Sacramento Kings: What role will Richaun Holmes play next season?

The Sacramento Kings added versatile big man Richaun Holmes in the offseason. What role should we expect him to play in the upcoming 2019-20 season?

The Sacramento Kings did an excellent job of adding some standout depth to their roster for the upcoming season. While they didn’t make any star-studded, max-contract splashes in free agency, they filled out their roster with reliable role players and scheme fits.

Those role players will be the backbone of what should be a playoff-contending Kings roster this season. Perhaps one of the more underrated free-agent pickups this offseason was none other than 6-foot-10 power forward/center Richaun Holmes.

Holmes spent the first three seasons of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers after being selected 37th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. While never a true starter, Holmes earned rotational minutes playing the role of a spark plug coming off the bench.

That role was only further highlighted when he joined the Phoenix Suns prior to the start of last season. While Phoenix struggled as a team, Holmes was a burst of energy whenever he entered the game and his play helped the Suns stay alive late in many games.

Simply put, we could expect him to fill a similar role with the Kings.

Holmes struggles as an outside shooter but was very efficient with his shot selection last season shooting over 60% from the floor. He also averaged 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in just 16.9 minutes per game evidently conveying his overall work ethic.

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The former 76ers big man is a reliable defender down low and uses his lanky frame to get up and block shots regularly. Really, he projects as a very similar player to what the Kings hoped that they would be getting in Willie Cauley-Stein, although not as accomplished.

While he doesn’t have much of a history shooting the three-ball, his sophomore season in Philadelphia showed potential as he shot an encouraging 35.1% (27-of-77) from long range.

And given the abundance of three-point shooters on the roster, don’t be surprised if new head coach Luke Walton asks him to tap into that part of his game again.

Ideally, Holmes will be used as the Kings’ fifth big behind starters Marvin Bagley and Dewayne Dedmon and role players Nemanja Bjelica and Harry Giles. But given how deep the Kings’ bench is, don’t be surprised to see him earn anywhere from 15-20 minutes on a good day.

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Holmes’ most endearing trait is undoubtedly the energy and effort he brings to the floor each and every game.

Need a shot of life following a cold stretch? Throw Holmes into the game. Trailing late and need some quick enthusiasm? Put Holmes on the floor.

At the very least, Holmes should give the team excellent depth — something that was clearly a point of emphasis with the Kings this offseason.

You could do much worse than a 25-year-old, athletic, high-effort Holmes as your fifth big man. Expect the former Suns’ role player to become a fan-favorite before long.