Sacramento Kings to Offer Ryan Anderson Front Loaded Contract?

The Sacramento Kings are expected to offer Orlando Magic restricted free agent Ryan Anderson a front-loaded contract soon, according to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld.

Anderson was named the Most Improved Player last season after averaging 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds. He shot 39.3 percent from the three-point line, and would bring a dimension to Sacramento's offense that has been severely missing in the past few years. The Kings were 29th in the league in three-point percentage, making just 31.6 percent of their three-pointers.

The Kings are expected to offer a front-loaded contract that might scare the Magic away from agreeing to match the offer. While Orlando has the rights to match any offer Anderson signs, Sacramento would be banking that a hefty early commitment would keep the Magic from matching. 

A front-loaded deal would also make sense for Sacramento, as it would keep money open down the road when current Kings players like DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans are up for extensions. 

Any deal with Anderson may spell the end of forward Jason Thompson's time in Sacramento. Thompson is a restricted free agent but while Sacramento would have the right to match any contract he signs, with the recent draft selection of Kansas forward Thomas Robinson, bringing back Thompson in addition to Anderson wouldn't make fiscal sense for Sacramento.

Anderson grew up in Sacramento and attended Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills. He played college basketball at Cal.