Sacramento Kings star forward Keegan Murray could be making his season debut very soon. Murray has been out since October 10 after he suffered a left thumb injury in a preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
According to Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee, Murray is expected to join the Kings on Wednesday and make the trip to Oklahoma City for their matchup versus the defending champions. He’s unlikely to play in that game, but he could play against either the Memphis Grizzlies on November 20 or the Denver Nuggets on November 22.
“A league source told The Sacramento Bee on Monday that Murray has been cleared for five-on-five contact basketball. He was assigned to the G League Stockton Kings for practice as he prepares to rejoin the NBA club… There is hope he will make his season debut on the back end of the team’s current five-game road trip,” Anderson wrote.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported back in early October that Murray suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. He underwent surgery to repair the damage and was set to be re-evaluated in four to six weeks. Anderson’s latest report aligns with the six-week recovery timeline.
Murray Not Eligible For Trade
With a current record of 3-11, the Sacramento Kings are off to a disastrous start to the season. It has been a rapid downfall for the Kings since they made their first postseason two years ago.
Sactown Sports’ Dave Carmichael suggested that the only viable option for the Kings is a fire sale at the trade deadline. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan both still have two years left on their contracts. However, LaVine has a player option for next season, and DeRozan has a non-guaranteed deal for the 2026-27 season.
Domantas Sabonis is their biggest asset, with three years and $136 million left in his contract. He’s at the prime of his career, and his trade would signal the team’s rebuild.
Matt Moore of FanSided added that Keegan Murray isn’t eligible to get traded this season after signing his max rookie extension. Keon Ellis, on the other hand, could have plenty of suitors due to his shooting and defense.
Murray’s Extension Shocked NBA Execs
A few days after suffering a thumb injury, the Sacramento Kings secured Keegan Murray’s service by signing him to a four-year, $140 million extension. It signaled the franchise’s intent to keep Murray as a pillar of the team moving forward.
However, Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported a few days later that multiple NBA executives were shocked by the Kings’ decision to give Murray an extension. The Iowa product isn’t a bad player, but he was coming off a down season. He averaged 12.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 44.4% shooting from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc, which were both career lows.
At just 25 years old, Murray is just entering his prime, with his best years possibly still ahead of him. His extension could be seen as a bargain if he can improve his offense, while his defense has been good under coach Doug Christie.
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