconsistent from three-point range and the free-throw line, as he has shot 28.6 percent from three and 62.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Overall, Payton has been a solid player throughout the course of his NBA career and is actually set to be back on the NBA roster at least for now, for the first time since the 2024-2025 NBA season.
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On the offensive end, Payton's biggest strength is getting downhill toward the rim and finishing at the basket, as well as being able to create for others. Now, on the defensive end, he does a great job of wreaking havoc on the perimeter and putting heavy pressure on opposing guards.
So as Payton and the Kings head into the 2026 season, it will be very interesting to see if Payton has added anything to his game and what his role will be on both ends of the floor.
