NBA trade rumor season is heating up with the deadline less than a month away. The latest, from the excellent Marc Stein, is that the Kings could be looking to add another playmaker in veteran Hawks’ guard Jeremy Lin.

The Kings, meanwhile, would appear to be a natural destination for Lin, given Sacramento's push to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and the expiring contracts it has available to swap in Zach Randolph and Kosta Koufos

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 15, 2019

On the surface, it’s a little odd that the Kings would be looking to add yet another guard on a roster where the three best players (De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic) are all guards, but I can see where the interest is coming from. Lin would instantly become Sacramento’s second best playmaker, an upgrade on that front compared to both Yogi Ferrell and Frank Mason. It also might let Bogdan Bogdanovic get a little bit more rest instead of having to handle most of the playmaking duties when De’Aaron Fox is off the floor. Lin is also a very capable slasher and scorer who gets to the line at a high rate for a guard.

We’re also talking about the Kings giving up a probable non-rotation players for Lin. Randolph hasn’t played a minute this season and Kosta Koufos has recently seen his minutes and role supplanted by Harry Giles. The Kings also have an abundance of second round picks over the next few years that they could use as a sweetener.

This wouldn’t be the sexiest move, but it’d add another quality playmaker who would seem to fit Sacramento’s fast paced, run and gun system.