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2018 NBA free agency grades: Kings stealing Yogi Ferrell

By Daniel Lubofsky

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 30: Yogi Ferrell #11 of the Dallas Mavericks controls the ball during their game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 30, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 30: Yogi Ferrell #11 of the Dallas Mavericks controls the ball during their game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 30, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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In Yogi Ferrell, the Sacramento Kings have brought in a solid contributor off the pine, one who adds to a solid group of young talent.

The Sacramento Kings have fortified their backup point guard position, bringing in Yogi Ferrell on a two-year deal worth $6.2 million, according to Yahoo! Sports‘ Shams Charania.

Ferrell had originally agreed to return to the Dallas Mavericks, but would ultimately end up in Sacramento due to the extra $900,000 the Kings were offering.

Most NBA fans first heard the name Yogi Ferrell back in February of 2017 when, after signing a 10-day contract with the Mavs and given the starting spot, he poured in 32 points along with nine 3-pointers in a victory against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Standing at a fairly diminutive 6’0” and 180 pounds, Ferrell has proven adept off the pine for the Mavericks this past season, with averages of 10.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 27.8 minutes per contest over the course of 82 games.

While those certainly aren’t numbers to scream about, they’re solid for a dude who’s had to scratch and claw for just a single shot in the NBA, and they could be a sign of even more to come once the new season kicks off.

A 37.8 percent career 3-point shooter, Ferrell has proven capable of playing off the ball next to another ball-dominant point guard in Dennis Smith Jr. This should bode well for Sacramento, as De’Aaron Fox is likely to shoulder a large heap of the ball-handling duties, pushing Ferrell off the ball for large chunks of his minutes.

Ferrell’s aggressive coming off pick-and-rolls, pulling up at the free throw line or using his quickness to get downhill all the way to the bucket.

He might not be suitable for a starting role given his size, which rings especially true with the likes of Fox and either Bogdan Bogdanovic or Buddy Hield taking up both starting spots, but in limited minutes he could prove useful as a spark plug in a similar fashion to that February night in Portland.

It’s no secret that the Kings are in the midst of a fairly long rebuilding process, one that’s spanned over a decade. With Fox, Hield, Bogdanovic and newly minted draft pick Marvin Bagley III, Sacramento has acquired a solid nucleus with which to build upon moving forward.

When it comes to any great team, though, acquiring the right supporting cast is crucial, in large part due to the inability of any one player to win games by himself.

Coming in at No. 1 in bench scoring this past season at 44.4 points a game, the Kings may not necessarily need a guy like Ferrell to run their second unit, but it never hurts to have a productive guy on your roster, especially for just $6.2 million total.

His contributions for Sacramento may not be all that glamorous, but because of a work ethic that’s helped him climb insurmountable odds, coupled with a contract that provides little risk, Ferrell was a fine addition to a Kings squad in need of all the talent it can get.

Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far

Grade: B-

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