:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60684911/usa_today_10727191.0.jpg)
On Tuesday, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that former Pitt basketball standout Jamel Artis is headed to the Sacramento Kings.
Free agent forward Jamel Artis has agreed to a two-year deal with the Sacramento Kings, league sources tell ESPN. Artis played 15 games with Orlando a season ago. He'll compete in training camp to make team and add depth to small forward spot.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 31, 2018
Artis played with Cleveland in the summer league this year. In five games, he averaged 11.8 ppg and shot 55% from the field while grabbing 6.6 rebounds per game in about 31 minutes per contest. All told, I think he had a pretty good showing.
As Woj states, this isn’t Artis’ first rodeo in the NBA. He actually got onto the roster of the Orlando Magic and played in 15 contests with most of his action coming at the end of the season. Artis wasn’t great in Orlando, but put together three really nice performances in April, averaging just over 15 points per game against the Knicks, Mavericks, and Hornets, while shooting 54% from the field.
This two-year deal, of course, really means little. The Kings could let him go before the season starts and Artis is now headed to camp to see if he can make the team. But he’s at least still doing enough to stay in the eyes of teams where he can continue to get opportunities.
Be sure to join Cardiac Hill’s Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @PittPantherBlog for our regular updates on Pitt athletics. Follow the author and founder/editor @AnsonWhaley.