What excites Kings assistant most about Monk, Huerter additions

Share

The Kings are attempting to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006, and general manager Monte McNair wants to ensure the team is following the modern NBA trend of never having enough shooters. 

McNair used the offseason to add shooting to the Kings' roster via trade and free agency. Sacramento landed Kevin Huerter from the Atlanta Hawks, sending Justin Holiday, Moe Harkless, and a future first-round pick the other way. Then, the Kings signed Malik Monk to a two-year, $19 million deal. 

While speaking with Kings social media manager Jonathan Bradley at the NBA Summer League for the team's "1-on-1" series, associate coach Jordi Fernández praised the arrivals of Huerter and Monk to the team. 

"It's a lot of shooting right there, right?" Fernández said. "Malik is a really good athlete. He's going to make very impressive plays that the fans are going to love ... Teams have to prepare for him, so that's going to help the coaches. He's just going to make our lives better.

"And then Kevin, he's a big wing or guard that can play make. He can shoot it very well. His length, his effort defensively, he knows what he's doing. He's not going to stop playing, and I like that he can give you a second or third and a fourth effort."

Newly appointed Kings coach Mike Brown has first-hand experience understanding the importance of players who can shoot from beyond the arc while on the Warriors coaching staff and winning the 2022 NBA Finals. 

Monk and Huerter aren't exactly Klay Thompson and Steph Curry, but they are two players who are above-average 3-point shooters, considering the league average last season was 35 percent

RELATED: Kevin Huerter explains what he brings to Kings after Hawks success

Last season, Monk shot 39 percent from beyond the arc while with the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, Huerter also possessed a similar 3-point shooting percentage in Atlanta. 

The Kings believe that a mixture of youth and 3-point shooting can be the right formula to end their 16-year playoff drought. 

Contact Us