The Sacramento Kings announced this morning that they’re shutting down rookie forward Harry Giles for the remainder of the season. Giles is expected to make his debut during next season’s summer league.
Once touted as a future number one overall draft pick, Giles suffered two serious knee injuries and cut his college career short to have surgery. This coupled with a lack of playing time and production (3.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg) when he was on the court damaged his draft stock, and he slipped to number 20 in the draft. He was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers, but immediately traded to the Kings along with Justin Jackson for Zach Collins.
At the beginning of the season, The Kings had set his return date at sometime during January, but after further evaluation decided to push it back to next season. This was mostly expected considering the Kings’ position at the bottom of the league standings.
Giles is part of a new youth movement in Sacramento that the Kings hopes can develop together and eventual contend for a championship. This group includes Jackson, De’Aaron Fox, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Buddy Hield, Willie Cauley-Stien, Frank Mason III, Skal Labissiere, and a potentially high pick in the upcoming draft.
