Sacramento Kings Pick Up $2.3M Option On Keon Ellis For 2025-26

The Sacramento Kings have exercised their $2.3 million team option on guard Keon Ellis for the 2025-26 NBA season, allowing him to remain with the team at a relatively low cost. Ellis, who went undrafted out of Alabama in 2022, has developed into a key defensive player and reliable three-point shooter, averaging career highs last season, including 8.3 points and 1.5 steals per game while shooting over 43% from beyond the arc. By picking up the option, the Kings avoid making Ellis a restricted free agent this offseason, instead letting him enter unrestricted free agency in 2026 unless an extension is agreed upon. General manager Scott Perry's decision suggests confidence in potentially negotiating an extension before Ellis becomes unrestricted free agent next summer. Ellis has appeared in 154 games over three seasons and is expected to serve as a backup to new acquisition Zach LaVine as the Kings continue to reshape their roster. The Kings are anticipated to be active in the upcoming free agency and trade markets as they prepare for the 2025-26 season.