Thanks to the majesty of the NBA Cup, we have a few days to kill. The Sacramento Kings are off until Thursday, and then will be off again after that until Monday. While the Kings players (and the Kings Herald staff’s families) surely appreciate the rest, it’s of the utmost importance that we keep the clicks rolling. With that in mind, it’s a great chance to discuss some trade rumors and throw out a bunch of asinine trade ideas!
For anyone unfamiliar, dating back to the Sactown Royalty days we would have an Asinine Trade Ideas pinned fanpost where people could share all their terrible trade ideas. While we don’t have a section like that at this time, this thread will serve as an open thread for any ideas you might have. However, we recommend using the Fanspo Trade Machine to be sure that your idea is allowed under the convoluted restrictions of the CBA. There are other trade machines out there as well, but this one if my favorite and I find it pretty reliable.
Nets Trade Speculation
The impetus for today’s conversation is that the Brooklyn Nets are, unsurprisingly, open for business as sellers this season. There are several Nets players who Kings fans have coveted, Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith being among the most coveted and most likely to be traded by the Nets this year. To add to that, our friend James Ham says there has is “plenty of smoke there” between the Kings and Nets and that something interesting could happen:
From James Ham on The Insiders https://t.co/4zAKO6bfKH pic.twitter.com/NdEvXXF09f
— DeMarvelous Fox & Ox (@SecurinDaBagley) December 9, 2024
The easiest trade to put together is Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles for Cameron Johnson. It would depend on how high the Nets are on Huerter, since he would remain on their cap beyond this season, but the deal would still reduce their cap hit next season as Lyles expires. However, this trade would likely require at least one first round pick from the Kings, and it’s hard to know if the Kings would be willing to do that.
Dorian Finney-Smith is another potential target, and his salary provides a couple possibilities. The Kings could do a one for one swap of DFS for Huerter, but it again depends on how Brooklyn views Huerter and their willingness to take on salary into next year. If they don’t want money beyond this season, the Kings could send Trey Lyles straight up for DFS, but the added salary would push the Kings into the luxury tax. The Kings could balance it a bit more by including some of their minimum contracts.
Personally, I’d also love to see Day’Ron Sharpe come to Sacramento. He doesn’t seem to be in Brooklyn’s long term plans, and will be a restricted free agent this summer. At just 23 years old, I like Sharpe as a young backup big.
The final option, which is harder to pull off but definitely could be in play, is a multi-team deal. Personally, I find it hard enough to craft trade ideas that make sense for two teams, let alone guessing how two or three other franchises value our assets
With that said, you can create your wildest trade ideas and share them below. Please strive to be somewhat realistic in your ideas, propose deals that make sense for both teams, and make sure the trades are allowable under the cap. Let’s see what you’ve got!
Kings receive:
Shake Milton
Dorian Finney-Smith
Nets receive:
Kevin Huerter
Colby Jones
2027 2nd round pick
DFS for reasons that have been discussed before. Milton can step in and help create shots and make shots.
Colby needs minutes to see if he sinks or swims. I don’t think he will get those in Sac as the roster is currently constructed. Huerter needs to make shots to be effective, and he has been fairly inconsistent.
Keegan needs help on the wing defensively. Maybe that will help his offense get going a bit more.
I do not see the motivation from the Kings in this deal. Huerter is a scoring threat albeit streaky at times. We give up a scoring threat and receive a lesser shooting guard in return. The power forward received in that deal is also less than Keegan currently is while in a slump. On top of that we give up a second round pick.
Nets win and Kings lose is my opinion.
I don’t value Huerter all too much. Dorian helps in a position of need, is shooting 43% on 5.5 3pt attempts/game. Milton basically becomes the 4th guard, who is more capable than Colby.
It’s not the best scenario, and maybe a pick comes to Sac in the trade instead.
Sacrifice to clear Huerter. Interesting process for improvement.
Does a secondary trade exist with the lesser players we receive to get back to even?
Colby is basically no value. So it’s DFS and Milton for Huerter.
Honest question, what does DFS do for the Kings that Crowder can’t do that would warrant giving up Huerter (who in my mind is the best payer in the deal) and draft capital?
It’s asinine for a reason!
Shoot the 3 ball?
Have a rec for the most common sense thing said about DFS to date. I keep waiting for someone to make the argument he’s better defensively but he looks to be net negative in advanced stats this year, something I was a bit surprised by considering the general consensus is he would make our team better. Also, 10ppg, so at least 6 of those are coming from his 43% on 5.5 3pa per game. What, exactly, is he supposed to help with, again?
As long as we’re talking about raiding the Nets’ henhouse, I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Noah Clowney. He’s only averaging 16 minutes per game in Brooklyn, shoots the 3 fairly well, on a rookie-scale contract, and maybe could fit in as a backup 4. A lineup I’d love to see is a bigger one that presents matchup issues and that’s somebody like Clowney at the 4, Keegan at the 3 and DDR at the 2. Since we tend to put out smaller lineups, this would be a tough lineup to guard in the right situations. I don’t think there are many two guards who can handle DDR and Keegan is perhaps more comfortable at the 3 at 6’8″ with a bit more bulk. Of course they can have this lineup when Lyles returns or by playing Isaac Jones, but they seem far too committed to smallish guards to use over what little size they do have. As much as I like Keon, trading him and a pick (maybe two seconds?) for Clowney would open a spot at guard for when Carter comes back, and also add some size to the roster. I will say I don’t know much about Clowney, but the idea of going for a big at the expense of the logjam at guard makes more sense to me.
Great idea about Clowney, forgot about him! And also agree that Keon is likely one of our better bargaining chips–good player on fantastic contract. Would hate to see him go, but agree we’ve got more depth there than anywhere else.
I think the Nets really like Clowney. He has had some injuries, which has slowed his progress. Also, he has been behind Cam Johnson, DFS, and Mikal Bridges (in prior seasons).
Clowney would be my first choice if I had my pic of anyone on the roster come to the Kings.
I really like Clowney, but I don’t think the Nets would be interested in trading him. And if they did, they could probably ask a lot for him. Same reason I didn’t mention Cam Thomas.
I don’t think Clowney is available. There is Keegan type of like for him in Brooklyn.
Cam Johnson I get–he’s great–although for the price we are talking about (I agree, surely a 1st round pick in there), you’d have to have a pretty clear idea about minutes distribution, and I’m not sure Coach Brown is the guy I’d trust with that. Cam coming off the bench? DDR agreeing to a 6th-man role? DDR becomes the SG, and Monk back to the bench? Chemistry is a delicate thing as we’ve all seen. This would be an ideal player, if DDR was willing to take on the bench scorer role.
As for DFS–are we sure that he is an upgrade over Huerter? I know there’s some recency bias with regards to KH’s shooting struggles, but when you compare their last 3 years, respectively, KH is better in virtually every offensive category and also in defensive WS, believe it or not (data from Basketball Reference here.) DFS is bigger/stronger, but not taller–and 5 years older. I think I’d rather have Huerter.
DFS for Lyles would make some sense, in that you’re getting some wing help for a guy closer to the end of your rotation–if we’re confident Isaac Jones can be backup PF (maybe?). But in this scenario DFS is still no better than your 8th/9th guy, and (theoretically) Lyles a better 3-pt shooter than Jones, so that hurts a little. Lyles being a healthy back-up PF who can shoot 3’s would solve some issues for this team–just hasn’t quite worked out unfortunately (so far).
I tend to favor picking up a guy who can play some minutes at PF and shoot some 3’s, which would allow Keegan to soak up a few minutes at the SF. If that’s Cam Johnson, fantastic! If not, I’d probably keep looking for a guy like this (John Collins still my target here), rather than another guy who keeps Keegan locked into the PF role.
Two ideas. 1 Huerter, Lyles a first and 2seconds for Johnson and Sharpe. Johnson off the bench. He still can play a lot of minutes to help Derozan Murray and even Monk as a backup. Also heaven forbid but also a starter if an injury occurs. Very valuable.
I compared Sharp with Len. Sharpe all the way. Good rebounder especially on the offensive end.
Cost would probably be a big factor. Cam Johnson and his salary + picks that would need to be sent, versus DFS that would, most likely, be a bit easier to get. Either way, both of them fill a major need on the team.
The amount of chum needed depends on the fish. Some are ready to leap into the bright blue sky into the boat for a glimpse of the chum. Some are swimming blindly through the chum enjoying the current reality.
To be a Kings fan one must often have a similar mental capacity of a fish. I know I find myself wondering in self reflection why I continue sometimes.
I hear ya…
Perfect.
As a sweetener to any deals in stead of adding picks:
Kings receive:
Jordi Fernandez
Nets receive:
Mike Brown
Who gets the 3 firsts?
Last week: Trade them all!
This week: Not bad. Let’s see how they do this week
Rinse and repeat 😀
When a team is .500 they are half good half bad so they’re not wrong, gotta do better than average
As I posted in yesterday’s thread: Huerter, Lyles, and 2 first round picks (protected if you like) for Cam and Sharpe. If it floats Brooklyn’s boat: 1 unprotected first, a protected first and some seconds.
Kings get length (Cam) and youth (Sharpe). The caveat to this idea is I’d prefer to start Cam next to Keegan and bring DeRozan off the bench as a super sub. Rotation:
Fox, Monk, McLaughlin
Monk, Ellis, DeRozan
Cam, DeRozan
Keegan, Sharpe, Jones
Sabonis, Sharpe, Len
Now…just because it’s a asinine thread…
If things go very south for the Kings and if Fox, with his current contract looming, becomes available:
Fox and Colby Jones for Cam Johnson, Dennis Schroeder, Noah Clowney, 2025 unprotected first from Brooklyn, 2025 unprotected first round pick from the Knicks, 2027 unprotected first from Knicks.
Schroder is just an expiring place holder. The real assets are Cam, Clowney and the 3 unprotected picks.
Ok. For asinines sake. Fox to the Spurs for Vassell, Sochan, 2025 first, 2025 first and 2026n first. Could also add C. Jones or Ellis or both.
I don’t think the Spurs have any interest in Fox. They are looking to build around Wemby, not put him along side a guy who is high usage and not the greatest facilitator. CP3 was an excellent short term add for them.
The Spurs are being pretty intentional about the way they build around Wemby, stockpiling future picks and pick swaps. I don’t think they’re in a rush, and the Spurs organization has traditionally not gone star hunting with their assets. They just don’t make big trades. They’ll draft well, and make small moves around the edges. For those reasons, I agree it’s unlikely the Spurs would chase Fox.
However, I disagree with the other reasons you list for them not going after Fox. Fox’s usage would not be an issue. His usage rate isn’t that much higher than Devin Vassell’s this year (29.5 vs 25.5 per NBA.com/stats). And while I’m not going to argue that Fox is a top facilitator in the league, 6 assists per game while sharing facilitation duties with Sabonis and Monk is nothing to sneeze at. Let’s not pretend Fox would be incapable of getting an entry pass to Wemby.
KOC said he knows for sure San Antonio has interest in Fox. Also, I think the Kings could get a better return for Fox than this.
[deleted comment – wrong thread]
I am just not excited about Cam Johnson. I feel like he is one of those “on paper” players that looks better on another team. Here are my main issues:
To have to give up two good contracts in Kev and Trey, and a 1st rounder, seems like a lot for that player, in my eyes. He seems fine, I guess.
The draft capital is what I would be hesitant on.
Also, the Kings already have a quality depth problem. Giving up Kev and Trey for Cam would shorten the bench even more.
I don’t think an unprotected first for Cam johnson is warranted, personally. For instance, I’d prefer to keep this year’s pick not merely because we could use it on a rookie, but because we could trade it as an asset for an established player. I know we have a poor history with draft picks but especially in a deep draft, I think picks are very valuable
Is Huerter positive value on his deal ($17M this year, $18M next year)? He’s what, the 25th best SG, who keeps getting benched by the middling team that dealt a FRP for him? That contract seems underwater to me by a few $M. Huerter will not get us positive or neutral value, and Monte is shooting himself in the foot if he thinks so.
Guys in Huerter’s contract range:
Josh Hart
Jusuf Nurkic
Harrison Barnes
Patrick Williams
Malik Monk
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Rui Hachimura
Zach Collins
Caris Levert
Lu Dort
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Klay Thompson
Grayson Allen
Considering contract and player, how many guys would you put below Kevon? Most.
Is Lyles a positive value on his deal ($8M this year)? Seems neutral to me. He’s your 9th man/not a playoff player.
Lyles’ value is primarily as an expiring contract.
Peace on Earth for Goodwill Towards All. Who says no?
The Russians. Its always the Russians…
They’re Coming.
Danny Ainge
Wow! this sleighed the internet.
I’m surprised not to hear anyone mention Nic Claxton. When healthy, he provides us rim running and the interior protection we lack. I know the drawback is his health and new and rather costly contract, but that could mean the nets are a bit more willing to shed it. Maybe one option would be:
Claxton
Shake Milton
-For
Huerter
Lyles
Kings might have to give a 2nd round or maybe colby as well, but we’d finally have that athletic rim protector we’ve been looking for and some offensive, ball handling with Shake.
I would prefer to trade for Cam Johnson over Claxton if it were possible, though
I think 2 firsts for Cam Johnson while trading Huerter and Lyles for salary matching purposes is too much. Many teams put out their desired price for players but typically receive less than that. For example, the Spurs floated they wanted 2 firsts for Jakob Poetl a few years ago but received a first and 2 seconds. Nets said they want 2 firsts for Cam Johnson. The Nets also said they don’t want to take on future salary.
Here is a trade to satisfy the Nets’ two conditions with a 3rd team the Kings already have good trade relations with:
Kings receive:
Cam Johnson
Nets receive:
Lonzo Ball
Trey Lyles
1 top-5 protected 2028 SAC first
2 seconds from the Bulls
Bulls receive:
Kevin Huerter
Bulls get a player they have been interested in while saving money for their cheap owner this year. (They can even use the 2 Kings seconds from the DeRozan trade!) Nets get a first, 2 seconds, and expiring salary (taking on only $5M this year.) Kings get their wing in Cam Johnson.
Is cam johnson really worth a top 5 protected pick though? I like him and we need help at his position but I dunno…
I think i’m more willing to be patient but that is the antithesis of Vivek’s modus operandi. I would much prefer to keep this year’s pick even if we had a mediocre season rather than trading too much for some immediate help
I agree with you actually. If they are trying to get help now, then this seems reasonable. I’d personally rather wait to make another run at Markkanen or another star with our firsts tbh but I don’t know if Vivek will allow that. He’s impatient which amazes me Monte has been able to keep his impatient impulses at bay for so long.
My current take on trades. If Monk continues to play as well as he has been as the starting 2, our starting line-up is set. Unless . . . Keegan continues to play inconsistently, in which case, you either bring make a smaller trade and bring him off the bench or make him part of a BIG trade. I’ve seen people suggesting moving DD to the bench, but we aren’t paying him the kind of money we are to come off the bench.
So if we are going to trade Huerter, it should either be for front court depth or combine him with Keegan and picks for a major upgrade at the four. I wouldn’t move Keegan until closer to the trade deadline, because I believe that if Monk keeps playing the way he is and Keegan gets his shot back, we could be much much better than our current record.
But looking at all the pieces we have, other than first round picks, we just don’t have the ammo to make a major move–except for Keegan. So if Keegan comes back, we hope Huerter builds up some additional trade value and use him to make our bench better. But if he doesn’t, we combine Keegan as the bright young star, Huerter and maybe Trey as salary filler, and how ever many first round picks it takes to get a star power forward.
I’ve also seen some people mention trading Ellis, but I honestly don’t think he has enough value to bring back much more than a different version of himself. He’s one of those players we love, but that most teams don’t see as that valuable.
PSA: Kings have no seconds to trade. They only currently have their 2026 and 2027 seconds but those are earmarked for the Huerter pick in case the first does not convey in the next 2 years.
Another trade. Huerter, C. Jones, 2028 first, 2026 second, 2027 second for Herb Jones and Jordan Hawkins.
Starters: Fox, Monk, Derozan, Murray and Sabonis.
Backups: Carter/McLaughlin, Hawkins, Ellis, H. Jones/Lyles and Len/Robinson.
Keeping the asinine-ity-ish-ness going, what about:
Pistons receive:
Kevin Huerter – 2yr 16.8m
Trey Lyles – 1yr 8m
2027 1st round pick
2029 1st round pick
Kings receive:
Isiah “Beef” Stewart – 4y 15m
Ausar Thompson – 3y 8.3m
The Pistons get a veteran shooter/ball mover with Kevin to provide space around Cade & Ivey, with a fair contract that doesn’t impede cap space, a younger/better version of Hardaway Jr, and the only other shooter on that roster is the shorter Malik Beasley, who is an expiring contract and will be one of the better FA’s after having a great start to the season, and Fontechhio who has been a bit disappointing for them this season. Trey is basically expiring, but fits as a bench 4/5 with range. Then two first round picks to keep restocking, and with new management sorting out that mess of a franchise, I think that would be appealing as having multiple draft assets and cap space, they can still hunt for FA’s and be an appealing sign & trade partner. Ausar would be a loss, but he is another non-shooter with a core of Cade/Ivey/Duren, and they have a very similar player in Ron Holland to develop.
The Kings get a young mobile 4/5 with physicality, motor, and a lob threat. He can back up Sabonis and play alongside him in bigger lineups, and while I like the roster construction more than most, the Kings need a mobile big who can play with Domas against some teams come playoff time. Ausar is the kind of wing the fan base has been pining for, an incredible athlete who can guard 1-4 and a true ball hawk, a more interesting version of Matisse Thybulle. He could be the principal back up to Keegan so he can play 32-36 min rather than 38, as well as play alongside Keegan. He could be a part of a OKC level on-ball defensive lineup, with Domas surrounded by Keegan, Ausar, Fox, & Keon.
I know sending two useful players with fungible contracts and considerable draft capital is a lot to pay, but I also think Stewart/Thompson round out the roster quite well as they are opportunistic scorers rather than shot creators, and their positional versatility would be a big benefit.
I like your idea. When you compare Herb Jones with Ausar Thompson Jones wins in all categories. I really like Srewart so if you compare your idea and mine IMO it’s a wash. Now it’s up to Monty.
PS Just did a comparison between Jones and Stewart and Jones wins in most catagories.
Looking outside the Nets –
I would think that the teams with 2nd Apron liability and slim or slimmer chances of Championship would be most eager to cut their payroll and the restrictions aligned with that 2nd Apron, moving forward.
The teams that stand out to me are fellow Pacific Divisioner Phoenix Suns and the Eastern Conference Milwaukee Bucks.
On that trade machine, Fanspo, I couldn’t find anything worth trading withPhoenix that fits Sacramento’s needs or that the Suns, unless desperate, would do.
The Bucks on the other hand have that Bobby Portis fella that many here covet. On Fanspo, and taking under account the 2nd Apron restriction (no aggregate player trades), a Trey Lyles for Bobby Portis trade works if you throw in Colby Jones. The Kings take on enough added salary with Portis to push them over the cap, however, if they waive/don’t extend/cut one of their newly wait until later players – like Orlando Robinson, or Doug McDermott, or Jordan McLaughlin, they can add that to the trade to even up the salary with Milwaukee, who can cut that player, or not include them in the trade and Sacramento can cut them. The second is more likely, as subtracting one and adding 3 won’t work with roster size restrictions (though Fanspo doesn’t tell me that).
As for Brooklyn, they, like the Kings, are up against the salary line. They will loose $40M (!) in Ben Simmons this Summer, as well as Bojan Bodganovic’s $19M. That’s a $59M, or one third of their payroll gone. Is there a free agent or agents to fill that gap that will want to be the headliner in Brooklyn? They’ve got interesting times ahead. Trading away their talent (Cam Johnson, DFS, Noah Clowney, Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton) is hard to see where that directs them in a positive place. And their coach does not have them playing Washington Wizard level Tankathon ball.
i thought the numbers were close enough that i could swap the entire Kings and Nets rosters but it doesn’t work – probably something arcane to do with what players are not eligible to be traded.
BUT if it could work, would you swap rosters? (Open to whether coaches should be included). Do you think the Nets are better set for future success? Records are about the same.
At this point, I’m pretty sold that our current roster aint going anywhere and wholesale changes are needed. This would be about as wholesale as it gets!
A redo from above trade. After doing more homework on Herb Jones and Jordan Hawkins I have revisited the trade. New trade. Huerter, Ellis, C. Jones, the 2027 and 2028 firsts and the 2026 second for Herb Jones and Jordan Hawkins.
Starters: Fox, Monk, Derozan, Murray and Sabonis
Backups: Carter/ McLaughlin, Hawkins, Herb Jones, Lyles/Issac Jones, Len/Robinson
The reason for 2 firsts and a second ( 2 firsts being in the 20’s not lottery) IMO it’s worth the trade. H. Jones is one of the top defenders in the league. Hawkins is a shooter but can also defend. Still very young and has a high upside. I like this trade over a Cam Johnson Day Ron Sharpe trade. we do lose Ellis but H. Jones will make that up and then some.
Kevin Huerter for Aaron Nesmith and Isaiah Jackson.
The Pacers’ offense and Hali have never been the same since they lost Buddy. Maybe by adding a high volume 3pt shooter like Kevin, they could recapture their high octane offense.
We get another wing stopper and a backup center.
Jackson tore his achilles tendon this season.
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