Keegan Murray contract: Kings forward agrees to five-year, $140M rookie contract extension, per report
The Sacramento Kings have reportedly signed forward Keegan Murray to a five-year, $140 million deal. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Fourth overall pick in 2022 NBA draft He was scheduled to become a restricted free agent next summer, but this new deal will keep him with Sacramento through the 2030-31 season.
The hope is that Murray can return to the version of himself in which he averaged 15.2 points on 35.8% shooting from 3-point range in his second season. He looked like a solid 3-and-D threat that season, but his numbers dipped last season (12.4 points, 34.3% from deep), due in part to all the changes around him on the roster with the additions of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, and the departure of De’Aaron Fox. There was also the firing of Mike Brown and the promotion of Doug Christie to the leadership position, which certainly contributed to Murray’s third-year decline. But with a full offseason with this roster and coaching staff, Murray can certainly get back to his level.
Unfortunately, he will start the season on the injured list after tearing a ligament in his thumb, which will keep him out. Marginalize for 4-6 weeks. This is a huge loss for the Kings. But in the long run, locking Murray up to an extension is a win for the franchise who gets him He seemed directionless During recent years.
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Murray’s extension comes on the heels of the team signing veteran guard Russell Westbrook to a deal on Wednesday, adding him to an already crowded backcourt. It’s unclear how Westbrook will fit onto this roster, or what minutes he’ll get since the team already includes Dennis Schröder, Malik Monk, and Keon Ellis. But that’s small potatoes when you consider all the bad moves the Kings have made over the years (like trading Tyrese Haliburton).
Signing Murray to an extension was the smart move. Either the Kings can see how Murray continues to develop, or he becomes a valuable trade chip for a contending team looking for size on the perimeter and who is a 37.2% three-point shooter. Murray holds the Kings’ record for most three-pointers made in a single game (12), according to CBS Sports research. As it broke NBA Rookie record for most 3-pointers made in a season (206) and is one of only three players to record at least 500 3-pointers, 150 blocks and 150 steals over the past three seasons. The other two players in this class are Anthony Edwards and Derrick White, who are very good company for a fourth-year forward.