NBA Schedule Reveals Return Dates for Former Kings

Three former Kings are set to make their return to Sacramento next season.

Mar 26, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes (40) warms up before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports / Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

The Sacramento Kings made a few moves this offseason that shipped away important role players. The most notable move by Sacramento was acquiring DeMar DeRozan from the Chicago Bulls in a three-team sign-and-trade that sent Harrison Barnes to the San Antonio Spurs.

Barnes spent five seasons in Sacramento after the Kings traded for him during the 2018-19 season. Through 399 regular season games played with the Kings, Barnes averaged 14.7 points and 4.9 rebounds, but his greatest achievement was back-to-back 82-game seasons.

As fun as the DeMar DeRozan-Kings news is, Harrison Barnes deserves some love following six seasons in Sacramento.

Barnes was a consummate pro during his time here. Great with the media, always positive and respected by players, coaches staff.

To the Black Falcon 🫡 pic.twitter.com/rnhSRLHOtz

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) July 7, 2024

Barnes' availability was greatly appreciated during the two best Kings seasons of the last two decades. Still, as he moves on to San Antonio, he will serve as a veteran presence next to Chris Paul, Victor Wembanyama, and a talented young core.

Barnes will make his return to Sacramento on December 1st, where Kings fans will also get to watch the 20-year-old French phenom at Golden 1 Center.

As part of the three-team blockbuster, the Kings sent backup wing Chris Duarte to Chicago, just one season after acquiring him in a trade with the Indiana Pacers.

In one season as a King, Duarte averaged 3.9 points per game but struggled to find a consistent spot in the rotation. Duarte will make his return to Sacramento on March 20th.

Another significant move by the Kings this offseason came on day two of the draft, as they shipped Davion Mitchell and Sasha Vezenkov to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Jalen McDaniels.

While Vezenkov has transitioned his career back to the EuroLeague before getting the chance to put on a Raptors uniform, Mitchell is expected to be a valuable piece for the struggling team up North.

Davion Mitchell on why he's good at defending : "Because I love doing it." pic.twitter.com/jkwFplsKib

— 𝙯𝙤 (@ogchabzo) July 11, 2024

The Kings drafted Mitchell ninth overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. Through three seasons, Mitchell averaged 7.4 points and 2.8 assists per game, serving as a viable defensive-minded backup point guard.

Mitchell will return to Sacramento on November 6th, set up for his first career Golden 1 Center appearance without a Kings uniform.

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