SACRAMENTO, CA -- The Kings have reached an agreement with Greek-American center Kosta Koufos on a four-year, $33 million contract that will send Koufos to Sacramento to play alongside DeMarcus Cousins.
A player option will be on the contract for after Year 3, making it possible for Koufos to hit the free agent market again in 2018.
The 26 year-old seven-footer plays more of a workhorse style of play in the paint, in which he rarely demands the ball, rather doing the so-called dirty work. That should please Cousins, who wants some more weapons around him but still wants to be the dominant first option on the offensive end.
Koufos played in Memphis the last two seasons with the Grizzlies, playing a reserve role to back up big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. He finished the 2014-2015 season with averages of 5.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in 16.6 minutes per game. He started in 3 of his 81 appearances.
The Utah Jazz drafted Koufos back in 2008, but the big man only played a full starting role in 2012-2013 with the Denver Nuggets. That year, he started in all of his 81 appearances, 8.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocked shots in just 22.4 minutes per contest.
Sacramento has been looking for big free agents to sign this summer in pairing up with Boogie Cousins, but struck out in large. The Kings were able to land Rajon Rondo on a one-year deal, sharpshooter Marco Belinelli to a three-year agreement worth $19 million, and now Koufos, who can either play next to Cousins in the frontcourt or replace him if the Kings decide to move him in a trade.
The Kings also drafted center Willie Cauley-Stein 6th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.
These small signings won't make the leap any easier for the Kings, but do increase the level of play in Sac-town and will help improve where the Kings end up in the West.