The Sacramento Kings find themselves at a pivotal point this offseason, facing a decision on which direction to take. While they aren’t quite strong enough to compete for a top spot in the highly competitive Western Conference, their roster remains too talented to justify a rebuild or tanking approach.
After making the playoffs in 2023, the Kings were unable to capitalize on that momentum, ultimately resulting in the dismissal of head coach Mike Brown. In addition, the team parted ways with longtime franchise cornerstone De’Aaron Fox, sending him to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team deal that brought in Zach LaVine.
Kings’ rookie makes Domantas Sabonis statement before Summer League
The Kings advanced to the NBA Play-In Tournament as the No. 9 seed in the West, but were defeated by the Dallas Mavericks, therefore ending their season. The Kings entered the 2025 NBA Draft with no first-round picks, but traded up to choose Nique Clifford after completing a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 24 pick.
With the 42nd overall pick in the second round, the Sacramento Kings selected Stanford center Maxime Raynaud. The French-born big man earned All-ACC First Team honors as a senior, after being named Pac-12 Most Improved Player and securing a spot on the All-Pac-12 Second Team the previous season.
After the team’s official introductory press conference, Raynaud spoke with reporter Matt George about the opportunity to play alongside Domantas Sabonis.
“[Sabonis] has been one of the players I’ve looked up to over the previous few years. “I know at Stanford, we’re watching a lot of the Kings offense,” Raynaud said. “It’s amazing to learn from one of the finest.
“He’s one of the best big guys in the NBA and one of the best Europeans on the planet. I’m very excited to learn from him and follow in his footsteps, maybe earning some decent minutes.”
Standing at 7-foot-1 and weighing 235 pounds, Maxime Raynaud posted impressive averages of 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in his final season at Stanford. While he’s effective in the low post, he also shows confidence handling the ball and playing on the perimeter.
Raynaud already has a bit of a connection to the Kings—he once spent Christmas with a Stanford teammate and watched a Kings game during that time. Now, he’s eager to learn from fellow European big man Domantas Sabonis. Raynaud will get a chance to showcase his skills to Kings fans during the Las Vegas Summer League, which begins on July 10.