Sacramento Kings to Be Buyers in NBA Trade Season

The NBA season is heating up, and so are trade-talks around the league. The Warriors already made a big play by landing Dennis Schroder from the Nets, and now many have turned their attention to the Kings.

(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Sacramento, thanks to their recent three game win streak, is still fighting to stay relevant in the West. After cooling off from their hot start, the team bounced back and suddenly has a lot of hope.

That switch is important because it informs how the Kings will operate in the coming weeks. Once predicted to be sellers, they are now looking for key pieces to strengthen their roster. Though many executives thought they might want to move on from their best players, it seems now they plan to build on what they already have.

Despite their success, the Kings still have some holes to fill in their roster. They need more dynamic scoring, and could use a few pieces to help better support their stars like De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.

More specifically, they are in the market for a strong wing and a capable big man.

Trade Options Open

For the Kings, either one of the above pieces would go a long, long way. However, getting them wouldn’t come easy. There are several big names floating around the NBA rumor mill right now, and all of them would require Sacramento to make a big move.

As of December 15th, four players (DeMar DeRozan, Alex Len, Jordan McLaughlin, and Orlando Robinson) became trade eligible for the Kings. They all have value and could be a part of some deals on the open market.

The core players of Fox, Sabonis and spark plug Malik Monk (who has greatly increased offensive output since joining the starting lineup) are likely going to stay no matter what.

That being said, six-time all star DeMar DeRozan isn’t immune. He’s playing well and gives Sacramento some extra flexibility if they want to bring in someone else. As the guard is on a three-year, $73.9 million deal it’s unlikely, but something to monitor moving forward. The other three are definitely on the block.

Moving on Ellis

Kings coach Mike Brown has stated that they desperately need a backup center and they don’t have enough guards to play small ball when the game calls for it. Those are big gaps, and if the Kings want to get serious they need to be filled sooner rather than later.

The above options won’t likely move the needle too much, but Keon Ellis could. While Ellis is only averaging 6.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.2 steals a game, he contributes in a big way for Sacramento. He’s a great hustle player, solid rebounder, and leads all role players with a +9.6 on/off net rating.

When he’s on the court, the Kings play better than when he’s sitting. That makes him a solid role piece that any team would love to sign. While looking at his numbers it’s obvious the Kings don’t want to move him, trading the quick guard would allow them to shore up some of their weakness without losing too much outside.

The Kings have plenty of guards, and Brown has stated that it’s not always easy to find Ellis minutes. Packaging him with other valuable assets (such as future draft picks) would enable them to free up those minutes while keeping a deep bench.

Rounding Out the Roster

As it stands, the Kings don’t plan to move any big names. While some might come up, their recent statement on keeping Keegan Murray shows there aren’t too many names they can move.

Trey Lyles is an option that could go a long way for the right team, and the Kings have several first round picks as well. Both would be attractive options for other franchises who wouldn’t mind parting with a big name to plan for the next few seasons.

Another option is Kevin Huerter. The wing has been solid for the Kings, but only when he’s managed to stay healthy. He re-injured his surgically repaired left shoulder last Thursday, which led to a minor AC joint sprain. He’s currently day-to-day.

Though Huerter doesn’t have the best stats, he’s done well as a reserve and provides a nice three shot in a scoring-oriented league. As with Lyles, the Kings would likely only move him as part of a bigger deal to a team that needs future capital.