After dazzling in Las Vegas with sharpshooting and defensive grit, the former Summit League Player of the Year parlays his dominant Summer League performance into a Chicago roster opportunity.
The Sacramento Kings have nearly filled out their roster, with one more spot on the main roster and two new players being signed to two-way deals.
Marquel Sutton, who played with Sacramento in the 2026 NBA Summer League, was one candidate for a roster spot after a strong showing in California and Las Vegas.
But, on Friday, Sutton agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Chicago Bulls, which serves as a minimum-level deal that isn't guaranteed.
Sutton looked very impressive during Summer League, showing real growth as a 3-point shooter.
In the California Classic, Sutton scored 16 points en route to a 91-85 victory over the Golden State Warriors, while playing solid defense and hitting the defensive glass.
"I bring a lot of energy, a lot of toughness, especially on the defensive side," Sutton told Sactown Sports 1140. "I take pride in that."
Isaiah Stevens, another under-the-radar player who shined during Summer League, played well alongside Sutton, as the two frequently played off each other's spacing and kickouts during their minutes.
Stevens and Sutton made back-to-back 3-pointers against the Milwaukee Bucks to help build a double-digit lead, as the Kings held on for a six-point victory.
This was Sutton's top performance, as the former Omaha and LSU standout scored a game-high 24 points against the Bucks, nailing four triples and adding six rebounds.
In 2024, Sutton was the Summit League Player of the Year for the Mavericks, averaging 18.9 points per game, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per contest.
Sutton left Omaha with 13 career double-doubles and over 1,300 career points scored.
In his lone season in Baton Rouge, Sutton led the team in rebounding (7.3) while finishing as one of LSU's top scorers, averaging just over 13 points per game.
Sutton added another six career double-doubles to his résumé, dominating the glass in non-conference play.
Against New Orleans, Sutton recorded a season best 15 rebounds, adding 15 points thanks to four 3-point makes.
Sutton's ability to shoot the long ball at a more consistent rate will dictate his ceiling at the next level, as the 6-foot-8 forward broke the 30-percent mark for the only time in his career last season.
While him landing in Sacramento did not happen, Sutton will have an opportunity on a Bulls team seeking any type of talent to shine through as the team enters the Caleb Wilson era.
If Sutton can shoot it like he did with the Kings Summer League team, it will be difficult to keep his defensive prowess and intensity sidelined.
