The LA Clippers moved at the speed of light when it came down to replacing Drew Eubanks. They had reason to, yet before his stint was over and anything was made official, executive Lawrence Frank signed the now-best backup in the league, Brook Lopez, to a two-year deal.
This meant Eubanks was gone, which had already been rumored, but the route, trade, or waive was unknown. He was ultimately waived, and in the blink of an eye, the Sacramento Kings claimed him, and they were ready to see him arrive once everything was finalized.
Furthermore, Eubanks was signed to a one-year, $3.08 million deal by the Kings’ front office. This is solid given his bench production, experience, and energy in motivating the rest of the squad from the sidelines.
The Kings also needed this addition, as Jonas Valančiūnas, a veteran big man they acquired from the Washington Wizards at the February trade deadline, was moved again to the Denver Nuggets to back up Nikola Jokic for Dario Saric.
However, even with Valančiūnas gone, the Kings could have made a better signing after what was seen from Eubanks in his half-season in LA. His energy was not the issue, but his production will lead Sacramento into realizing they should have explored more before bidding high on a big man who had more free throws than points in the playoffs.
The Sacramento Kings instantly snagged Drew Eubanks from the waivers, who will not suit up well in the role he is assigned
The Sacramento Kings must hope their second-round pick, Maxime Raynaud, dominates instantly and is the steal of the draft, as playing Drew Eubanks will mostly lead to trouble.
Even James Harden, a superstar who has the superpower to make nearly any big man better, had no answer for Eubanks’ flaws. He was immobile in the paint and struggled to build a connection with the former MVP, which forced the Clippers to waive him.
On the Kings, Eubanks’ situation is worsened as he has no real point guard to deliver him the rock. He will be relying on Markelle Fultz and Keon Ellis for touches, which will be much more challenging than what he encountered on the Clippers.
Although it was wise for the Kings to only sign him for a year, they will quickly comprehend the fault in their actions of paying him three million to make minimal contributions on the hardwood.