NBA Free Agency 2017: One signing every team should make

Sacramento Kings: Zach Randolph

This might seem like an odd signing considering that the Sacramento Kings are clearly beginning to move towards a new young core. With Buddy Hield, Willie Cauley-Stein and their haul from the 2017 NBA Draft (De’Aaron Fox, Justin Jackson, Harry Giles), they have a strong foundation to move towards the future with. Thus, adding a 36-year old veteran might seem like an odd player to throw in.

Of course, not all 36-year old veterans are Zach Randolph. He’s clearly not the player that he once was in this league as Father Time has stripped him of the dominance that he was once capable of. With that being said, the forward is still a reliable presence on the interior that can score a bit and crash the boards with great savvy and effectiveness.

Obviously the Kings wouldn’t be looking to sign a player like Randolph long term. That’s just not a prudent decision given their situation and his age. However, bringing in a player with his talents and experience could help to further the direction that the team is heading in.

Randolph could serve as a mentor on and off the floor for this young team in Sacramento. There are few players that have experienced the transformation that Randolph has from his early days in the league to now. That type of experience could help these young Kings grow as men and professionals. What’s more, he could help with the development of guys like Giles and Cauley-Stein, helping them to add a more cerebral aspect to their games to complement their supreme athletic and physical gifts.