Who is Jalen McDaniels of the Sacramento Kings? Find out about the player acquired in the trade

Who is Jalen McDaniels? Find out about the latest player to join the Sacramento Kings in a trade on Thursday.

Chris Biderman

June 27, 2024 2:15 PM

Miami Heat guard Alondes Williams (15) is chased by Toronto Raptors forward Jalen McDaniels (2) during the fourth quarter of the Heat’s regular season finale at Miami’s Casey Center. The Kings reportedly acquired McDaniels in a trade for a second-round pick in Thursday’s NBA draft. Al Diaz.
The Sacramento Kings completed a trade with the Toronto Raptors on Thursday ahead of the second round of the NBA draft, answering many questions about their roster construction during the offseason.

According to league sources, the Kings sent guard Davion Mitchell, forward Sasha Bezenkov and the 45th overall pick to the Raptors in exchange for forward Jalen McDaniels. ESPN first announced the deal on Thursday afternoon.

The move paves the way for No. 13 pick Devin Carter to take over Mitchell’s position as De’Aaron Fox’s backup while also putting an end to the offseason drama surrounding Bezenkov, whose future as a player has been in question in multiple reports after a shaky start to the 2023-24 season.

The move frees up cap space, allowing Toronto to accept Mitchell’s $6.5 million salary and Bezenkov’s $6.7 million in the 2024-25 season. McDaniels is set to come to Sacramento with a $4.7 million compensation, according to Spotrac. The move creates an opportunity for cap space, allowing Sacramento to acquire more veteran players.

Who is Jalen McDaniels?

The 27-year-old McDaniels is in his sixth season in the NBA. The Kings are his fourth team since being selected 52nd overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2019 NBA Draft. He attended high school in Federal Way, Washington, before moving on to San Diego State University.

The 6-foot-9 forward averaged a record 10.8 minutes per game this season for the Raptors, shooting just 17% from three-point range, his lowest ever. He averaged 3.4 points per game. Over the past four seasons, he averaged 20.2 minutes and 7.7 points. He also shot 34.5% from long range.

The Raptors hired him before the start of the season, and vice president and president Masai Ujiri said in a statement, “Jalen is a solid defender who we believe has great development potential. He has a wide range of skills on both ends of the court, and we are excited to watch him develop as a member of the Raptors.”

McDaniels could be an alternative forward who could compete for playing time behind Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes. The Kings were thin at the forward position last season, with Trey Lyles as the only backup in the regular rotation. This forced head coach Mike Brown to rely heavily on guards behind the starters. Kessler Edwards, who Sacramento acquired at the 2023 trade deadline, is not a big-time player and is currently a free agent.

McDaniels’ path to Sacramento

During his third season, McDaniels was traded from Charlotte to Philadelphia in a four-team trade before the 2023 trade deadline. The 76ers acquired him along with a second-round pick between 2024 and 2029. They also traded defenseman Matisse Thybulle to the Portland Trail Blazers to bolster their offensive line.

McDaniels played 23 games for Philadelphia, including three starts. He shot 40 percent from three-point range, a career-high. He played in eight games in the playoffs, averaging 2.4 points in 13 minutes. He felt his time in Philadelphia was one of the most impressive in his career, and he signed a two-year, $9.3 million contract with the Raptors last offseason.

Will the Kings let McDaniels leave the team? A second move?

Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee reported Wednesday that Sacramento is in trade talks for Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma and Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson. But the expansion comes with financial implications.

Kuzma has three seasons remaining on the four-year, $90 million contract he signed this offseason. Johnson is also in the fourth year of the contract he signed this season, which will pay him $94.5 million through 2026-27. His annual salary is expected to be $23.5 million this year, $23.6 million, and $23.6 million next season.

The Kings may be in financial trouble. Fox is a candidate for a contract extension next offseason, which could cost him $349 million if he is selected to the All-NBA team next season. Murray may also be eligible to sign a new contract this offseason. If he does, his annual salary could be $30 million.