The Sacramento Kings will trade anyone! Almost. A new report from Jake Fischer in The Stein Lein says that the Kings are willing to part ways with any and all players other than Keegan Murray and Nique Clifford.
“…league sources say that the Kings are willing to listen to offers for players up and down their roster … particularly for Sacramento’s veterans. Just don’t get your hopes up about your favorite team acquiring the recently re-signed Keegan Murray. … or last June’s prized first-round pick Nique Clifford. Sources say both will be off the table in upcoming trade talks.
“Word is, furthermore, that new general manager Scott Perry realistically understands that he has to undertake a multiyear rebuild as opposed to trying to cobble together a plucky playoff-worthy squad from the ashes of Sacramento’s Beam Team. The hope is that Murray and Clifford are going to be a part of that.”
It is a good signal that Perry reportedly knows he must go through a real rebuild with this team, let’s just hope his boss also knows that.
So, what is the outlook for the trade potential of the three main veterans on the roster? Not much, according to Fischer, who says it is unlikely Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis bring back much. Fisher reports that one Western Conference executive said this about Sabonis: “It’s tough to pay a center that much who doesn’t protect the rim and doesn’t shoot threes — no matter how great of an offensive hub he can be.”
Fischer also was told to not expect for Sabonis to ask for a trade. Sabonis likes Sacramento and Vivek Ranadive likes Sabonis.
“Sabonis’ affinity for Sacramento and the high regard in which he is held by ever-involved Kings owner Vivek Ranadive are factors that work against a trade that can’t be ignored.”
As far as LaVine, Fischer reports that there would be interest in him if he were to drop his player option in 2026-27:
“I’ve heard multiple teams say that a LaVine market could indeed take shape if he were willing to bypass his $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season and replace it with a longer-term deal at a lower annual salary.”
Further, in the offseason LaVine’s side, according to Fischer, tried to get Atlanta interested in a trade that would have brought Trae Young to the Kings. But Perry does not plan to pursue Trae Young, LaMelo Ball or Ja Morant, according to the report because “none of those lead guards is known for the sort of defensive toughness that the Kings’ new regime has made it clear will be a priority.”
And then there is Keon Ellis. Ellis is a guy that would be cheaper and a guy that the Kings developed and is known for the sort of defensive toughness that the Kings’ new regime has make it clear will be a priority. The report states that “more than half the league” has called about him, and it appears he has the highest trade value on the Kings. Fischer says that Ellis could land the Kings a first round pick.
A lot to process here.
The two key things though are this: 1. The Kings need to find its franchise player and 2. The constant question as to how much power Perry (or any Kings general manager) really has, and how much his “ever-involved” boss will let him make decisions.
It’s a shame most of the fans, and not the team, all saw this coming from the minute Sacramento traded De’Aaron Fox for LaVine and how this could have been started nine months ago, before they gave Dennis Schroder a three-year deal when just signing Russell Westbrook alone would have been cheaper, but here we are.
Why would Keon yield a first round pick? He’d be a half year rental and then an UFA. You’d have to be pretty sure as a buyer that you’d be able to retain him. Unless the pick is top 20 protected or something.
He is extendable. So a team looking to trade for him would get approval to talk with his agent.
Yup. And I may also be a good reason for the Kings to extend him right now. His current contract will bring back very little and would likely be an add on to a LaVine or DDR deal.
if he’s not part of the future plans, make his contact have return value by giving it a good number to trade down the road.
According to Sports Illustrated he’s not extension eligible until Feb 9th because of the team option being picked up. So I think he’s going to be attached to help move another contract.
Vivek sucks.
They better not trade Ellis, it would just another mistake in a long line of dumb moves. When half the league wants a specific player, even a shitty GM should know that he should be a part of your rebuild.
Ellis is gone, even if they don’t trade him. He’ll have plenty of suitors once he hits UFA, the Kings have treated him like shit and who wants to stay in bball hell anyway?
This is likely why he’s available. Kings figured they’d extend him, but Keon’s camp says no, and he’s our best trade asset, with Keegan being poison pilled until the off season.
You could be very right. If Keon’s camp is against the extension then there is very little the Kings can do. Great way to burn an asset there Perry.
Yeah, this will likely go down as yet another Kings case study of, “how did they blow it with [insert players name]?”
My initial thought is that Keon would be included in a deal to entice another team to take DDR/LaVine so the Kings don’t have to attach any picks to move them. That’s not something I would do.
Keon is a solid player. As a backup SG, he would be ideal for a team trying to find that 3&D glue guy. The Kings don’t seem to value him much, for some odd reason.
This is the most likely scenario for Keon and as much as I like him, I’m ok with it.
The owner doesn’t deeds suck. And the problem at all this is, I just don’t know if they can ever figure it out with him around.
He’s completely gutted the organization.
And they fucked up by not signing Keon. He’s not gonna stick around.
“It’s a shame most of the fans, and not the team, all saw this coming from the minute Sacramento traded De’Aaron Fox for LaVine.”
That.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
My sentiments eggsactly.
Translation: Kings front office leaks info to Fischer in order to control the narrative surrounding their current failures.
Vivek would never do such a thing.
Not sure it’s a good signal that the team’s GM just figured out something the fans were aware of a year ago.
Yeah, that’s not happening. We’ve already seen intense meddling from the dismissive little dipshit even after Perry came on board. The selection of Doug as HC and the relentless pursuit of Westbrook were both driven by Vivek. Perry is little more than Vivek’s willing yes-man accomplice. Vivek will ultimately steer the ship, as he always has, and he’ll steer it into a disastrous crash, as it appears he may have already done this season.
Obligatory- Vivek….fuck you. Seriously.
Sell, sell, sell
To whom? And where will the team be located? Las Vegas?
It’s only a wish. And if he sold, why would the kings relocate? That’s not what happens when teams are purchased..
plenty of people would line up to buy an NBA franchise. A million possible owners
Unfortunately, we’re stuck with an idiot owner, who doesn’t want to sell
oh, or were you being sarcastic?
No, not being sarcastic, just concerned that Vivek would sell to highest bidder (that’s how capitalism works) who would seek to relocate team.
This is a real possibility. The lease with Golden One is breakable for a price, but if we are talking billions of dollars for a franchise, the lease break price is rather small. I believe it’s less than $200M
The team can’t relocate. They are locked in contractually.
Explain? Adamsite thought it was a possibility.
Besides the issue that you don’t announce intentions as you handicap your market options and dilute your asset value – it does not incentivize your current team, coaching staff or fan base.
One might suppose that an experienced savvy GM would understand that.
Actions speak louder. And of course, there is still the matter of having the same Managing Partner/Governor and same COO that hired Vlade, Peja, BJax and DC.
The exit sign is lit – use it.
This is great, when do we start?
Why in the world would anyone on this roster be off the table? No disrespect to (for example) Murray, but when your team sucks and your asset cabinet is not robust, you listen to ALL offers.
Correct me if I’m wrong but by signing his extension, Keegan can’t be traded this season anyway so it doesn’t matter if he’s available or not?
He’s still under his rookie deal, and his extension kicks in next year. I think that he is still tradable. That said, if he’s not available due to the timing of the signing of his extension, then that would be known league-wide and would not have to be mentioned.
And what is it that makes Clifford untouchable? Because Perry drafted him?
Here’s what the Fanspo trade machine has to say:
Poison Pill
Thanks, Jman!
Are you saying that no-one is untradeable?
I’ll believe it when I see it.
Your Sacramento Kings: Seeing is I’m leaving.
I am at the point that I am willing to put aside my dislike for Kuminga if a deal for him ensures that we won’t get Morant. I don’t want that person in Sacramento.
I’m not too fond of the idea of Ball either. I doubt his commitment to be more than a Youtube highlight reel, but at least he’s not a gun-waving idiot.
“Why not get both?
-Probably Vivek
The report says no Ja, Trae or Ball. Or perhaps that’s what the kangz leaked because they do plan to pursue those players and want to increase their leverage.
Just hypothetical but you all know me just trying to make the Kings better and younger.
Sabonis Monk and a first to the Heat for Herro Ware and Rosier(expiring at 26mil)
Lavine and a first to the Pistons for Ivey Holland and Harris(expiring at 26mil}
DeroZan to the Clippers for Derrick Jones and Bogi
Ellis to the Knicks for McBride and a first
Starters: Ivey Herro Jones Murray Ware
Backups: Schroder McBride Clifford Achiuwa and or Holland
Eubanks and or Raynaud
52 mil in expiring contracts
2 firsts out one first in
younger both offensive and defensive players
GO KINGS!
I’ve of the mindset the LaVine works on the Pistons. They can hide his defensive weaknesses and could greatly use his offensive firepower. That being said, I don’t think the Kings get much value in return. Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson would be my guess. There is at least a large expiring deal there.
Jaden Ivey would likely be a massive stretch for Detroit to give up. We’ll know more once Ivey returns from injury and rejoins the Pistons rotation. If he clicks and provides shooting, then they won’t target LaVine. if he struggles and the Pistons come back to Earth, then maybe, just maybe, there is a window there.
question Adam. If you had a choice would you trade Ellis for McBride and maybe a first or a straight trade for Eason? I am trying to figure out which would be the best for the Kings.
It’d be cool if we could trade DC for Ware, DC was the higher pick afterall.
The Monte Special.
Are you and Jman saying we could get Jokic?
If we really do get a blow it up by the trade deadline, this franchise would be fun to follow again.
Although it makes no sense that we have a roster full of all-stars and yet have few wins to show for it; we have decided it is in the best interest of the franchise to now trade said all-stars for new assets. This current lineup of all-world caliber players is not working out as we had hoped, and we will begin looking for complimentary pieces to our core strategy of tough-defensive mindedness. While the dream of multiple championships with this group did not materialize, we understand that there are tweaks to be made and we hope to compete at a high level with defense as our calling card.
You will continue to see us make winning moves, such as trading for and signing elite defensive playmakers like Dario Saric, Doug McDermott, Dennis Schroeder, Russel Westbrook – and make the right decisions like not resigning defensive playmakers that don’t fit our defensive playmaking mindset like Keon Ellis.
It’s obvious to see our franchise is on the right track.
Sincerely,
Managment
So if we to take these rumors as truth, that the Kings do in fact want to blow it up, is it an admission of failure by Perry and his staff? This is a front office that made a lopsided trade in order to overpay Dennis. Blowing things up would be a 180 from those decision. That would leave me as lacking in any faith that this front office knows what it is doing other than throwing shit against the wall to see if it sticks.
The (hopelessly) optimistic side of me wonders if Perry made the following deal with Vivek:
“Okay Vivek, we’ll try it your way this summer. We’ll take what we have, add a point guard (or two), and run it back like you want.
However, if it doesn’t work, if we don’t make the play-in this season, or if it all falls apart early, then you give me the opportunity to mold this team in my image instead.”
The pessimist in me is 98% dubious about this. But Vivek did give Monte a season (maybe two) without largely meddling. Perry’s previous relationship with Vivek might have resulted in a gentleman’s agreement like this.
I was going to post something similar. Is there a chance that’s the case? Sure, but the reality of Vivek over the past 12 years leaves me in doubt.
In a blow it up scenario, the one thing that makes me have some faith in Perry are the Nique and Maxx picks. Those are late picks that look at the least like they’ll be rotational players. Perry as a drafter seems miles ahead of what Monte was. Small sample size thus far but those two picks are a good sign.
Montes draft picks were pretty solid I would have thought
This is excellent news. Now I’ll believe it when the vets actually start getting traded.
Who’s available?
If this is true than why have faith in the same FO/Owner that put this roster and coaching staff together ? Seemed every person that commented on Herald articles knew they were on a fools errand . Announcing their latest plan only establishes they are still on it .
Just read the Clippers would trade John Collins. How about DDR for Collins? Money works. Sure could use Collins. I would throw in a second of that helps.
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