Editor's note: This is the third installment of NBC Sports California's "20 questions facing Kings" series that will look into pressing matters for the team once the NBA returns.
You can’t teach height.
Alex Len walks into a room and everyone looks up. When the Kings acquired the former No. 5 overall pick from the 2013 NBA Draft along with Jabari Parker at the trade deadline, the transaction widely was considered nothing more than Sacramento dumping Dewayne Dedmon’s future salary.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
After fully recovering from a hip pointer, Len made his Kings debut on Feb. 22 and instantly looked like the missing link to Sacramento’s rotation.
Listed at 7-foot-1, Len anchored the Kings’ second-team defense in the final nine games before the league shut down. He instantly improved the team’s rebounding, shot-blocking and toughness.
While he played just nine games in a Kings uniform before the NBA went on hiatus, he made a huge impact on the team’s overall play on the court. Was it enough to earn him a longer look for seasons to come?
Nuts and Bolts
NBA
After playing his first five seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Len signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract with the Hawks in August of 2018. It was a steal of a deal for a young 7-footer and he flourished in his season and a half in Atlanta.
Because Len only signed a two-year contract in Atlanta, he didn’t come to Sacramento with his full Larry Bird rights. If the Kings go over the cap signing players like Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kent Bazemore or Harry Giles, Sacramento still owns Len’s Early Bird rights.
Under this scenario, Len is eligible for up to 175% of his current salary. Any deal would have to be two years in length or more and would come with a maximum of eight percent raises. Sacramento could sign Len to a minimum of a two-year deal under the Early Bird exception, with a starting salary of no more than $7.28 million.
It’s unlikely that the Kings would offer a full two-year, $15.14 million contract to Len, but that is the maximum they could offer for a two-year year under the Early Bird exception.
Why he stays
Len could chase more money out on the open market, but he faced a harsh reality last time he went through this process. While most players were getting gobbled up in the first week of July, Len had to wait until August 8 to get his deal.
That may not be the same this time around. In his time with the Hawks, Len proved he could stretch the floor, hitting 36.3 percent of his attempts from behind the 3-point line in his first season in the ATL.
When he arrived in Sacramento, Len showed a different side of his game. He banged in the post, blocked 1.4 shots and grabbed 7.1 rebounds in just 16.7 minutes per game. He also got into two dust-ups with Kings' opponents, showing a toughness that the league hadn’t really seen from the Ukrainian-born big.
Len seemed energized with the Kings and at 26 years old, he fits the age arc of the Kings roster. While he likely would be a reserve in Sacramento, he easily could find a role as the team’s enforcer and anchor with the second unit.
Nine games is a small sample size, but in Sacramento, Len seemed to get back to who he is as a player. He proved he can knock down the triple with the Hawks, but he’s better suited to play goalie, set mean picks and crash the glass. His size and mobility were a welcomed addition with the Kings.
[RELATED: Kings 20 Questions: Is Richaun Holmes Sacramento's long-term center?]
Why he leaves
Len and Dedmon posted almost identical numbers during the 2018-19 season for Atlanta. While Len didn’t find the same success from the outside in year-two, there may be a team out there that sees him as a stretch-five.
Dedmon’s ability to knock down shots from the perimeter earned him a 3-year, $40 million deal. That won’t be the case for Len, but there might be a team that sees value in a versatile big who has quietly proven that he can play both inside and outside.
Sacramento also has options at the five. Richaun Holmes will return as the starter next season and then it gets a little murky. Giles is an unrestricted free agent and very well could end up in a different uniform. Marvin Bagley’s long-term position in the league might be as a center, but he hasn’t been able to stay on the floor. The Kings can also use Nemanja Bjelica at center for stretches.
Len will need to assess whether the Kings have the minutes and rotational spot for him and whether they are willing to pay fair market value for his services. The Kings will need to make sure they keep financial flexibility, especially in an ever-changing NBA landscape that could see the salary cap tumble due to the coronavirus pandemic and a lowering of basketball-related income.
[RELATED: Kings 20 Questions: What does Harry Giles' Sacramento future look like?]
Prediction
Whether it’s Len or another true 7-footer, the Kings need a player like this on their roster. With Len in the rotation, the Kings were 6-3 over their final nine games. Having a true rim protector and enforcer made a huge impact.
The Kings need a reserve center moving forward. Len fits the bill and brings intangibles that are different than any of the team’s other options.
While the NBA is moving to smaller lineups, the Western Conference still has players like Rudy Gobert, Nikola Jokic and Anthony Davis roaming the post. Len even matched up well against Montrezl Harrell in the Kings’ win over the Clippers.
Retaining Len shouldn’t be the number one priority for the Kings, but it should be high on the list. He fit perfectly with the Kings in his short stint and does the dirty work that very few NBA players are now willing to do.
