Kevin Heurter to have season-ending surgery. How will the Sacramento Kings cope?
Though the Kings had hope that their guard could return to action, it’s now been confirmed that his season is over, and just when things were going well.
While it’s clear that the Sacramento Kings have decent options in terms of cover, one can’t help but feel a degree of sympathy for both the team and its player, who will now have to watch the rest of the campaign from the sidelines.
Kevin Heurter to undergo season-ending surgery
If you caught our previous report, then you will know that Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter suffered a dislocated left shoulder and a labral tear back on March 18th. To that end, Heurter was said to be out indefinitely, however, reports now confirm that the 25-year-old’s season is officially over, as he will require surgery to repair the tear.
Truthfully, this season - his second with the Kings - has been a rough ride for Heurter. In the games that he played, he averaged 10.2 points on 56.4% true shooting in 24.4 minutes. When you compare that with an average of 15.2 points on 61.7% true shooting in 29.4 minutes last season, the disparity becomes clear. Needless to say, the Kings have suffered as a result of that dip in form as well. Whether it’s his shooting or the handoffs that he constantly supplied to Domantas Sabonis, it’s clear that the team has lost a step. Indeed, that fact was on full display during a 132-96 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, one of the team’s worst offensive performances of the season.
Regarding how the Kings will cope with the absence of Heurter, there are a few options starting with Malik Monk and Keon Ellis. Where Monk specifically is concerned, it’s got to be said that his performance through March has seen him become the leading name in the Sixth Man of the Year award conversation. With his average of 21 points in 29.5 minutes on 57.6% shooting, he has been a force to reckon with. As for Ellis, while it may be true that his numbers aren’t as prolific, the fact that the Kings have converted his two-way contract into a standard one is a clear indication of the value that he holds for the team. Expect to see him more involved now that Heurter is out. “We have to be ready to play without Kev if it is some type of long-term thing, and I think everybody is confident in Keon,” Kings guard De’Aaron Fox told reporters, via the Sacramento Bee. “Whether he starts or comes off the bench, the minutes he’s been providing the last few games, especially since he’s been back in the rotation, have been great.”