In a locker room filled with young faces, Garrett Temple stands out. After trading George Hill to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Temple is one of the four members of the Sacramento Kings (barring Iman Shumpert, who has yet to suit up for his new team) who is not on his first NBA contract. As a rare veteran face in a locker room filled with those in need of a mentor, Temple would arguably be a valuable presence even if he barely ever saw the court.

That has not been the case this season, however. Temple is averaging a career-high 8.5 points per game and is knocking down 3-pointers at a 40.3% clip--also the best mark of his career. Temple's ability to function with and without the ball in his hands has been critical for a team with a plethora of young but capable primary ball-handlers. While Temple seems likely to opt into his contract for next season, he would be sorely missed both on the floor and in the locker room if he took his talents elsewhere next season.

Strong Defense, Smart Choices

Garrett Temple will never be mistaken for a superstar player, as is evidenced by the fact that his 8.5 points per game this season is a career-best mark. However, Temple is quite adept at the 3-and-D skillset that is so highly prized among NBA teams at the moment.

On the defensive end, Temple's 6'6" frame and solid lateral quickness allow him to cover nearly any opposing perimeter player. Temple grades out well defensively in terms of his counting stats--he ranks in the 80th percentile in block percentage and the 75th percentile in steal percentage among wings per Cleaning the Glass. Garrett is also adept at shutting opponents down in one-on-one situations--he allows opponents to score just 0.581 points per possession in isolation, which ranks in the 93rd percentile league-wide per Synergy Sports.

On the offensive end, Temple is a relatively passive player who seems quite content to be a secondary playmaker while allowing the Kings' young guns to run the show. When he does have the ball in his hands, Temple rarely makes mistakes. He ranks in the 77th percentile league-wide in assist to usage ratio per Cleaning the Glass; in other words, Temple effectively turns his possessions into points for his teammates without coughing up the rock. More importantly, Temple is better than ever at spacing the floor. He is not only shooting a career-high mark from deep but is also averaging a career-high 3.5 attempts per game from beyond the arc. Garrett Temple, as a non-ball dominant wing with a stellar defensive pedigree, is a perfect fit for a young team looking to grow.

Future Outlook

Garrett Temple's 3-year, $24 million contract was widely panned when he signed it before the start of last season. However, Temple has put together arguably his two best NBA seasons in the last two years in Sacramento. He has played point guard, shooting guard, and small forward for the team depending on the team's needs, in addition to frequently covering the opponent's most threatening perimeter player.

This offseason will be bereft of teams with cap space, as the desperate deals signed during the 2016 offseason are starting to weigh more and more heavily with the salary cap failing to grow in tandem with the expanding salaries around the league. With that in mind, Garrett Temple seems all but a lock to opt into his $8 million deal for next season. After all, Temple is unlikely to fetch more than that on the open market after Lou Williams signed his extension for $8 million per season.

Garrett Temple might decide to search for a longer-term contract instead of re-upping with the Kings. He might also look to find a home with a contender, as he would be a great role player on many of the league's top teams. However, the Kings would be wise to keep him around. Nearly all of the team's young players have publicly vouched for Temple since his arrival in Sacramento, and Garrett seems to have found a comfortable role after wandering around the basketball wilderness before this season. He may have earned a deal with a championship contender elsewhere, but Temple's best basketball (both for this season and beyond) might still be in Sacramento.