Training camp battles: Breaking down Kings' depth at center

This is the fifth in a series of posts breaking down training camp battles leading up to the Kings' 2022-23 camp, which officially starts on Tuesday, September 27.

Basketball is just around the corner and coverage is ramping up. Over the last few weeks we’ve done an exhaustive look into the Kings' rotation, be it through writing or podcasting. Now we are down to one last position on the court.

Here are links to the point guard, shooting guard, small forward and power forward spots. Now it’s time to look at the Kings’ center position, which is buoyed by one of the best in the game in Domantas Sabonis.

The Kings are still carrying too many centers on the roster, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Here is a breakdown of all of the options and some predictions on how it might all play out less than a week before the start of training camp.

Domantas Sabonis

Stats: 18.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, .3 blocks, 55.4 FG%, 23.5 3-PT%

General manager Monte McNair went all in at the trade deadline and came away with a franchise altering two-time All-Star center about to enter his prime. Sabonis is the centerpiece to everything the Kings are doing in Sacramento and the hope is that he will continue to be that player for the foreseeable future.

The 6-foot-11 big man spent the summer playing for Lithuania and looks like he’s in tremendous condition. He has two years remaining on his contract, and by NBA standards is a bargain at just $18.5 million this season.

Strengths

Sabonis is NBA royalty. The son of the legendary Arvidas Sabonis, Domas has worked hard to carve out his own legacy in the league. If he can find a way to deliver the Kings to the playoffs, he’ll never pay for a meal in Sacramento again.

A no-nonsense personality, Sabonis should be able to take on a position of leadership in his first full season in Sacramento. He’ll either be the best or second best player on the team and his ability to get everyone involved makes him popular with his teammates.

One of the best passing bigs in the game, Sabonis posted a 5.8-to-3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio in his 15 games with the Kings last season. He has potential to increase the assist total now that he’s surrounded by an elite offensive creator in De’Aaron Fox and plenty of shooters.

As a scorer, there is room for growth. Sabonis is a bull in the post, he has an ability to take his opponent off the dribble and his shooting touch is solid inside of 16 feet. If he can expand his range, he can break the 20-point per game mark with ease.

Outside of passing and scoring, Sabonis is an elite rebounder, finishing third in the league last season at 12.3 boards per game. He clears out space for others and he gives the Kings a chance to become a top-tier rebounding squad this season.

On the defensive end, Sabonis struggles in space, but he’s strong and can take a hit in the post. His rebounding prowess helps close out possessions and he’s solid in the pick-and-roll.

Weaknesses

Sabonis has worked to improve his 3-point shot, even working with a shooting coach throughout the offseason. He knocked down 34.2 percent with the Pacers before the trade, but the Kings need that and a little more if they hope to optimize the tandem of Sabonis and Fox.

While the assist numbers are great for a center, the turnover numbers are a little high. If Sabonis can increase the assist total closer to seven per game while keeping the turnover number at 3.5, then he’ll solidify himself as one of the best distributors in the league.

On the defensive end, Sabonis is slightly limited. He isn’t a natural shot blocker and his wingspan isn’t anything special. He’s a strong position defender, but there are limitations on this end. If there is a bright spot, Sabonis takes up a lot of space in the paint and he’s an excellent defensive rebounder.

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Richaun Holmes

Stats: 10.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, .9 blocks, 66 FG%, 40 3-PT%

No one had a more difficult season in Sacramento last year than Holmes. The veteran center inked a new four-year, $47 million contract and then spiraled. Two eye lacerations were the beginning, but Holmes battled covid for a stretch and then shut it down early to deal with a child custody issue off the court.

The personal issues seem to have calmed down, but in the midst of a disastrous season, Holmes also watched the Kings bring in his replacement. With three years and more than $36 million still remaining on his contract, Holmes is back in Sacramento and looking for some redemption.

Strengths

Holmes was the heart and soul of the Kings’ squad for the last few years. He has an incredible motor and he developed from a low level free agent gamble to a bonafide starter since joining the team in the summer of 2019.

On the offensive end, Holmes is a devastating pick-and-roll player and one of the most efficient scorers in the game. He finishes above the rim, has an unstoppable push shot and even let it fly from long range a few times last year.

Holmes has shown the ability to stay with smaller players on the perimeter and he averaged 1.6 blocks per game just a season ago. He’s solid defending the pick-and-roll and if he is in the right frame of mind, there aren’t many 6-foot-10 centers who are more versatile.

Per 36 minutes, Holmes has posted 10 rebounds or more in each of the last five seasons. He isn’t an elite rebounder, but he’s solid for a slightly undersized five. He is a high energy hustle player with a quality overall skill set.

Weaknesses

Last season was a mess. There is no hiding from it. Even when Holmes was on the floor he was a shell of the player who earned the big contract the summer before. It looks like he’ll wear goggles moving forward, which should help with the recurring eye issues, and the off the court issues appear to have worked themselves out, at least for now.

While Holmes is extremely efficient as a scorer, he’s limited. The push shot is usually inside the key and the pick-and-roll works best with a true set up man. He isn’t a natural passer and while he can hit a triple on occasion, there isn’t a defense in the league that is staying with him from deep.

On the defensive end, Holmes struggles against bigger centers and he looked out of sorts last season. He was inconsistent, which felt out of character for a player who has made his name with energy and effort.

Lastly, Holmes is a player who is used to starting and playing major minutes. That just won’t be the case this year. He needs to show that he can play alongside Sabonis, even if just for short stretches or his minutes are going to be very limited.

Alex Len

Stats: 6.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists .6 blocks, 53.4 FG%, 28.6 3-PT%

The Kings walked into the draft and free agency in the summer of 2021 without a center on the roster. Before the week was out, they had added Holmes, Len and Queta, as well as Tristan Thompson via trade.

Len is entering the final year of a two-year contract that will pay him $3.9 million this season. He’s lost in the shuffle with Sabonis, Holmes and Queta all still on the roster, but he is still valuable as an emergency option at center and as an expiring contract.

Strengths

A former No. 5 overall pick, Len continues to stick around the league as a true 7-footer with rim protecting abilities.

It isn’t always pretty, but Len is a player you have to stick with in the post and there have been times in his career when he knocks down 3-point shots at a solid clip. He isn’t a scoring juggernaut, but he has moments.

Len sets big screens and he has some passing ability, but his true value to this team is as a rebounder and defender in the paint. He can handle the bigger centers in the league and he has a toughness that the Kings often lack on the court.

Weaknesses

Throughout his nine-year career, Len has struggled to stay healthy and he also takes plenty of time to return to the court when he does miss games. He played for the Ukrainian National team this summer, which means he should head into camp in good shape and ready to compete.

Len isn’t a creative scorer. He isn’t a knock down 3-point shooter. He can drive you crazy by missing short shots and looking out of control on basic plays. He does set screens and is strong in a two-man game above the arc, but he isn’t a player who can take on a full-time starter role, even in a pinch.

On the defensive end, Len is an old school throwback big man. He is more comfortable the closer he is to the rim, although he has been a positive in advanced metrics for most of his career on this end of the court.

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Neemias Queta

G League Stats: 16.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists 1.9 blocks, 62.4 FG%

Portugal stand up. The 23-year-old 7-footer is back for another season on a two-way contract. The Kings have put plenty of time and energy into developing Queta and there is a chance that he repays that effort either this season or next.

During covid times, two-way players are now allowed to spend up to 50 games with the parent club, which is a good thing for Queta’s development. He’ll get a shot to star in Stockton and there is a chance that he sees time in Sacramento if trades or injuries happen.

Strengths

Queta is a huge man. He’s a work in progress, but if his stint in the G League and during Summer League are any indication, the Kings may have found a diamond in the rough last season in the second round.

While he is still raw, Queta has shown signs of being an excellent offensive player with the potential to become a central hub. Like Sabonis and Len, he sets devastating screens, but he’s a monster rolling to the rim and has a soft touch at the basket.

Where Queta can take major strides is as a passer. He has soft hands, good court vision and he can see over most players. If he can hone this skill in Stockton this season, there is a chance he earns time later in the season and certainly in 2023-24, when Len is no longer under contract.

On the defensive end, Queta is a load. He was one of the best shot blockers in the college game and it translated to nearly two blocks per game last season in Stockton. He needs to learn how to defend the perimeter and he’s a good, not great rebounder, but most of his shortcomings on this end of the court will develop as his conditioning improves.

Weaknesses

Despite playing four seasons at the NCAA level, Queta came into the league needing a lot more experience. He only played 14 games in the G League last season, although he did spend a lot of time with the parent club getting acclimated to the league.

Queta took tremendous strides physically from the day he was drafted until the end of the season. He still has plenty of room for growth, especially through his core. If he can continue to refine his body, it will give him a much better chance of keeping up with the elite athletes at the NBA level.

As an offensive player, Queta still makes some mistakes that happen to players who come from lower level competition. He brings the ball too low, needs to tighten up his footwork and he doesn’t have one or two reliable moves that he can depend on. During summer league he showed off his ball handling skills and a larger offensive arsenal, but he is still a work in progress.

Queta is a natural shot blocker, but again, at the NBA level, the body and mind have to be on the same page. He’ll continue to grow in this area and he also needs a lot of work on closeouts and defending the perimeter.

If the Kings truly want to develop Queta, they will not only have their training staff working with him non-stop, but also allow him to go to the G League where he can establish himself as a go-to player.

Prediction

This should be easy. Sabonis is a two-time All-Star and a 35 minute per game starter. After that, Holmes is the energy guy, Len is the “break in case of emergency” big and Queta is the young buck trying to put it all together.

The word on the streets in Sacramento is that Brown is going to try to play Sabonis and Holmes together for stretches. If it works, maybe Brown can buy 4-6 minutes per half with two centers on the court. If it doesn’t work, then Holmes is going to have to pick up the scraps and play 12-14 minutes per game.

Len and Queta will see the court during an 82 game season, but how much is a complete unknown. If McNair swings a major deal to find Holmes a new home, then more opportunities will arise for these two. If not, they’ll have to bide their time and stay ready in case an injury occurs.