The Kings have agreed to a two-year, $9 million deal with forward Moe Harkless, who will return to Sacramento. 

The fit: The Kings are thin when it comes to wing defenders. Besides Harrison Barnes, they have no experienced forwards, which was problematic most of last season. Harkless averaged 6.9 points in 27 games with Sacramento last season, adding size and versatility to the perimeter defense. 

2021-22 impact: The Kings want to play Barnes at power forward whenever they can, but don’t want to sacrifice size in the frontcourt to do so. The 6-foot-7 Harkless gives the Kings the flexibility to play smaller lineups without being so small that their defense is constantly exploited. 

My initial reaction: This isn’t a shock. Harkless was out of the rotation in Miami and joining the Kings gave him the opportunity to get back on the court. Sacramento benefited from Harkless’ experience and his younger teammates gravitated toward him and his leadership. It’s a good fit on both sides. 

What’s next: The Kings still need another wing or two for depth, but bringing Harkless back is a solid start to free agency. 

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(Photo of Maurice Harkless: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)