The Sacramento Kings have added 7-foot-1 French center Maxime Raynaud to their NBA Summer League roster as the team heads to Las Vegas. Raynaud missed the California Classic because of commitments with the French national team, but his name was filed before the Vegas itinerary was set. The move gives the club a chance to see the former All-Rookie Second Team member in action against the league’s top prospects before the regular season begins.
Raynaud was selected with the 42nd overall pick in the second round and outperformed his draft slot more than any other player in last year’s rookie class. In his rookie campaign he appeared in 74 games, started 56, and posted 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor. Those numbers helped the Kings stay competitive while Domantas Sabonis missed most of the year with injuries.
General manager Scott Perry said Raynaud is gaining confidence and is focused on improving in his second season. “You can tell he’s gaining some confidence,” Perry said. “He will tell you even more than I that coming into Year 2, his goal is to be better. Last year was last year. He had an excellent rookie year, but that’s gone by. Now, he’s got to get better and be better this next year, so that’s his challenge and I think he’s really working hard at it.”
The summer-league squad entered the California Classic with a 3-0 record, beating the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors Blue and Milwaukee Bucks. Rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 pick in June’s draft, averaged 23.5 points per game in two games despite a 33.3 percent field-goal conversion. Second-rounder Emanuel Sharp contributed 15.5 points, five rebounds and two steals per game, while undrafted rookie Marquel Sutton also saw minutes.
In Las Vegas the Kings will open at 8 p.m. Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers and are slated for at least five games, all at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus. Perry emphasized the broader goal for the squad: “Just continue to play hard, compete and play a tough, physical brand of basketball.” He added that the team is looking for “cohesiveness” and “connectivity at both ends of the floor.”
Sacramento’s Summer League history includes two championships , a 2014 title over the Houston Rockets and a 2021 victory against the Boston Celtics. Adding Raynaud provides a low-post anchor who can finish at the rim and space the floor with a reliable mid-range touch. In a system that relies on pick-and-roll action with Sabonis, Raynaud offers a backup option that keeps the paint occupied when the veteran is off the floor. The Vegas outings will be the first live look at his progress since the regular season and could influence his standing heading into training camp.
