Overview

• The Kings announced Murray tore the UCL in his left thumb and will have surgery, with a reevaluation in four to six weeks that rules him out for the season opener and roughly the first 10 games.
• He was injured late in the second quarter of Friday’s preseason game in Portland; a full six‑week absence could push his return toward late November, with one estimate pointing to around Nov. 24.
• Coach Doug Christie is testing replacements, with Nique Clifford, Dario Saric and Doug McDermott in the forward mix and guard‑heavy looks possible with Malik Monk or Keon Ellis, while rookie Maxime Raynaud has also been tried.
• Murray, a durable starter and key perimeter defender and floor spacer who averaged 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds last season, leaves a defense‑focused Kings group thinner at the four early on.
• The Oct. 20 deadline for a rookie‑scale extension is approaching, after which he would be on track for restricted free agency next summer, and reporting indicates there is strong mutual interest between Russell Westbrook and Sacramento as a potential short‑term addition.