Keegan Murray and Keon Ellis are both 25-year-old, two-way players who could be long-term cornerstones of the Sacramento Kings.
But they are both without contracts beyond the coming season — and both figure to be priorities for general manager Scott Perry heading into his first season trying to round the roster into a sustainable winner.
“Communication has been very good with those guys,” Perry said when asked about contract talks with Murray and Ellis. “Obviously I’m not going to ever talk about any contractual stuff publicly like that, but (I) enjoy working with both those young men. … Really excited about them and their futures.”
Murray has been eligible to sign a rookie extension since July 1 and can sign a new deal until the negotiation window closes Oct. 20, two days before Sacramento’s season opener against the Phoenix Suns. Without a new contract by the deadline, Murray would hit restricted free agency next summer allowing him to sign an offer sheet with any of the other 29 teams, which the Kings could then match.
The Kings picked up the option on Ellis’ contract June 30, having him for just $2.3 million on their cap sheet. Ellis is an elite perimeter defender who shot 43.3% on four 3-point attempts per game last season, which makes him worth dramatically more than what he’s making on his option. Ellis could reach unrestricted free agency next summer without an extension.
“As far as contract extension-wise,” Ellis said, “I haven’t really heard too much of anything. But I don’t really worry about it.”
The Kings like Murray as a person and a player, and would like him to be in Sacramento long term. But the team is in a difficult financial situation in 2027-27 with Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis combining to make more than $94 million while DeMar DeRozan is on the books for the final year of his contract at $25.7 million.
Sacramento has never paid the luxury tax since Vivek Ranadivé bought the Kings in 2013, which could add to the difficulty of paying both Murray and Ellis without shedding salary elsewhere.
Ultimately, Murray could decide for himself if he wants to attach himself to the Kings long term or test restricted free agency in the offseason when roughly 10 teams are expected to have cap space.
As training camp begins Tuesday, Murray said he’s focusing on basketball.
“I told my agent, for me I just don’t want to worry about that,” Murray said. “He can handle the business side and when I hear from him …. I want it to be something important. So I think he’s doing a good job handling that business side of it.”
Kings coach Doug Christie has three goals for Keegan Murray as he enters a pivotal season without a long-term contract secured.
“Smile, defend and shoot,” Christie said at Kings media day Monday. “I’m not worried about Keegan, man. He’s a great kid, had an incredible offseason. Really simple for him; have fun. Basketball’s supposed to be fun.
“… Let’s find that happy side of yourself and have fun out there. But play defense first and foremost.”
Murray, of course, has been known for his monotone voice and quiet demeanor since getting drafted fourth overall in 2022. He set a rookie record with 206 made 3s during his rookie season on the first iteration of the “Beam Team” that broke the Kings’ 16-year playoff drought.
But since then, he’s been implored by teammates and coaches to be more assertive and aggressive offensively. Murray’s shots and scoring declined last season amid the additions of DeRozan and LaVine.
“I need to see him dunk and yell,” guard Malik Monk said. “That’s what I want. Get a tech or something like that.”
It was notable that Christie began with “smile” when asked about Murray months after the Kings traded away one of his closest friends on the roster in De’Aaron Fox. That came after firing head coach Mike Brown, installing Christie and losing in the play-in tournament to the Dallas Mavericks despite that team trading Luka Dončić. DeRozan during media day called last season an “(expletive) show.”
All said, Kings players had plenty of reasons to be unhappy about how last season turned out. Murray pushed back on the idea he needs to smile more.