Kings Trade Scenarios: The Obvious and The Less Obvious

Welp, another week, another relegation to reality for the Kings; we know what this team is and what we’re in for.

Five-and-Seventeen to start the year, and there is no end in sight.

One of the most confusing rosters in the league is exactly in the position rival executives hoped they’d be; and maybe we’re exactly where Kings GM Scott Perry wants us to be, too. All offseason, and now into the season, since he’s taken this job, Perry has been using the language of someone soft-launching a rebuild – basically building the team up to be able to showcase tradable talent, and then sell it off to the highest bidder.

In the spirit of a hopeful fire sale coming for this franchise, let’s iron out some trade candidates, shall we?

First, the basics: Keegan Murray, Maxime Reynaud, and Nique Clifford are probably untouchable. Keegan just got a huge offseason extension, Reynaud is playing well enough that a promotion to the starting lineup has been discussed, according to Doug Christie, and Clifford is… well, he’s a rookie. That said, I assume the Kings will give Clifford some time to adjust to the league.

Now, onto the fun stuff…

The Obvious

Zach LaVine

Zach LaVine, come on down! You’re the most obvious trade candidate on the team!

This is honestly shocking, given the size of his contract. Still, LaVine has been putting up good offensive numbers this season, to the point where it’s being reported that not only are the Kings willing to part ways with him, but that he has suitors: Specifically, the Milwaukee Bucks. I’m not really sure what that looks like NOW, with Giannis being out for a few weeks with a calf strain, but if we assume the deal is still something the Bucks would do, that would be a great way to try to get some good draft capital. The Bucks are in a weird limbo state right now, where Giannis (and some youth) is really all that’s keeping them competitive. The rumors about Giannis’s agent beginning discussions with the Bucks about Giannis’s future throw even more clouds on the horizon in Milwaukee.

If the Bucks go looking for “win now” trades this season and find Zach LaVine, that draft capital could be very beneficial for the Kings over the next few years.

DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan is the other obvious name on this list. The West Coast Bulls never meshed well with the rest of this flawed Kings roster (who could’ve predicted that?). There have been some light reports throughout the beginning of the season, including one that says the Clippers are showing interest. These rumors haven’t been as hot in the last couple of weeks, but, like LaVine, I think people everywhere would be shocked if he were still a King come March. And, again, if you’re Scott Perry, you’re focused on the future, and you aim for as many picks as you can get.

The Less Obvious

Domantas Sabonis

Domantas Sabonis is a tricky one. Currently injured and not necessarily playing to the best of his abilities when healthy, Sabonis is also on a pretty large contract that would make trades difficult. However, Sabonis is still a very productive NBA center who could really help any number of teams with playoff aspirations. Not superstar-impact potential, but more of a rebounding-can-win-you-a-playoff-series kinda guy.

In this trade, you’d have to hope that, yes, draft picks are always premium, but for the Kings to still operate as a team, you would need a decent caliber player in return.

Keon Ellis

Keon Ellis has been the subject of trade rumors as well, unfortunately. The young defensive stalwart that Kings fans have grown so fond of is likely the single best asset the Kings have at this deadline. I don’t think the return would be huge, per se, but it might get you the best overall value of any of these trades.

I’d love to be able to say that this is the trade you have to get right, but based on Keon’s minutes over the last few games, the Kings are falling into old habits. Not playing one of your most obviously impactful players is certainly a decision you can make, but it is usually never the right one. This could pretty easily tank his value, and the Kings will be looking back in another year or so, realizing they traded away another promising guard.

Malik Monk

Malik Monk hurts. All offseason, we were prepped with “Malik Monk for Jonathan Kuminga is imminent”. This never came to fruition, but with the kind of skid the Kings are on, it would be foolish not to realize this might be the first domino to fall.

One of the most fun players to grace Sacramento in the last 10-15 years, Monk signed an extension to stay in a Kings jersey just last year. But he, too, will likely fall victim to this team’s horrible mismanagement. He’ll end up shining wherever he goes.

In Conclusion

So, my conclusion? The faster this team ends up in a rebuild, the better.

It’s been really fun watching Reynaud hit the ground running this season, and hopefully it will continue to be great watching him and the younger guys grow.

The sooner the hard parts get out of the way, the better.

Ripping the Band-Aid off is the best decision, as always.