There are some landmark dates approaching in the NBA’s season calendar this month. The All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, March 7, and the corresponding time off surrounding All-Star Weekend is a familiar opportunity for a struggling organization like the Kings to make some changes. I’m sure everyone reading this remembers the infamous DeMarcus Cousins trade that occurred during All-Star Weekend in 2017.
The NBA’s trade deadline will come and go just a couple of weeks later on March 25.
The Sacramento Kings have lost 10 of their last 11 games with two difficult matchups against the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers remaining before the break. It’s conceivable, if not incredibly likely, that they’ll be on a 12-losses-in-13-games run with a lot of maneuvers to consider and several days off to do that considering.
Anytime you’re losing games at the rate the Kings are right now, rumors are going to start leaking out and that’s exactly what we’ve got going on in Sacramento this week.
According to Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee, everything is on the table for this organization:
There could be a number of changes to the roster before the March 25 trade deadline. Changes to the coaching staff could come even sooner than that. The Kings (13-21) will play host to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday before concluding the first half on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. After that, anything could happen.
The Kings are still smarting after losing nine in a row during one of the longest losing streaks in franchise history. Walton’s critics are carrying torches and pitchforks through the public square on social media, calling on the organization to fire the coach for the 11th time in 15 years. Meanwhile, Kings general manager Monte McNair is calling around the league to explore trade possibilities, with one source recently saying Sacramento was working on something significant.
A coaching change wouldn’t shock anyone at this point, so Walton’s job security isn’t really the most interesting note from Anderson’s report here. I’m much more intrigued by the prospects of Sacramento “working on something significant” in the trade market.
Common sense would suggest that the Kings will be sellers at the trade deadline this year. They have big contract veterans in Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes that could contribute to someone else’s playoff run. They have a nice chunk of expiring contracts in Nemanja Bjelica, Cory Joseph, and Jabari Parker. They have an incredible value center in Richaun Holmes (who I am hoping they hold on to and re-sign, but he’s worth mentioning as a tradable asset here).
The goals should be simple: get younger, get cheaper, and open up second half minutes for prospects like Robert Woodard, Kyle Guy, and Jah’mius Ramsey. Do all that, and the big prize of increased draft lottery odds will follow. Fade for Cade, etc.
This will be Monte McNair’s first trade deadline as general manager of the Sacramento Kings, and he has a lot of work to do.
Prepare yourself for disappointment. This franchise has done nothing over the past 20 years to signal otherwise.
Except for the Artest-Peja deal, which was an owner and three GMs ago, I would tend to agree.
Good question, what are our best trades of the last 20 years?
+ Brad Miller – a S&T, so maybe doesn’t count
+ Ron Artest – this was a big deal
+ Bonzi – the impact was short lived, but good get for Bobby
+ Rudy Gay – Didn’t move the needle, but actually a good trade
+ PPat – Mixed time on Kings, but far better than THrob & integral to Gay deal
+ Bogi – Bogi + 13 + 28 + future 2nd was good value, use of picks was bad
You are right of course. Not a lot here to get excited about and other than Miller, Artest, and the half season of Bonzi – arguably nothing that really moved the needle. Although we could have been even worse without Gay.
The last 3 of those are so frustrating, because they were good deals that were negated by all the bad decisions made around them.
I think if you are looking for a Chris Webber-style deal you will be disappointed.
But McNair is not Pete or Vlade.
I can’t guarantee he will make a good trade. But I can tell you that if Vlade was GM, I would be anxious right now and would assume we are going to get fleeced. Instead I am pretty zen and mildly hopeful right now that McNair can make a solid deal that improves out asset base.
It maybe something we don’t deem as *significant* such as Barnes to Boston for their excemption, Nesmith, and a 2nd. But it can still move the franchise forward.
Which Chris Webber-style deal? Richmond for Webber? Or Webber for Corliss, Thomas, and Skinner? Because if it’s the breaking-a-large-contract-into-more-manageable-pieces type of trade, that’s probably what would happen here and happened when the Kings shipped Webber out.
This is where I’m at. I’m still hopeful for a first rounder.
“Significant.”
Utterly meaningless, given Anderson’s complete lack of specificity. Actually, that’s being generous, “significant” doesn’t even manage to be vague.
All trades are significant. They may not be terribly impactful, but any changes to a group of only fifteen people qualify as significant.
Not to mention that it’s attributed to ONE anonymous source.
Over the past four years, anonymous sources have become the norm for media. Sadly.
But the consumers of media seem to have no problem with it.
Over the past four years? LOL
Anonymous sources have been relied on by the media virtually since the inception of newspapers in this country. It’s actually an important part of pushing back against tyranny.
It’s basically the only way a reporter can make ensure their sources keep talking to them and providing worthwhile, honest information.
Bullshit.
In the past, anonymous sources were heavily vetted. You often had to get permission from the publisher to use them. That went out the window with “resistance journalism.” It was not uncommon to find five different anonymous sources in your average CNN story during the heights of TDS. Of course if you criticized this you were labeled a Russian asset, a fascist or a racist.
I spent nearly three decades in journalism. I know of what I speak.
Oh, and no, I wasn’t a Trump supporter, just a critic of shitty journalism.
Oh god, this place is just chock full of NBA coaches and former journalists.
The fact that you even used that acronym says plenty.
I agree wholeheartedly with your last sentence, although it’s only use relating to sports is to allow nobodies to spout bullshit with no accountability.
I don’t really see the difference – you’re assuming it’s bullshit on the sports side. I think it depends on the reputation of the reporter dispensing the information.
I’ve noticed it’s generally the same in politics and sports – if people are bitching about an anonymous source, it’s usually because of which team’s jersey they are wearing.
I don’t know, if I read that the Bulls or Clippers were working on “something significant,” if that’s all there was, I’d still wonder why it was news. Presumably, almost every team is proposing or listening to offers right now, so the assertion is wholly empty without additional detail.
“Kings working toward winning more games,” the headline screamed. Are they making a trade? Are they about to bring over a prodigy stashed overseas that no one has heard of? Are they just, you know, going to try a little harder to win games?
When the headline is literally the entire story, there’s no story. It’s just a waste of electrons in an attempt to get clicks. Anderson treating this as if it had any weight at all is of no use to anyone, except his anonymous source who gets half-a-hardon from reading his own words in print.
Not exactly Woodward & Bernstein, is it?
I thought you were pushing back because you thought most of the “anonymous” stuff was fake news. If you’re saying a lot of it is trivial, I’d agree.
As you said, it is vital to a democracy that journalists be permitted to shield their sources. It’s not the anonymity in this case so much as the Wendy’s Junior Bacon Nothingburger being tossed out by Anderson.
In the past, anonymous sources were heavily vetted. You often had to get permission from the publisher to use them. That went out the window with “resistance journalism.” It was not uncommon to find five different anonymous sources in your average CNN story during the heights of TDS. Of course if you criticized this you were labeled a Russian asset, a fascist or a racist.
I spent nearly three decades in journalism. I know of what I speak.
Oh, and no, I wasn’t a Trump supporter, just a critic of shitty journalism.
Did…did you copy and paste the same comment? You were a journalist?
Five independent people telling you the same thing seems extraordinarily compelling to me.
I mean, pretty much (or literally?) everyone who went on record got fired and/or threatened with retribution or prison. Alexander Vindman’s brother got fired.
Typical. Blame the Jews.
The idea that anoynmous sources are bad is silly. I’m more interested in the track record of reporters and news organizations being correct. You’re not going to have a named source leaking trade proposals.
Jason is very local and it’s highly unlikely he has sources around the league telling him the King’s phone behavior. That’s why someone like Sam is so valuable to us.
Let’s play “be specific”. Sorry if this Captain Obvious stuff offends anyone but it is fun to play nonetheless….
Only a Kings FO source would know this.
Only a Kings FO source would know this.
Only a Kings FO source would know this.
I suppose this could come from outside the FO.
So either Jason checked in with his FO source or the Kings FO source checked in with him. None of this is odd, and personally I always think the latter in this town with it’s unique sports media dynamics.
You don’t think that front office personnel at other franchises might have information relating to potential trades with the Kings?
That Jason Anderson sniffed out? No, I do not think that appears to be the case here, but mine is just an opinion.
I mean, if your point is that Anderson is a lightweight and would be unable to unearth a real story, then I guess I’d wholeheartedly agree with you.
I don’t know the guy.
Ah no wonder Buddy will be missing ASG
Putting his finger to his lips after hitting a big shot to quiet…the HOME crowd? That’s so Buddy!
Well this is it boys. The moment we’ve all been waiting for. We’ll get to see if our GM is a Vlonte or a McWinnair.
GM making some moves
We’ll see if he has the autonomy to make moves as he sees fit or if he is another one of Vivek’s b@tch3$
I mean, one move isn’t going to reveal whether or not McNair is good or bad, unless it’s catastrophically, Vlade-level stupid.
Don’t jinx it Carl. I still have a some hope that Monte isn’t Vlade level stupid.
I’m scared of this happening
Alright Monte. Hit me with your best shot!
I love that this guy has become a tween fiction juggernaut.
When this front office hits 88 trade calls an hour, you’re gonna see some serious shit.
I’ll believe it when I see it…
Same, but at least Monte is reaching out to other teams. That tells me he at least realizes this core isn’t the one going forward.
True. I do wonder though how much he’s being allowed to do his job freely.
These guys need to lay down the law on Vivek if he won’t back down. “Let me do my job, or fire me, and I’ll go public.” I mean, really. Who is going to win that PR war?
Grab your popcorn. This is the only joy in being a Kings fan is potential trades.
I’m choosing to be 1000% hopeful big changes are coming while being 99% sure I’ll be disappointed. I’ve found my balance.
LOL, perfect!
Translation: Front office sees pitchforks and torches and gives Jason Anderson a call saying we’re working on something big.
No one said big. Not my wife, and not Anderson.
“Significant” is a meaningless adjective in this context.
What about “Bignificant?”
I’ll allow it, but I’m not in love with it.
Sucknificant?
I think you’ve moved the ball a lot closer to the goal line with this one.
Signifigless
Signifiscant
I was never excited about Bagley (literally never, still not), if we can get a really exciting top 5 pick that I get to watch develop into a star over the next few years this season is perfect. Clean house, I don’t need anybody on this roster, except Fox, Rese, and mayyyybe Holmes.
That’s where I’m at too. I believe all but Hali/Fox-maybe Holmes can go.
Bagely is absolutely not a young to build with. If he and Walton are gone then perhaps Monte is making the calls. Otherwise, I fear the reign of idiocy w Vivek will continue.
The Kings have such a great opportunity to build because the luck of landing Hali.
Seven-team deal where we turn over the entire roster with the exception of the 2020 draft picks. Then sit back and call it a day.
Trying to imagine a seven-team deal involving VD, where we end up with a roster containing four overpaid and injury-prone centers, and all thirty second-round draft picks for each of the next three years.
It really was a nightmare era, that I’m glad is over. Regardless of what this new one brings.
McNair can’t be worse than Vlade was.
Yeah I actually don’t believe it’s possible. I know fans always joke that they could run the team better than the GM but in Vlade’s case I don’t even think it was question.
Agreed. Everything Vlade touched turned to trash. He literally did everything wrong from a personnel management standpoint. Flipping a coin would have been better.
Now THAT is a Process!
the most significant trade I could come up with:
NODEARGODNO.gif
please erase that from my memory
this is The Process 2.0 baby! Take on dogshit contracts from the teams your competing against in the Tankathon to boost their projected win total while subsequently reducing yours.
Vlade is no longer GM.
How many unprotected first rounders do the kings get for those two? 3?
they’re actually send out firsts in this trade since they’re getting back two all stars
That’s Vlagic.
How dare you.
I love the “-21 decrease in projected wins” – as if this team was getting 21 more W’s this season.
I had assumed that the projected wins/losses with the trade machine were based on a full-season estimate, but I don’t actually know.
The 21 win decrease seems very optimistic with this trade.
I wish I could know a couple of examples of “significant” moves that Monte has proposed or is working on. Like, does Significant mean trying to trade for a star? Or are we trying to move for more draft picks? I just wish I knew what kind of moves Monte thinks is the right way forward.
I’m more interested in what an unnamed source considers to be significant. I’m grateful the McNair has the obvious smarts to keep his mouth shut and move quietly.
My assumption is that moving Buddy and/or Barnes qualifies as significant just because you’d still be moving a starter and “significant” piece of the team.
Just curious which direction we’d be going in there.
I’d agree as it relates to those two in particular, although I’d qualify it depending on what comes back. If the upshot is largely freeing up cap space, given Sacramento’s ability to entice free agents, I’d put the weight of a deal like that at sub-significant.
Cap space offers flexibility, which is always good, but I’d like it if there was also some promising talent and/or high-ish draft picks in the bargain. There’s no good reason to ditch either of Barnes & Hield just to make moves.
I want two years worth of picks, maybe three. It’s that simple for me.
Even if it means three bottom-five second-round picks? Because that feels low to me.
I’m not all doom-and-gloom here. The market for our assets will speak and I trust Monte McNair. Hinkie’s moves in the beginning did not produce players of value, some produced picks that were packaged into even more picks down the road.
As much as I want things NOW, that is definitely not the case here, at least for me it’s not.
Of course I’m dreaming and that seems ok too. It’s better than hoping someone transforms into something they’re not which to me is foolish and stupid.
Yeah I actually think that if we move Barnes we might get back a little more than many are expecting. He’s generally played well this year and big wings that can hit 40% of their 3’s tend to have some value, particularly if there’s not much else on the market.
“But I can change him!”
The goals are getting minutes for Guy and Ramsey? Maybe we all need a mental health day if that has moved up to the top of our list.
Is it possible to be both buyers and sellers? To tank this year and improve our long-term outlook?
Buddy/Bagley/Holmes/Bjelly to Dallas for Zinger and Johnson, for example. We could throw in a protected pick too if necessary. This would help us think this year and rest zinger because of injuries, but it would improve our ceiling and long-term outlook.
A rickety KP with $160 million left on his deal after this season holds no enticement for me. You’d be turning four movable contracts into one massive and unmovable one. Deals like that kill small franchises, and don’t do a hell of a lot for the bigger ones.
I suppose you are right. If Monte wants to be flexible, this isn’t it. At some point you need to cash your chips in, but I don’t think we’re at that point.
We are at the point of collecting those chips needed to take big swings
Cash your chips I get…but for KP? LOL.
Why the hell would we want Porzingis? Let along giving up Buddy/Bagley/Holmes/Bjelly for him? He is basically a better shooting Bagley, just as injured prone, and carries a $160 million elephant with him.
Do not want Zinger.
“Significant” is a relative term.
TO ME – “Significant” would be trading Fox. Another “significant” move would be trading for a big name/star (which I don’t see happening). Barnes and Hield would be big but not huge, especially in the context of the league. Joseph, Bjelica, and Parker would be “necessary.”
In this context however; it most likely means Barnes/Hield are being shopped to contenders. Which they should be.
If Barnes, Hield, Bagley, Cojo, and Bjelica aren’t gone by deadline, he’s doing it wrong.
And Holmes. IMO, he might have as much value on the market as anyone in this group.
Add Holmes to that for value (and the chance to resign him). I want Bags gone for a solid return, but for McNair you could take him off the list and it would make sense to still try and build around Fox/Hali/Bags.
I actually think, guess that if Bagely goes then McNair is making the call. I see no reason why a smart GM wants to build around a defensive liability. Bags lowers the ceiling.
I hope Monte is in charge.
I don’t know if Charlotte’s GM is any good or not, but building around a gaping hole in the defense is exactly what the Hornets are doing.
Ok. It’s a bad idea. Good/smart GMs don’t fo that.
And Jordan has certainly been blamed/credited for moves in the past.
Jordan is every bit as good of an executive as most former athletes who get handed a top job without paying their dues.
Or the hawks? 🙂
Fox/Hali/Bags stays I think. They are young enough to still develop. I don’t understand your point about building around someone. We are building around Fox and Hali right now, not Bagley. If you only build around ideal players, you will have like 4 guys on your roster. Bagley is complimentary piece right now. That is fine especially if we are drafting another top five.
My point is having Bags as a piece of the building process is useless. They will be spending money and time on a probable rotational big/bench guy, maybe Kanter/Harrell if lucky. Use that time and money on someone who will have a higher ceiling.
Sane reason it was dumb for the Sixers to keep Okifor. Or Detroit keeping Darko. Etc etc. You gotta know when to sell.
Here’s hoping it’s not viveknificant.
Significant:
Buddy, Belly and Fakers 2nd to Philly for Shake Milton, Korkmaz, Green, Poirer
Barnes, Holmes, Jefferies to Spurs for Aldridge, Vassell, LUKA samanic
2nd half our rotations consist of:
1/2s: Fox, Hali, Shake
2/3s: Kork, Vassell
3/4s: Luka, Woodard
4/5s: Bagley
5: Metu
Tons of expirings incoming so lots of money to play with next year
I really love the second trade, but there’s no way the spurs are that desperate to get off Aldridge’s contract for vassell and samanovic.
First trade is more likely, and I hate it for the kings. Find a way to trade buddy to the mavs for richardson. That team really misses seth curry. Buddy can be their sharpshooter getting wide open 3s from luka.
It’s not only getting out of that contract but really helping them compete this year and barnes contract isn’t bad going forward. I agree it’s less likely than the first though.
You don’t like Shake? Plus a shot at resigning Kork all while getting out of Buddy contract.
Shake is fine. Kork will want some cash, and I don’t think the kings will want to sign him for what other teams will. Give me thybulle or maxey as far as players maybe gettable from the sixers.
Yeah I agree with wanting those two more but I don’t think we get them which is why I put in kork. We would have a ton of cap space and should be competitive to resign him if so.
I actually think the most significant move that could realistically happen is trading Bagley. Sam Amick always kinda hints that it’s a possibility based on all the drama associated with Bagley’s dad.
If we trade Bagley, it is because we are getting something good in return. If his dad factors in, then Monte is dumber than I thought.
obviously they wouldn’t give Bagley away for nothing. I just wouldn’t be surprised if we find out the Kings believe he isn’t worth the headache, and it was time for a fresh start.
He’s really only a headache to a vocal minority, and Vlade Divac. Bagley is an inherited piece with considerable potential, and McNair isn’t going to dump him just because some dope drafted Marvin too high. None of the dirt from Bagley’s selection has gotten within a mile of McNair. He has no reason to sell low. None.
a) we don’t know if it would be selling low, and b) we don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, so c) it’s hard to know how big of a headache Team Bagley really is.
It just seemed to me in one of Amick’s interviews that he pushed back on where Bagley ranks in the likely to get traded scale. That kinda made me perk my ears up a little bit that, and think maybe Amick has heard rumors that we’re not privy to.
Agreed, I could see Bagley being packaged with a player like Barnes or Buddy to a team looking to unload larger deals in hopes of getting younger or making a big change. An example would be something like Vuc and Ross for Bagley and Buddy.
Magic get a shooter to replace a UFA Fournier and free up the frontcourt with youth in Bagley, Gordon, and Isaac next season.
Kings get a legit all-star type center and solid bench scorer while handing the keys to Fox and Hali. The move also allows them to trade Holmes for assets as well or slide him over to the 4 spot.
In this situation Orlando goes full tank while the Kings retool for next season.
Why not trade Bagley and Buddy for someone younger, even if he isn’t as good as Vucevic? Why would we want a 30 years old center with 2 years left in his contract? Just for trade bait down the road? Terence Ross I really like. But the same question: how does he fit our timeline?
Because you are not going to get a big contract player under the age of about 28 from a team looking to move on from him, that is still legitimately good.
In this case the Kings are moving an equally valued contract in Buddy and not commiting long term dollars to Bagley. Vuc is still the best player in this deal so the cost is really giving up on Bagley. It would come down to how the Kings brass feels about him going forward.
It just a hypothetical trade in which Bagley is packaged with Buddy or Barnes. They are roughly $30M combined so anyone coming in a a $20M+ deal is going to be well into their 2nd or 3rd contract.
Ideally I’d love to package Buddy and Bagley to Indy for Myles Turner and change, but that is going to be hard to do.
Buddy and Bagley for Turner, Lamb and McDermott works but Indy will say no. Maybe if the Kings throw in a handful of 2nd rounders or a future protected 1st?
I like your proposal of Hield and Bagley, but I’d first want to take a crack at a sign and trade with Atlanta for Collins.
Mr. Collins is about to get paid, but I don’t think it’ll be anything particularly close to the combined hit for our two in ’21-’22. Myles Turner as a consolation prize would be just fine, too.
Exactly. I much rather have Collins. Much younger than Vuc.
The nice thing about Buddy to Indy, is he fits their timeline. They’ve been devastated by injuries this year, otherwise I think they’d be a top 4 team in the East. They could move Turner, slide Warren to the 4, LeVert to the 3, Buddy to the 2 and Brogdon at PG. Bagley is hopefully just the sweetener for them. This all assumes Indy is ready for a bit of a reset.
Kings get Turner on the Fox and Hali timeline and Lamb is a good bench player. McDermott is just expiring filler. Getting Turner also allows the Kings flexibility in Holmes’ future.
Speaking of Indy, has anyone heard any updates about Caris Levert? I don’t expect he’ll play again this season, and hope he’s getting the best (i.e. not the Kings medical staff) care available, and will make a full recovery.
IMO, the problem with targeting Collins this offseason is the Kings don’t currently have the space. They’d have to move any of Barnes, Buddy, or Bagley to make that happen. Even then, getting a FA like Collins to sign in Sac is a bit of a pipe dream.
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