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Kings Waive Newton, Payton, Lahkin Ahead of Regular Season Opener
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- Kings Waive Newton, Payton, Lahkin Ahead of Regular Season Opener
(IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Connect)
The Sacramento Kings' front office made some minor roster moves on Saturday, parting ways with training camp participants in Tristen Newton , Victor Lahkin , and Elfrid Payton.
All three players had uphill battles to earning a spot on the 15-man roster, but could be brought back to play with the G-League affiliate Stockton Kings.
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Lahkin, the lone big man who was waived, played in the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League with Sacramento, where he provided some solid production.
He has G-League experience with the Oklahoma City Blue, appearing in 19 games while averaging 8.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per showing.
Payton, on the other hand, is a nine-year veteran and former first-round draft pick.
After a year out of the league, Payton signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Kings back in September, but the addition of Ben Simmons and continued growth from Nique Clifford and Darius Acuff Jr. made his outlook slim.
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Payton's playmaking ability has always been his calling card, as he excels in setting up his teammates and taking care of the ball.
In the 2024-2025 season, Payton was acquired by the New Orleans Pelicans towards the end of the year, where he recorded 10 or more assists in seven of his 11 appearances with the team.
But, his 3-point shooting and scoring as a whole withheld him from reaching his full potential as a player.
Newton, the final player who was parted ways with, is a two-time National Champion and looked strong in the Preseason.
Alongside Sacramento's late first-round pick Alex Karaban , Newton led the Huskies to back-to-back titles, helping UConn reclaim the throne as one of the best programs in the country.
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Against the Portland Trail Blazer s, Newton took advantage of his increased minutes, scoring a team-high 15 points and adding three assists.
Newton was added to the training camp roster in late-September, and had only played in five minutes of preseason action before this impressive showing.
The former second rounder played with good pace, using pick-and-roll actions to get downhill and find his teammates open for kickouts.
While Newton was unable to find his way onto the official roster or two-way designation, he is the most-likely of the three to stay with the franchise through Stockton.
The Kings' G-League affiliate actually brought Newton to Sacramento, trading for his player rights back in late-August.
With one more two-way contract available, the Kings have now filled all but one roster spot ahead of next week's opener.
