Sacramento Kings Rumors: Re-signing Iman Shumpert a real possibility?
If the latest Sacramento Kings rumors are to be believed, there’s a real possibility Iman Shumpert is re-signed for the 2019-20 campaign.
Expectations weren’t exactly high when the Sacramento Kings acquired Iman Shumpert from the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. However, as he continues to assert himself as a valuable piece of this lineup, it’s becoming hard to imagine the Kings letting him walk this offseason.
It would be easy to do so, seeing as he’s in a contract year. On top of that, he’s making $11 million this season, meaning a strong effort to end the season could allow him to maintain or up his asking price. While the Kings have the cap space to keep him around, the financials of a re-signing could make Vlade Divac nervous.
Still, as The Athletic’s Jason Jones put it, Sacramento has plenty of reason to consider bringing Shumpert back for the 2019-20 campaign.
"I think a few things work in Shump’s favor to return:1. His teammates love him and the Kings seem to really value that.2. He’s already a part of the culture that has improved.3. I think his value to the Kings (along with the intangibles) might be worth more to the Kings than another team.It really depends on how much it will cost to keep him (I know that’s not a definitive answer). This situation just reminds me that you never know what can happen in the NBA … before the season the front office wasn’t even expecting this kind of contribution from Shumpert."
It’s an interesting perspective, and one that paints a promising picture for Shumpert’s future with the franchise.
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Realistically, Shumpert has been a pleasant surprise for the Kings. At this moment, he’s averaging career highs (or close) in nearly every category, with his contributions currently sitting at 9.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, two assists and 1.3 steals per game. To top it off, he’s been lights out from long range, connecting on 37.7 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.
That’s a big step forward from last season, Shumpert’s first in Sacramento. In 2017-18, his impact was minimal, pitching in only 4.4 points, 1.2 assists and 0.6 steals per game while shooting from 26.9 percent from distance. To say that he’s acclimated nicely in his second go-around with the club is a massive understatement.
There’s a decent chance it comes down to asking price for Shumpert. If the Kings can convince him to come back at a similar price, it’s almost a no-brainer. However, if the 28-year-old forward demands a significant bump in pay, the team may decide it’s not worth the risk of this being a simple case of a declining player making one final push to earn a payday.
Either way, a potential re-signing seems like a positive thing at this moment. If Shumpert can continue to provide that veteran presence on the wing while the inconsistent Justin Jackson develops, it’ll be a win for the Kings.
Next. Re-drafting the Kings' last 4 first-round picks. dark
We’ll see what happens this offseason, but early signs indicate a return is possible for Shumpert.