Report: Okpala agrees to two-year deal with Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Kings reportedly added depth to their new-look roster on Friday, agreeing to sign forward KZ Okpala to a two-year deal.
Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported the news first, citing Okpala’s agent Aaron Mintz of CAA.
Okpala, a former second-round pick who spent the last three seasons with the Miami Heat, is entering his fourth NBA season. In a limited role with the Heat, Okpala logged 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per game. He was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder at last year’s deadline, waived two days later and spent the rest of the season waiting for a call from another NBA team.
He gets another chance in the league with the Kings.
Okpala knows Sacramento coach Mike Brown well, having played for him on the Nigerian national team last summer. Brown is a big believer in his defensive ability.
“KZ is a remarkable talent,” Brown told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “This is a young man that, in my opinion, he has a chance to be, obviously, an elite defender. And these are high expectations, but the short time I’ve had him, he could be a Defensive Player of the Year type candidate once he figures some things out to get consistent minutes on the floor.”
That’s incredibly high praise, especially considering the Kings haven’t boasted a Defensive Player of the Year since the award began in 1982-83.
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Sacramento has added plenty of shooting in the offseason in Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter and the 2022 No. 4 pick Keegan Murray. But defense is still a clear need, and Okpala is general manager Monte McNair’s answer for now.
