Tom Crean makes pitch to Kings: Sign Victor Oladipo

The Kings have a roster opening. Tom Crean has a suggestion. And that would be to sign Victor Oladipo.

Crean, who coached Oladipo at Indiana, made a public pitch Sunday for Sacramento to bring in his former player. His argument centered on what Oladipo could offer a team trying to develop Darius Acuff Jr. while getting more from its veterans.

“You want to help Darius Acuff figure out how to integrate his game with the others?” Crean wrote on X, in a post highlighted by The Athletic. “You want Sabonis and LaVine to be around a high level energy Pro?”

Crean wasn’t finished. “You want someone who will help raise everyone’s preparation level? You want a teammate? Get @VicOladipo.”

That’s a pretty direct endorsement from someone who knows Oladipo well.

The timing makes it worth noting. The Kings’ deal sending Nique Clifford to the Thunder leaves them with 13 players on standard contracts and a decision about how to use their available space.

According to James Ham of The Kings Beat, Sacramento plans to consider its options over the next few days. Promoting Leaky Black from his two-way contract is among them.

Crean’s pitch doesn’t establish that the Kings are pursuing Oladipo now. It does offer another way to think about the opening.

For a team off to a 1-8 start, there’s value in finding someone who can help younger players prepare and make the veterans’ jobs easier.

Whether Oladipo is the right player for that assignment is Sacramento’s call. His old coach clearly thinks so.

Related: Earlier reporting on the Kings and Victor Oladipo