According to Michael Scotto, current NBA writer for HoopsHype and a former NBA agent, the Dallas Mavericks, along with the previously reported Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets, are currently vying for the services of Sacramento Kings starting center Richaun Holmes.
Unlike Toronto and Charlotte, who feel a little odd as matches for a one-year rental of Richaun, the Dallas Mavericks are the exact sort of championship-hopeful organization that should be looking at a contributor like Holmes. He would provide an instant, massive upgrade over Willie Cauley-Stein, as Kings fans well know, as well as a completely different look than current starter Maxi Kleber.
Kleber is a floor-spacing five, who’s currently knocking down 47% of his four three-point attempts per game, but his skill set doesn’t run along traditional center lines, unlike Holmes. Kleber isn’t a particularly strong rim protector, holding his opponents to just 0.3% below their average field goal percentage in the paint, and he’s also not a force in the pick-and-roll for Luka Doncic, featuring as a targeted roller just 17% of his time on the court. Holmes, on the other hand, is enjoying his best season as a defensive anchor. On the year, he’s decreasing his opponents’ accuracy at the rim by a whopping 9.3%, and Richaun is also one of the most prolific rollers in the league, ranking in the 86th percentile in efficiency, while running that particular play over 32% of the time, almost double that of Kleber. Overall, Holmes is averaging 4.5 field goal attempts per game in the paint, while Kleber sits at just 0.8 attempts. Teams like the Mavericks should be looking to add different mixes of rotational players, and Holmes represents that exact opportunity.
Aside from offering an upgrade as a traditional center, Richaun’s expiring salary may also be attractive to the Mavericks. With Luka Doncic set to ink a five-year rookie-scale max extension soon, and with Kristaps Porzingis already on a massive deal, the 2021 offseason is likely the last in several upcoming years for Dallas to get busy in free agency. Gaining ahold of Holmes’ early bird rights, while not having to commit guaranteed long-term salary, might be the perfect sort of compromise General Manager Donnie Nelson is seeking.
From Sacramento’s side of things, they should command an extremely high price to part with their starting center and one of their most important night-to-night contributors. Unfortunately for the Kings, the Mavericks handed their 2021 and 2023 first round draft picks to the New York Knicks in their acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis, and the 2023 selection has top-10 protections through 2025, limiting Dallas’ ability to trade future picks. Monte McNair would instead need to pursue a couple of Dallas’ young contributors, such as rookies Josh Green and Tyrell Terry, and the Mavericks may very well be willing to let those two go, as neither one is currently contributing in the rotation.
We’ll keep you updated as rumors around Richaun Holmes continue to swirl. The trade deadline is 3:00 pm ET on Thursday, March 25th.
Holmes is obviously a question mark as far as being part of the Kings’ future, but Kleber instantly makes the team far worse defensively in one of the few areas of the court where the Kings have some strength.
None of what Dallas has intrigues me very much, especially with their picks being unavailable.
Same. Nothing on their roster appears to be of any value to the Kings unless McNair has some sort of infatuation with Josh Green and Tyrell Terry
That being said, if McNair has a bee in his bonnet about clearing cap space, maybe include Buddy in a package for Hardaway Jr’s expiring?
The Buddy-for-Hardaway thing could be good, as long as there’s no serious consideration about re-signing Hardaway. He’s a chucker. I don’t like guys who score 25 points but need 24 shots to get them.
Looking at you, Anthony Edwards.
Yeah who wants Anthony Edwards….
Fun fact: Hardaway’s true shooting percentage is about 30 points higher than DeAaron Fox’s.
/runs off
bit of an apples to oranges fun fact. Hardway’s assisted shot percentage (~70%) is about the same as Fox’s unassisted shot percentage (76%).
I thought it was 3 percentage points difference unless that was a typo. (I’m thinking it was a typo. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt even though I know better.)
But, yes, TS% is life and life is TS%, this is no doubt true.
I thought you were a baseball guy? I look at it the way I’d look at a batting average (so .584 versus .556). 😉
That’s considered 30 points? Okay then. 30 points it is. I don’t do batting average you orange and black wanker. I do wRC+. DUH.
you a dog!
Would we really be trying to simply get rid of buddy’s contract in that case? He’s overpaid but I feel like we could at least get something in return (even a 2nd rounder)
As an aside – looking at that roster, and the fact that they are currently sitting over .500 and in a playoff spot, should open anyone’s eyes about the value of Luka Doncic and Rick Carlisle.
Yes, this has been my point the entire time about Luka/Bagley. Other than those two players and the obvious discrepancy between them, whose roster is better?
In my opinion, ours, by far … ergo, had we simply done the right and obvious thing in 2018, I would assume we would be a Top 4 seed in the West right now.
Obviously, we probably wouldn’t have sucked bad enough last year to draft Haliburton at 12 … but remember, we didn’t have a FRP in 2019 to sway our fortunes either way, so this literally could have been the same team plus Luka minus Haliburton and Bagley.
As much as I love Hali, if Dallas calls and wants to make that trade I’m going for it (not that it will happen, just saying theoretically).
My basketball dreams are haunted by the once-possible-but-unlikely vision of Michael Malone coaching this team and Luka playing on it.
Let that marinate for a while when you watch Luke Walton start Marvin in the first quarter but sit him out in the fourth quarter, and assess the overall basketball IQ of those two gentlemen.
Then circle back to Malone/Luka, and stare into the dark abyss that I do whenever I think of Draft Day 2018.
Yeah, completely agree. I think this Kings roster is considerably better than Dallas, outside of Luka. /sigh
This is the problem with Dallas, it’s really hard to find a trade that works for both sides.
They are not trading Doncic and I am not sure either team would want KP in the deal.
Without many picks or other good players, we are basically left deciding if we want some combo of Terry, Bey, and Green. We could have picked Bey over Woodard if we really wanted him. And I don’t really think Terry or Green move the needle more than Holmes. They are ok lottery tickets if we were trading a lesser talent or if one was a throw in on a larger trade.
But I don’t see any or even all three really being worth what Holmes has brought to the table unless we are 100% sure we will not resign him and no other team submits a serious offer.
Yep. While the need may be plain a deal looks even less likely than the other two teams discussed last night for Holmes.
Went to watch some highlights of Terry and Green in the G-League after reading this article. Green looks like a good defender and I would rather see Terry handling the ball over CoJo! Just not sure if the return is worth it.
So everyone wants Holmes and Barnes … and Haliburton is the best or second best rookie in the league … and Fox is our best player and Hield is our best shooter. Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention that both Barnes and Holmes are in their prime. Why not add to that group instead of pawn them off for cents on the dollar? If they need to dump salary, try moving Bagley or Hield.
I don’t think anyone wants Bagley or Hield. That is McNair’s $35M committed problem right now. Personally, I feel if he could move out from under Buddy and Bagley’s deals he’d have no problem keeping Barnes and throwing money at Holmes this summer.
He also can wait until summer if he chooses.
This is true, but I don’t think the market is going to change for those two.
Probably not. But you can probably dump Bagley and still sign Holmes fairly easily.
Are people optimistic that Holmes would re-sign here? If so, why?
I think we also have to keep in mind that you are trading away a half-season rental. The price won’t be high in any event.
I think Monte should take anything he can get, unless he’s 99% sure that Holmed will re-sign.
I’m assuming he would. But good point, most of us fans probably have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes.
I’m optimistic the Kings can re-sign Holmes if they can offer him similar money to what other teams are willing to pay. I’d be willing to roll the dice in free agency if the potential trade offers were unappealing.
I think like some other players, he loves the city, loves the fans, but doesn’t think this team is going to be good soon.
My guess is that he will only re-sign here if he gets significantly more money than elsewhere. And I think with how next year’s FA class looks like, he will be much sought after.
yeah they do have a reputation to overcome. on the other hand, I think McNair could make a credible pitch that this team will be in the playoff hunt next season. The current 5-man starting lineup is playoff caliber. They could make some moves in advance of his decision to solidify the bench and show him they’re serious about being competitive next season.
I’m optimistic they can Rik. But, it will depend on the money and right now the Kings are too far over the cap to realistically being able to getting to that number this summer. You move Bagley though? Now it’s doable.
2 months ago I wasn’t convinced Holmes market would be that big. But now? I am. OTOH, I don’t really see a huge need to make a trade because the fans want one. Make the right deal, whatever you think that is.
This is going to be a very revealing deadline in alot of ways, me thinks.
As a former cap guru Pookey I’m stuck and hoping you can help me. I
recall reading somewhere (maybe here) that the most the Kings can offer Richaun is 125% of his current salary which (IMO) will not be enough to resign him.
First dude: Is this right or have I misrembered? If it is true is there any hack for the Kings to use to get around the CBA stipulated max salary increase for Holmes.
If I’m wrong please discard my question. Bottom line bro what type of contract do you think Richaun will command. I’m guessing he is going to garner a contract that averages +/- 14 mil per, for 3 years.
Lay it on me.
it is kinda weird though that there hasn’t really been any Buddy rumors. I assume McNair has made it clear he doesn’t want to take any bad contracts back, and that basically killed any potential interest.
maybe Vivek told McNair that Buddy is off limits
On the other hand, maybe he didn’t.
who knows. I feel like that’s type of juicy nugget of gossip that would get leaked though.
It was reported that Vivek wants to keep Barnes & Hield unless the Kings get a Godfather offer b/c he wants the Kings to be competitive (though the idea of the Kings being competitive w/o another high pick seems delusional to me).
this wouldn’t surprise at all. Buddy will always be a gem in Vivek’s eyes. So much untapped potential in a 28 yr old who can’t do anything but shoot (and sometimes doesn’t do that well either)
I think Bagley could be traded for an expiring contract, plus a low value asset.
Shocking news: NBA teams interested in quality NBA player who helps teams win games.
I only want to hear about the real shocking stuff moving forward. Hornets and Raptors interested in Holmes? Boring. Actual hornets and raptors attacking people in their homes? That’s news baby!
Eggs-ackley!!!!!
How about Raptors attacking the paint!
Real cause of extinction = ACL
But can Raptors play SF?
Most defenders are likely to give them lots of space, but the Raptors’ reach could be problematic.
No wonder Rudy Gay didn’t fit there!
Don’t worry. We have Kabengele!
No 1sts…No deal…
Holmes and Bagley for Doncic. Who says no?
Vlade Divac.
10 years from now, you’ll all see. YOU’LL ALL BE PROVEN WRONG!
Doncic’s second jump is too slow. Not springy enough.
He has a low ceiling. Too European.
His dad is worse than Bagley Sr.
But the mom makes it all worthwhile.
It seems more and more likely that any deal that involves trading Holmes, Barnes, or Buddy is going to need to be a 3-team deal. It doesn’t look like any one team has exactly what the Kings want in return for those guys.
Good point. Suppose for example John Collins is the guy the Kings want. Having one of these other teams in play could help make that happen. I’m not proposing Collins necessarily but I do like the strategy of being aggressive to go get the players you want.
I read these one-sided trade deals every day and wonder why we would be willing to part with someone like Holmes, who is the exact type of player the Kings need. In fact, if you put put five people with Holme’s effort on the court, you’d have a playoff team. So it doesn’t fit the timeline of Fox and Haliburton, where are the Kings going to find someone like Holmes in the draft? Everything I read about even the top five draft picks has something about flaws in their game, usually in the area where Holmes is the strongest. I feel the same way about Barnes. I wish we had more players like him, not fewer. All the names coming from trade rumors to get Barnes won’t amount to more than role players and I can see why the FO is reticent about making those deals. If getting rid of Buddy or Barnes to sign Holmes in the off-season is the reason for moving them, and the difference is perhaps $5 million per year, Monte needs to earn his money and figure out how to trade other pieces to make up that difference so Holmes can be re-signed. This team isn’t this bad (maybe badly coached) to offer a fire sale of its best assets.
Amen Lazlo.
I’m curious as to what you think that McNair can “figure out” if teams aren’t interested in making an equitable trade for Barnes and/or Hield.
The ongoing suggestion that the reason that no trade has happened is because McNair, I don’t know, doesn’t want it badly enough? I don’t get it.
You do what you can in order to return Holmes next season, but you can’t make another team trade with you. Even if you offered something completely one-sided in favor of another team, there’s nothing that obligates them to accept.
I think the question with Holmes (and Holmes alone, among these speculated traded Kings players) is whether you can even get him to stay when he hits FA.
He’s the one quality guy they could realistically trade right now and still have on the roster next season.
Sacramento Kings are interested in Richaun Holmes!
Meow!
Give us Pozingis and we got a deal. Otherwise no.
I’m just dreaming guys, having a little fun with all these rumors. Be glad when tomorrow comes and goes so we can move on.
I’m howling at the idea of Kings fans “moving on” from anything.
Can you imagine having 3 Holmes’ for the price of 1 Porzingi?
The Kings cannot afford Holmes. Monte’s job is to turn a profit first, win games second.
Great, this is great. As much as I’m going to miss Holmes, let’s package him, Marvin and Buddy for Luka and just pretend the last three years never happened.
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