Kings acquire Stanley Johnson in G League trade

The Sacramento Kings may or may not call up forward Stanley Johnson, but at now they’ll be able to take a closer look.

That’s because the Kings’ G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings, acquired the rights to Johnson in a trade with the Sioux Falls Skyforce (Miami Heat affiliate). In exchange, the Skyforce are receiving the rights to Wes Iwundu, Jerricole Hellems and a 2024 first-round G League draft pick. 

Johnson, 27, is 6-foot-7 and the biggest name in the deal. He has bounced around the league quite a bit lately, appearing in 30 games with the San Antonio Spurs last season and working out for the Golden State Warriors in September.

He has also spent time with the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons — who selected Johnson with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

While he’s never lived up to his lofty expectations, Johnson is a pretty decent wing defender and carries career averages of 6.2 points and 3.1 rebounds, though is shooting just 39 percent from the field (and 30 percent on 3-pointers).

Johnson, Iwundu and Hellems are free to be called up by or sign with any NBA team, not just the Kings and Heat.