Vegas Summer League is in full swing. The desert is rocking, and people are pouring in from all over to watch the NBA’s young talent come out to play. Some of that talent will be on the floor in this matchup between the Kings and the Suns.
DraftKings Sportsbook is listing the Sacramento Kings as five-point favorites and -198 on the moneyline. The Phoenix Suns are listed at +164 odds on the moneyline, with the game total set at 181.5. Let’s get into a breakdown of the two Summer League squads, players to watch, and a pick for the contest.
Phoenix Suns Roster Breakdown
Despite being bereft of picks after theor failed Kevin Durant/Bradley Beal experiments, the Suns have managed to scrape back some talent in recent years. That is evident when looking at their Summer League roster.
Last season, Phoenix used its first-round pick on Ryan Dunn. Already a positive rotation player due to his size and defensive abilities, another Summer League run is a chance for Dunn to figure out his offensive role. A lot of that comes down to shooting; after a hot start, he ended up shooting just 31% from deep in his rookie year. Vegas is a great environment for him to hone his offensive role.
He’s not the only 2024 pick on Phoenix’s summer squad. Oso Ighodaro, a second-rounder, is another intriguing defensive prospect who needs to improve his offense. As a strictly paint-operating big, Ighodaro will look to expand his range in the coming years. He has a promising floater touch and rim-finishing skill, which leads me to believe he can extend into the midrange and possibly into the corners.
Their most interesting player is Khaman Maluach. Arguably the headliner of the Kevin Durant trade package, Maluach provides a considerable paint presence on defense. He’s explosive around the rim on both ends, swatting shots and finishing off dunks with the best of them. The worst-kept secret is that he can already shoot. At 18 years old, there is a ton of potential here for Phoenix’s projected starting center.
The Suns managed to move around some picks to make big moves in the second round as well. New GM Brian Gregory traded up to the top of the second to get Rasheer Fleming. Another excellent defensive player in the NCAA, Fleming brings a lot of polish on that end, sorely needed in Phoenix. He can credibly back up the power forward and center spots and should be a rotation player from day one.
Perhaps their most exciting second-round selection is Koby Brea. The 22-year-old Kentucky product was an elite college shooter, and that has immediately translated to Vegas. He’s the kind of talent that Phoenix needs to offset the defense-first mentality of many of its role players.
New Grayson Allen, anyone?
Sacramento Kings Roster Breakdown
For a more detailed breakdown of Sacramento’s roster, check out my article on them from early in the Summer League.
Suns vs. Kings Pick
Sacramento has an excellent squad for Vegas. With Devin Carter hooping, it has a massive ceiling. But I don’t see much of a gap between these two teams.
Koby Brea was made for the Summer League. His nuclear shooting can erase any deficit or build a lead in minutes. The defensive baseline is high with Dunn, Maluach, Fleming, and Ighodaro seeing minutes. There’s talent down the roster that may not be NBA level, but plays well for Vegas purposes.
The Kings may have the better team overall. But I think the Suns have enough value as underdogs to like them in this contest.
