The Sacramento Kings faced a sloppy start in their first preseason opener, where they lost to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, October 8. Then things went south when they faced the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. The night took a sharp turn when forward Keegan Murray suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. With Murray set to undergo surgery and be out for approximately 4–6 weeks, it has been a significant blow for the Kings. But one man’s misery might be another man’s blessing.

As the immediate aftermath, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, there’s “strong” mutual interest between Russell Westbrook and the Sacramento Kings. This is a signal that the franchise could be exploring short-term options while Murray recovers. Not a replacement, but a filler indeed.

The 3

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