The Sacramento Kings are aggressively pursuing Ben Simmons and Domantas Sabonis, according to reports. The Kings may even be willing to take on Tobias Harris as part of acquiring Simmons, per reports. But the Kings absolutely will not take on Harris as part of a Simmons deal, according to another report. The Kings have offered Tyrese Haliburton, according to a report. The Kings have offered De'Aaron Fox according to another report. The Kings will not offer De'Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton in any deal and are building around them, according to a report. The Kings have no interest in Sabonis, per a report.
More on this story as it develops.
In the spirit of Bogi to Milwaukee and Buddy to LA, my guess is that the organization will ALMOST make trades.
HAS ALMOST made trades.
Simmons for Sabonis.
As long as it’s almost trade Hali. If they trade Haliburton they are fucking idiots. Well, they already are idiots.
You don’t dump shooting. Simmons w Fox…ain’t working.
The group seems to disagree as it pertains to Hield.
Daily reminder that Buddy’s 3pt% AND FG% have declined for 5 straight years.
The Kings are good at ALMOST
They can ALMOST tank.
They can ALMOST make the play-in.
They can ALMOST play defense.
They can ALMOST draft well.
“With the 9th pick of the 2022 NBA draft, the Sacramento Kings select Al Most, guard, California State University, Sacramento.”
They ALMOST drafted Luka. : (
To soon
o
A clever GM could probably manufacture some decent trades for underrated young assets and a couple of first rounders. That would entail having a clever GM.
Buddy for Collins straight up. Let’s do this now Monte!! Totally works in the trade machine.
Curious as to what happened two days ago.
We had a better dill two days ago.
Is that…
Trade all the things!
It’s fun to watch Monte pretend he’s a grown-up GM by leaking different information to different sources to gin up value for his players.
It’s ridiculously transparent.
Monte has a bad hand and he’s a crappy bluffer.
I’m bracing myself for the Mo Harkless-Torrey Craig blockbuster deal.
Kings: Somebody take my semi-good players and give me a truly good player in return.
Other teams: Eff off.
This is peak elder millennial energy and I love it.
Report reported reporters reportedly reporting reports.
Feels like the headline should have had the lead-in, “Kangz” rather than “Reports.”
Feels like a deal fell through.
Greg, doesn’t one have to port before they can report?
Does one have to have a nial before you can have denial?
Do you have to have first futed before you can refute?
Actual deal that will happen: “Kings trade top-55 protected 2nd round pick to [team] in exchange for [name of player] and cash considerations. [Player] is expected to be waived.”
Translation: [Team] pays Kings some money to fire a benchwarmer they don’t want on the team anymore.
Trust the prophecy. This will happen.
I have been a fan of this team since they came to town. Previously I followed the Warriors, Lakers and Celtics. Given I was only 11 years old and the greatness of Magic Johnson, I feel forgiveness is appropriate for my former Lakers appreciation. Not to mention the Kings were someplace called Kansas City. Anyway, through years of ineptitude and downright stupidity I’ve faithfully supported the Kings because well, they represent Sacramento and Sacramento is my city, my home. Such is my sense of loyalty. For whatever reason, this year It has become incredibly difficult to continue to give that loyalty to a team that clearly does not return the favor. I don’t go to the arena anymore but I do still watch every game. This team needs either a major rebuild besides Hali or they need to add two Allstar caliber players right now. It is most likely possible to use Fox in a trade to get back one Allstar but where is the other one coming from? An almost complete rebuild seems the most efficient method to improve the team. If ownership and management do not want to do what is necessary to put a quality product on the floor, what does that say about their loyalty to Sacramento? A fan base that has shown them so much loyalty over the years. Arguably under the circumstances of years long ineptitude, the best, most loyal fan base in the entire NBA. I will wait until the trade deadline to pass any final judgement but It’s not looking good.
Yeah, what you said.
Long-term thinking seems to be beyond Vivek’s ability.
That’s because he only thinks 2 seconds ahead.
You think
vivek is going to show you loyalty? The only thing he’ll show you is the finger and walk away billions of dollars richer.
Cliffnotes version:
“Kings have sucked forever but I haven’t made up my mind just yet.”
Thank you Marty, I definitely appreciate the cliff notes version.
Great points and I feel the same ! Sadly, even the Broadcast team is as hopeless as the on court one !
Fantasy: Simmons, Harris, Brown, Wood, etc
Reality: Schroeder, Hart and 5 second round picks
Don’t forget Considerations, Cash.
Don’t forget Potential. We hang on to Potential and trade the future of the team for more Potential.
If they do the Simmons trade with Harris in toe, they will be a bad veteran team, that’s out of moves, capped out, with Klutch unleashing a media plague on the franchise. So, I can 100% see Vivek chasing the upside of that trade and disregarding all of the risk. If it happens, looking forward to how the defense plays minutes when Simmons shares the court with Mitchell and a center. Might see a box and one.
I think we may need less on this story as it devolves.
I believe the Kings will make some trades, but nothing in the realm of Simmons. We’ll probably just end up with a different group of mismatched “past their prime” former stars, a few young players with supposedly high ceilings, and a bunch of 2nd round picks. In other words, mediocrity will reign again next season but just with different players…..
History shows again and again how nature points up the folly of man.
Blue Oyster Cult and Gojira agree……
Just remember, freak out either way!
Click first, then freak out.
Blah, blah, blah. All talk. Actions speak louder than words.
Crappy trades will be coming in the next 2 weeks, followed by GM speak about value, not finding the right compliment of players, and wanting to maintain flexibility forbade future.
*for the future
Of the deals I’ve heard discussed, I liked the Reddish trade best
We are gonna hear about all these great deals out there then….
BOOM!
We are gonna get Moe Harkless and Terence Davis for Jeff Green, 2nd round pick, Cash Considerations at the deadline.
Followed by just how tireless and aggressive this front office is. And how they boldly refuse to be fleeced out of even a second rounder. You’re welcome, Kings fans.
BREAKING! Monte tells Sam Amick; “The plan all-along has been to let our most valuable assets expire, and no amount of fan pressure will disrupt our focus.”
Spot on Greg
I will be surprised if the Kings make any trades.
Vlad was the 2nd round pick collector. Mcnair doesnt want the hassle of evaluating talent in 2nd round apparently. Those 2 2nd rounders he refused for Bogi. He prefers nothing, rather than to acquire 2nd round picks.
You’re forgetting that it also came with Tony Snell, those 2 2nd round picks. Are you willing to pay 12+ million for 2 2nd rounders?
They don’t like it when you remind them about facts that don’t support the theme of their hissy fits. It will not make you popular.
I was never popular to begin with.
I cannot recall whether your were famous or infamous?
Me? Sure. Somebody who has a justify the cost? Probably not. But in hind sight, the Kings didn’t do anything productive with that $12MM. So yeah, I’d rather have had two future 2nds and $12MM expiring contract.
Exactly. That money wasn’t cut from the cap sheet. They went out and spent it elsewhere on the likes of Glenn Robinson, DeQuan Jeffries, Whiteside, Ramsey and Woodard. I’d trade all those guys for 2nd round picks.
Speaking of 2nd Round Picks, my second round guy right now is Jordan Hall.
Personally, I want them to take both Tari Eason and Ibou Badji (I think he plays like Garnett – controlled violence)
Both those guys are reasonable picks around that slot. I just tend to favor high BBIQ guys. Both Eason and Badji’s profile depend primarily on athleticism but neither has shown much feel for passing/playmaking. Of the two, I’d go with Badji. Then I’d seriously consider trying to leave him in Spain for a year or two.
Which I suppose could explain our division on Fox vs Sabonis a bit as well.
Yeah, Badji would be a draft-n-stash for at least a year for sure.
I know where you and Adam stand on that. I personally think that’s a bad deal and wouldn’t do it because the optics looked bad with the way Bogi left.
I’m still not sure what the issue is with Snell when they went and traded for Delon Wright and Terence Davis in the same season. He’s probably better than both of those guys, and he was expiring, just like they were.
Dynasty’s are built in the second round.
There is some serious truth to that.
San Antonio
Golden State?
Get a core with All Star as an anchor.
Trade first round picks for role players that are a known quantity.
Second round picks and under after players that have skill are given an opportunity. Move on from them fast when it doesn’t work.
I don’t know about built, but pulling productive players in the second round is definitely a huge advantage. To say nothing of drafting a Jokic or Draymond.
Whatever happened to the supposed buttoned-up, leakless McNair regime? This is the loudest team in the NBA right now. Vlade looking like a wise old owl in comparison.
hahahahaha no
You really are a very serious person, aren’t you?
Teams will not trade all-star caliber players to the Kings.
It worked… I clicked.
Kings via Shams: We would prefer not to trade Fox for Simmons or Sabonis.
Sixers via Keith Pompey: Sixers would prefer the Kings give us Fox or Haliburton and take Tobias Harris. Shit, throw in a couple of picks, Barnes and your first born too.
Whats interesting? Sixers leak is angling for the Kings to trade Fox for Simmons and Harris. That might be the sweet spot.
Welp, Fox is off the table officially. I have no clue what this team is gonna do
Continue to suck
haha funny guy
This article is like switching between CNN and Fox News….only to realize the truth is somewhere in the middle!
Since facts are important, here are a few.
Let’s assume for a moment that a Philly-Sac trade would look like this:
Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, Paul Reed and Isaiah Joe for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley and Tristan Thompson. Plus 2 FRP’s going Philly’s way from Sac.
Outgoing salary for Philadelphia is 74,876,008$. Outgoing salary for Sacramento is 68,413,939$.
So let me get this straight. The Kings not only have to give up Haliburton, 2 FRP’s, they also have to go into the luxury tax for the right to employ Ben Simmons this season?
Why?
That’s not a smokescreen, that’s abject stupidity promoted by complete and total retardation. That’s begging to be fired. You can’t win doing that.
Can you get under the tax using other mechanisms? Sure. But why? Why do all that for Philadelphia? What’s really in it for Sacramento? Change? Yippety skippety! Oh, and have I mentioned not only does it put Sacramento in the tax potentially, it also achieves getting Philadelphia out of the luxury tax bill they owe simultaneously? Which resets what they owe not only this year, next year if they have cap room, but the year after that when Joel Embiid’s super max deal kicks in? You still don’t think this isn’t about a lot of money for a specific set of owners? Joshua Harris and David Blitzer to name two.
I didn’t name Vivek Ranadive, Mark Mastrov, the Jacobs or anybody else on the Noah’s Ark of Kings ownership, I would point out.
This strikes me (and continues to strike me) as an ownership directive to improve the team this year, but it’s not as if the Kings ownership group has shown to have much foresight, if any, when it comes to the running of basketball operations.
This is an obvious no brainer for Daryl Morey. But I fail to see how any competent FO would ever agree to these terms under any circumstances if they were on Sacramento’s end. It’s a con job and the stupidest idea rolled into one trade. I certainly don’t think Morey would agree to this if he were in McNair’s shoes.
If the devil is in the details, right now the goddamn devil is Mick Jagger singing at the top of his fucking lungs. In favor of the city with a cracked fucking bell it deems as an icon. (Which in fairness it is.) But the Kings have enough cracks and enough problems, it’s not their job to create a clear path for Daryl Morey and the Sixers to try and entice James Harden this summer.
Ownership is desperate to change the narrative and generate interest in the team again. They are willing to do anything including more permanent long term damage on the hope it might work. If you’re a FO, you know this move gets you fired unless everything goes perfectly. When is the last time that happened? And anyone that thinks Ben Simmons is the same kind of reclamation project as Chris Webber is fooling themselves. Webber was far more valuable than Simmons is, and Webber didn’t exactly want to leave DC either.
That’s the rub here. The Kings can accomplish much more by going after the right talent, in trades they can realistically accomplish without needing a week to complete them, and they can offer players and assets for different players that might not make as many headlines but might be far more effective on the basketball court.
This fanbase doesn’t need to see positive headlines that the org has won a trade on paper, they need to see 45-50 win basketball for a sustained period of time. And sure Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris could help you, theoretically speaking, in the right circumstances. But why would that be in Sacramento? Who thinks it would be?
I’m not claiming the org should keep this roster together, and I’m not claiming that I like any of the rumors to begin with. I don’t in either case.
But I think it’s infinitely more productive to go after players like Sabonis, Collins or hell Miles Bridges for that matter, than go after pie in the sky scenarios that are in reality very one sided and that side is not you. Move Buddy Hield for an expiring contract if it all possible (I think it is). Move Bagley for what you can while maintaining the value of his expiring contract. Go after talented if lesser name players. Go after valuable players on rosters like Brisset, Braxton and the like. (Hell, why not Bol Bol?) These are all known basketball ideas that actually, and I know this would be shocking to all of you, really will work.
Yes, the Kings won’t make the playoffs this year, and yes fans won’t crow about moving on from Buddy Hield and getting an expiring contract in return. Yes, there will be much work to be done if you can’t swing for a Sabonis-Colllins-Bridges type. And hell, when isn’t there work to be done in building a NBA team? IT’S THE FUCKING NBA FOR FUCK’S SAKE. Yes, this roster will still face problems. Yes, it’s a real problem that this franchise isn’t picking a path that makes a lot of sense aiming for the play-in.
But I think much of that has to do with unrealistic expectations of a desperate ownership group that is scared to death of devaluing their real assets when they bought the Kings: The land. And, more importantly, what they can develop on that land.
I get that. But that doesn’t mean doing a short sighted expensive in every way type of trade is the right avenue to take. And it doesn’t mean overpaying for a talented player because this team is so frustrating every night is the right avenue either. Being smart and diligent about how you go about things is still in vogue, I suggest this ownership try it since they’ve never actually bothered before. It might even be, who knows, an idea that actually works.
None of this strikes me as a smokescreen, though. It strikes me as a FO that is trying to keep a consistent message coming out of the organization as to what the basketball intentions are and, unfortunately, the ownership just can’t stay on message and let the people supposedly running basketball operations actually run it.
Okay, now I feel better.
I think most would prefer the path you suggest, building a team with calm, consistent decision-making and not knee-jerk moves.
I don’t want to give up draft picks.
I’m not convinced switching out Fox (or fill in the blank) for a supposed superstar would move the needle.
Vivek thinks otherwise, I fear.
If we lose two draft picks that would be like adding to the mistake of missing on Doncic.
Uh…you undermine your argument in the first few lines of your rant, and I appreciate a good rant as much anyone. This is not one of them.
You say facts are important then proceed to present a non-fact. You provide assumptions and presumptions. Your argument is off the rails before it begins.
Based off a presumption, not a fact, you proceed to criticize the GM.
What basis do you have to presume the GM is SO stupid, SO mentally challenged, SO incompetent:
> a graduate of Princeton (did he cheat his way to a diploma?!),
> mentored under Morey
> had two homerun drafts in two tries
> picked up Metu and TD off the scrap hea
> tried to trade for DeVincenzo
> tried to trade for Bey
> retained Holmes against long odds (again a case of presumptive criticism where the critics ended up eating crow)
> tried to trade Buddy for Kuzma and Harrell
….that makes it fair and reasonable to presume the worst, that this GM is Vlade 2.0?
What about any of these moves and attempted moves, incompleted through no fault of his own, reeks of abject stupidity?
Evidence is a form of facts. Facts are important. You said so. I just provided to you factual evidence. Show me when and where he acted stupidly then you have basis to reasonably presume he will act stupidly in the future.
I WILL WAIT.
What makes you legitimately think that we would consummate a deal that would send us into luxury tax? !? Isnt it more likely the reported deal is falsely reported or planted by the opposition?
So far you have said facts are important then you drawn damning conclusions based on dubious presumptions instead of irrefutable facts.
This comment is unhinged:
What are you even saying? Permanent long term damage is inherently bad, so why would they intentionlly do this and think it might work?
What you intend to say, I think, but did not, is the Ownership is willing to take undue and desparate risk to try to right the ship, and in the process unwittingly do long term damage.
Considering that Simmons is hypersensitive, wilted under pressure, cannot withstand the scrutiny of the fanbase in PHI, a fair critique from the coach, a change to a relatively small market like SAC with a different tenor of fan base would seem like just what the doctor would order, even if he is reluctant at first, to take him out of the spotlight, to get his head right, relieve the pressure. and discover the fullest version of his player self.
You make NO compelling case for why a change from PHI to SAC, one city to another would be bad, doomed to fail. You just presume it will.
Maybe Simmons would fail in SAC. Or maybe he would be so relieved to be out of PHI to have a fresh start, to play basketball again after a year off, that he would embrace the new opportunity. Certainly the latter course is more aligned with human nature.
The trade moves you suggest will work instead of trying to add Simmons. Why? Because you say they will…. well, well I am thoroughly convinced!
Listen, I have my qualms about Simmons as much as anyone. But if the price is right, we should absolutely go for it. And thats what we are doing and the last chapter has not been written. Trade talks stall and pick up again. Thats the nature of these things, I am not sure what you know, but I think you know this.
All that happened today is normal ebb and flow back and forth inherent to negotiation and art of the deal that gets distorted and magnified by fans and media. It is only a big deal because of fans like you who blow shit out of proportion based on false presumptions!
I will criticize this GM…but not based on this bullshit!
The Hornets are not trading Bridges, so why harp on it? Why would that even be a viable pursuit? The reason we are pursuing Simmons and Sabonis is because these teams are open to trade them. Guys like Bridges, Siakam, Brown and Tatum, would be nice to have but the teams do not appear to have any interest in discussion of trades.
You end your post taking a swipe at the ownership. What the hell did they have to do with anything that happened today!? Again it just mindless speculation after you spoke of the importance of facts.
We have plenty of time to the deadline…..McGenius will strike again!
Until then everyone needs to take a breath and stop catastrophizing. Good things are coming. How do I know? Because when this GM acts, good things are likely to result, thats the undeniable history. Facts.
Ooooo, battle of the word counts! I mean, I haven’t personally read any of them, but I’m sure they’re very good.
I stop reading after 10 words
You went past the username?
Be disappointed if you actually bothered to read any of my stuff.
I criticized ownership for being desperate and short sighted, not the basketball people in the FO.
I have consistently praised McNair for what he’s trying to do under the serious constraints he’s doing it under. Perhaps your reading comprehension needs improvement.
I’ve never thought McNair was Vlade in any way. If anything, I don’t think he’s been given enough time. Especially given how few assets he had to work with and a dumb, desperate, short sighted ownership group that undercuts any FO at every turn with how they operate. Sp essentially what you have is a PR war between Kings ownership and the basketball people who are supposed to be running things.
I looked at the numbers. You know, the things you use your fingers and toes to count with, the stuff a weird Austrian Jew with crazy hair who mastered calculus at 13 used to invent physics as we know it, and a calculator. You know, shit like that.
I also used knowledge of the CBA to calculate a trade. I purposely included Haliburton. I also know it could be done differently with Fox and not including Haliburton.
I literally wrote these words: ‘Let’s assume for a moment.’
That is not a fact. I didn’t say what a fact was and wasn’t, and in fact, I expect you to know the difference. If you don’t understand, that’s your problem not mine.
Actually, I have maintained the issue is ownership, not the basketball people in the FO. In fact, McNair knows how to pull a real deal like that off. The issue is, based on what I keep seeing, is he doesn’t want to. You can consider that interpretation because, hey, it is!
I did say that. You just didn’t pick up on it. It’s okay, we all have failures of character.
I am absolutely Diane Keaton in this scenario. Except there’s going to be no baby clinging to my skirt. And I’m always right, except for half the time I’m not. Or a woman, or Patrick Swayze pretending to be one.
You actually got this right. But I was never making a pro or anti Simmons case. Under the right circumstances, that is. And there’s the whole Tobias Harris part. And the money. The lots and lots of money this will cost. Not to mention the draft capital.
Cool beans bro.
John Collins is indeed my preferred target on the trade market. Since we are discussing my preferences. Miles Bridges in FA this summer provided you have the cap room. These are preferences, not guarantees. You’re welcome to look up the differences of these definitions on the dictionary. I hear Oxford has one you can use.
I’ve been saying the ownership is a problem since 2013. That predates McNair.
Facts are important. But I was being a tad hyperbolic as to what is and isn’t a fact. And quite often, what people claim is a fact is simple interpretation. I was amusing myself calling my opinion and analysis fact.
But you’ve got me all figured out, clearly.
Even though I came here just to read comments, I cannot bring myself to read any comment that requires scrolling. You might be right, you might be wrong. I’ll never know.
Then don’t read it. I don’t care if you do or don’t.
How is Franz Wagner doing?
The No. 8 pick continues to crash the Ladder party with his multi-faceted contributions to the sputtering Orlando squad. A HoopsHype evaluation of his game noted that Wagner’s time with the ball in his hands had increased significantly, from 2.3 seconds “per touch” in his first 23 games to 3.98 since. That suggests teammates and coach Jamahl Mosley increasingly are leaning on the new guy. That was particularly apparent last week when Wagner scored 38 points on 20 shots against Milwaukee. In the East, where the top rookies reside this season, Wagner was named the best for December, averaging 19.5 points, 5.1 boards and 3.1 assists.
because he was rated number one in the nba rookie ladder..well because facts
Since Fact are Important … that is blasphemous!
If the Kings are still “building” around Fox and Haliburton and pushing the team to a “faster” pace, I am not watching the Kings.
Samick clarified this morning on Carmichael Doofus, Shams’ report is the most recent and accurate report. Kings fielded offers for Fox, did not like them, and took him off the market, unless offers increase in value.
Never trust a sham report
Badge Legend