Report: Kings sign Ryan Hollins to fully guaranteed 1-year deal
The Sacramento Kings clearly had another move in mind when they dealt Jason Terry on Wednesday to clear space under the luxury tax.
With the additional flexibility – one that incldudes a handful of non-guaranteed contracts on the roster – the team has seen fit to bolster its frontcourt depth. On Wednesday, the Kings reportedly signed free agent center Ryan Hollins to a one-year deal.
Most notable is that the deal is said to be fully guaranteed, meaning Hollins will either make the team or be paid to go elsewhere. It was unclear earlier in the offseason if the 29-year-old 7-footer would be able to secure a guaranteed contract after a fairly uninspiring two-year stint with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Kings obviously see something here that hasn't shown up in his career numbers. In 435 games over eight seasons with six different teams, Hollins has averaged just 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in 12 minutes, though he has shot a robust 57.6 percent from the floor.
It's likely that the Kings see Hollins as a capable backup to DeMarcus Cousins thanks to his defensive prowess. While his shot-blocking numbers – 1.6 per 36 minutes for his career – don't jump off the page, Hollins rated as a top-10 defensive center by ESPN's DPRM stat and held opponents to just 36.6 percent shooting at the rim, the best mark in all of basketball.
There are certainly worse ways to fill out a roster than with a big body who helps protect the rim, even if the offensive numbers are uninspiring.