The point guard rumor train continues on. The latest one is that the Sacramento Kings are expressing interest in Darius Garland and Trae young.
Let’s take a quick look at each.
Darius Garland
Garland is a two-time All Star and an efficient offensive weapon. Last season, he averaged 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 47% from the field and 40% from three. Cleaning The Glass also illustrates his offensive production from last season:
- 83rd percentile on points per shot attempt
- 83rd percentile in effective field goal percentage
- 96th percentile in short midrange percentage
- 90th in all midrange percentage
- 84th percentile in all threes
Where it gets tricky is with usage, defense and health.
Garland does have a relatively high usage rate – 73rd percentile, according to Cleaning The Glass. This is something you always have to watch in terms of a match with the Kings as long as Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk are on the roster, as they all command high usage.
Here are some of Garland’s defensive stats last season:
- 13th percentile in block %
- 44th percentile in steal%
- 12th percentile in opponent points allowed per 100 possessions with him on the floor
- 8th percentile in opponent team effective field goal percentage with him on the floor
Garland, who is 25, also recently had surgery for a toe injury and will be out 4-5 months. He played in 69 games or less in his first five seasons in the NBA. He played in 75 last season.
He is owed a decent amount of money: $39 million next season, $42 million the following season, and $44 million the year after that.
Trae Young
The Kings don’t technically have a “star to build around” right now, which is a tough spot for any NBA team to be in. Young would provide that. Like Garland, he is a scorer with questions on the defensive side of the ball. He is a four-time All Star and averaged 24.2 points, 11.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 41% from the field and 34% from three last season. He led the league in assists and was third in the league in free throw attempts per game (7.4).
He is in the 100th percentile in assist% and 65th percentile in points per shot attempt, according to Cleaning The Glass. For his on/off stats, his impact on offense is evident:
- +4.3 in efficiency differential
- The Hawks were +7.5 in points per 100 possessions with him on the floor (94th percentile)
- The Hawks were a +1.4% in effective field goal percentage with him on the floor (78th percentile)
- The Hawks were in the 85th percentile for turnover percentage with him on the floor
- The team was in the 98th percentile for free throw rate with him on the floor
His individual offensive ratings though in terms of accuracy aren’t off the charts. Last season, he wasn’t higher than the 69th percentile in any spot on the floor in terms of field goal percentage, and only in the 13th percentile at the rim (53%) last season. His effective field goal percentage was in the 37th percentile.
Turning to defense, it gets pretty dim.
For on/off stats, with him on the floor last season, the Hawks were:
- In the 25th percentile in points allowed per 100 possessions with Young on the floor
- In the 16th percentile in opponent effective field goal percentage
- In the 8th percentile for offensive rebounding % with him on the floor
Young, who is 26, played in 76 games last season, 54 the season before and 73 the season before that. He is owed $45 million next season and $48 million the season after that.
Oh, we can’t forget usage rate – Young’s was in the 90th percentile last season (the lowest of his career). So, definitely something to consider if LaVine, DeRozan and Monk are still on the roster, or any two of those.
Both Garland and Young are high-usage, offensive-minded guards with All-Star credentials entering their prime. And both have concerning defensive limitations (both are 6’1’’). Garland is a more efficient shooter, and Young is more of a high-volume playmaker. The fit for both is highly questionable given the other high-usage players on the current roster and the team’s desperate need for better defense. As mentioned earlier though, the team does need someone to build around, and also needs a point guard, and it’s anybody’s guess what the rest of the roster looks like next season at this point.
This could get CLE to bite.
Kings gave up Fox and got 3 first round picks (but the CHA one turned into 2 second rounders) + LaVine.
In this trade Kings give up those 2 first rounders, plus JV (who cost the 2 second rounders) and DDR.
Good trade for Heat.
Good trade for Cavs.
Boston- not sure
Kings- DDR has to go – not a good fit. The picks- well, that’s just Fox in and Fox out.
In a sense, Fox + DDR + JV for Garland and LaVine.
Duncan Robinson’s contract is only $9.9M guaranteed until July 8th so BOS could get under the 2nd apron with this deal if they waive Robinson.
I’m not giving up and firsts for Garland. Should have just kept Fox.
Well Fox is gone and the Kings need a PG
Considering that neither plays defense, and both come with a huge price tag, either one of them would be a very good fit for what the Kings are trying to do.
Lol, Vivek still calling the shots I see. Which part of size and defense as needs, aren’t the Kings top brass not getting? lol
I still think, for this Kings roster…in terms of what you get versus the cost to acquire, Ben Simmons is the best value available. It was reported yesterday that the Clippers aren’t expected to bring him back because they can’t or won’t offer anymore than the vet minimum again.
We just need to move DDR. Simmons can slot into one the F spots while running point on offense. This would allow for the best mix of 5 players that the Kings have available to start.
How I see it working:
Simmons main role would be to bring the ball of the court and push pace before handing off to Domas and by making use of Domas DHOs & screens with hard cuts to the basket or waiting in the dunker’s spot just outside the key near the baseline. Keon would remain starting as the “PG” to cover for LaVine and this doesn’t require the team to part with any draft assets. Simmons would be the worst shooter on the floor but everyone else is capable of of 37% or higher from 3. With three plus defenders, there is a real possibility the Kings could be good on defense. I also think a spread offense with Domas operating as the hub around the elbows would be better than average. Monk could come in to close games pushing Simmons to the bench and LaVine to the 3 for short spurts.
Starting: Ellis – LaVine – Murray – Simmons – Domas
Bench: Monk – Carter – Crawford (or LaRavia if he stays) – Jones – JV
IDK, its positive thinking and all but I like it way better than paying Trae Young or Darius Garland $40+MM for the next several years.
I like the Idea of Ben Simmons, and you make a good case for him. I don’t think, however, that the idea of him AND Trae Young is mutually exclusive. If you move off Monk and DDR for assets that would be useful.
I don’t like the way Young plays basketball, I just don’t think it leads to winning.
I mean ATL was filled with young athletic wings with a true rim-protector behind them and they STILL couldn’t cover for Youngs inability to guard anyone. SAC would be even worse as we don’t have those wing-players nor a rim-protector.
He led the Hawks to the Eastern conference finals in his second season . That is something .
It was also four years ago and was a fluky EC playoffs year.
11.6 assists from the PG position is needed AND still get a high quality starting PF.
Young seems like an empty stats player to me. Which fits the mold of what VIvek likes (DDR, MM, Domas, Lavine). But it will never equate to winning.
Trae would have to completely change his style of play to become a winning player, accepting a lower usage, being willing to run around off the ball, and actually trying on defense.
Good luck with that.
I posted something like this the other day … it is intriguing, The question is whether Ben Simmons has the right mentality, is someone you want in the lockerroom …
I like the idea. My concern is that Summons will miss most of the games due to injury, or whatever else has been causing him to miss game, and then the entire plan goes to shit.
I’m not remotely convinced that Ben Simmons actually wants to play basketball anymore. I think he ideally wants to ink a deal and then work part-time (or less).
AKA, the Kings head coach contract special.
Also offered to front office staff.
With the assumption that getting either of them comes with moving 2 of the 3 guards in whatever moves necessary, I wouldn’t hate either player. Consider their bad defenses a wash with what’s already here and ideally moving on in any trades. The fit with Domas is what id be most concerned about. We saw last year what happens when hes not one of the main hubs of the offense and adding Trae would and wouldn’t help that. The PnR with Domas could probably feed families. Trae, Domas, Keegan, and Lavine will not be a top defense but the offense should on paper pick up slack. But that always seems to be a problem here. We’re on paper champions every year so let’s see. Will be an interesting few months
NO Trae Young. IMO, he’s garbage and easily the most-overrated NBA player.
I don’t think Garland is a good fit either and while he isn’t the guy I would pick, at least I don’t hate watching him play.
Smells of Vivek trying to sell tickets rather than work toward a truly competitive team. Either one of these dudes will cost the Kings multiple first rounders that they can’t afford to lose and will be clunky fits next to Lavine. Terrible options here, which of course means Vivek will probably push one of them through.
Jimmer’d
For a while I was very pro-Ja Morant and thought trading Trae to Memphis and Ja to us would be a pretty good baseline for a deal (and sending out our usual picks and matching pieces). But I’d rather cut out the middle man. Fox learned to be a pick pocket because he compared himself to Shai.
Trae isn’t a great defender, but if the trade moves Monk or Lavine, it opens up major minutes for Keon Ellis. Tyrese Haliburton isn’t a great defender either, but he doesn’t have to be as part of a strong team defense concept. I would be pretty happy with a trade for him.
Garland makes me more nervous. If he’s traded he’s going to want to prove he THE MAN a la James Harden or others, and I just don’t see it with him the same way.
uhhh – Tyrese Halliburton is a very good defender.
OKC is targeting him. Broadcasters mentioned it a lot .
I think he plays the pasing lanes well (savvy) and gets weakside blocks, has length for a PG, but he may not be the best on-ball defender (lateral quickness). I think he works in a team defense, where e.g you put Nembhard on SGA.
Fun fact! Match the players with their defensive ratings!
A) Tyrese Haliburton
B) Trae Young
C) Ja Morant
D) DeAaron Fox
E) Steph Curry
F) Kyrie Irving
G) Jalen Brunson
H) Tyrese Maxey
I) Luka Doncic
J) Shai Gilgeous Alexander
107.4
112.6
113.2
114.8
115.3
117
117.6
118.2
119.4
Not a ringing endorsement for the guy I’d like to trade for, but there are some surprises on this list.
Ty is not a very good defender, average and adequate at best. Like Rock mentioned, OKC is targeting him heavily. He’s Indy’s weak link on D.
Kings could really use DeAaron Fox…oh, that’s right, we traded him.
That Castle kid seems really good too! I actually have to wonder, if they take Harper like they should, Fox kind of becomes the odd man out in a way? After next season do the Spurs sign him to a mega deal having 2 young, potentially better point guards you want to give minutes? Would be a wonderful problem to have instead of whatever the hell we have going on currently. The Spurs damn near got Fox for nothing and if they move on I bet they get a better haul than we did somehow
If they take Harper, would he take the ball out of Fox’s hands?
Vlade’d.
KOC had an article on Yahoo this week on this very topic. There will be redundancy on that roster with Fox, Harper and Castle. Spurs are basically putting average shooters around Wemby which is obviously not a good strategy.
Yeah, but following the OKC model, you amass assets and proceed accordingly. You don’t draft for fit at #2. You take the best talent. That said, if they could pluck something from Philly or Charlotte to drop a slot or two, it might be worth considering. I don’t know what Ainge would give up to move up three slots, but Utah has a lot of future assets.
Lauri and Wemby at the 4 and 5 would be a problem for the West.
With all of the assets that SA has, I wonder what their interest level would be in Durant. It would probably take Fox and either Keldon Johnson or Barnes to make the salary work, and I imagine the #2 pick would be involved. I should asterisk that the #2 pick is slated to make $10.3m this coming season, and if that can be counted in the trade (I can’t keep up with the CBA rules anymore), the #2 and Barnes and Johnson would meet the salary requirement.
San Antonio would be insane to trade the #2 pick for 37 year old post-Achilles Kevin Durant. He’s played 70 games once since 2019. I get that the guy is still very productive today, but they would be giving up a huge part of their future for one chance at a title if Durant doesn’t get hurt, which he will.
I don’t think the return for KD will be huge, unless there’s a bidding war. SAS has so many future 1sts they could likely get KD for salary and a couple of future firsts, throw in our pick swap a long with it.
KD at this point in his career isn’t even worth that. I believe the spurs have the 10th pick also or something close to that. That’s his value at his age plus salary filler. The newer cba has changed things a lot and with his salary few partners are essentially available. His peak is probably a Randle for Durant swap.
OT: Man, I wish we had actually gone out and done a coaching search given all the candidates available this off season…
I think that in the end, none of these guys are going to be available. Dallas isn’t going to let Kidd interview with New York, and I’m not sure Finch or Udoka think that the Knicks’ situation is superior to what each already has.
Besides, Minnesota and Houston told the Knicks to pound sand.
I’m actually surprised the Knicks don’t have Michael Malone on their radar, apparently. Would’ve thought a New York guy that has had a successful time as head coach would’ve been considered.
I think Darius Garland is excellent and I’d take him in a heartbeat. Unfortunately the only two players on this team the Cavs would want are Keon and Keegan. We also need to trade most of the team for him to fit because this is one of the most idiotically built rosters I’ve ever seen.
Zero interest in Trae although watching he and Lavine would be so awful it would be like performance art. You know what, I think I’m in! A team led by Trae and Lavine would win 14 games and give up 140 a night.
I could see Perry going after Garland. He’s similar to Jalen Brunson and Perry was with the Knicks when they acquired Brunson.
I just want to rebuild, lol. I’ll still go to the games for entertainment, as long as I know the Kings have a plan.
We still haven’t seen what Keegan can really do. I say trade everyone at their max value for cap space, young players, and draft picks. Give Keegan until the deadline to show what he’s got.
I agree on full rebuild. This current roster just has no route to competing for a deep playoff run. Nor is it a player or 2 away. Just want to see a culture established this season because this currently is probably not even a playin roster. The positive is you really don’t have to gut the roster. Just move on from DDR and you are a bottom 10 team.
Using the term “a matador defense” wouldn’t do the backcourt of LaVine and Young justice. Having the two of them on the perimeter would have Sabonis in foul trouble before the end of the first quarter. Hard Pass on Young.
I could be talked into Garland, as I think he’s similar to Fox, but at $40M per year, what are the Kings giving up to get him? If you could package DDR and Monk for something like Garland and Okoro, great, but the Cavs aren’t taking that deal.
In the end, the Kings already have too much money tied up in LaVine and Sabonis so I really am not fond of another large contract for a fringe all-star.
I like Okoro and think he would fit well on the Kings, once they figure out which of their current SGs get sent out.
There is no move, nor series of moves, which will make this team competitive next season. It is all just dressing for the shit salad.
If this team isn’t going to tear it down, I’m totally indifferent to what happens next. Trae? Garland? Sure, whatever.
They aren’t going to tear it down. Vivek and ownership won’t allow it. I guess we can look forward to some “meh” moves and maybe get some undervalued player that might break out…but I am not holding my breath.
Vivek’s insistence to never rebuild is absolutely bizarre. What’s the worst thing that could happen? We miss the playoffs? We do that every season anyway.
I’ve hit a level of apathy for this team that I haven’t felt in 20+ years of fandom. Just watching the same owner step on the same rake over and over and over again. What am I even rooting for at this point? A single second round appearance within the next decade? It’s pathetic.
I’m surprised apathy has just kicked in for you. Most of us have been there for a decade plus with all small reprieve the LTB season, even then, I didn’t buy into it. You’ll never win paying top dollar for empty stat, non-winners.
At least back in the days of Donte Greene, Beno Udrih, and Jason Thompson the team was so bad it felt like things had to improve – even if it was just out of sheer luck. We got in the Top 5 of the draft a couple times and got guys like Tyreke and DMC. Isaiah Thomas was a revelation. The team was shit, but there were things to be interested in. Expectations were rock bottom, and any win was a nice reprieve from the usual garbage.
But this team is just completely mediocre. Outside of the Beam Team, it has been a decade straight of 30-40 wins. Too good to win the draft lottery, too bad to win anything else. There is no worse place in the NBA to be than here. And because they have some talent, expectations aren’t even low enough for the wins to feel surprising or enjoyable. It’s like if the feeling of ennui became a basketball team.
Just hearing those names is so depressing lol.
OT trade idea: I think the market for DDR is poor, so I came up with a trade where I thought the value would match.
Kings get:
Brandon Clarke + John Konchar + 2025 48th pick and 2028 Kings 2nd round (the one traded for LaRavia)
Grizzlies get:
DeMar DeRozan
That is it. That’s what I think DDR is worth. A more expensive Lyles replacement, whatever Konchar’s role is, and some 2nd rounders. It’s not a great return, but it does save the Kings $6m, and they get a backup PF.
Saw a 3 way with Mavericks Kings and Magic. Ends up Mavericks get DeRozan and Kings get Jonathan Issac and Naji Marshall. Good trade.
Trader Jack takes aim again.
Hard pass. Issacc is not smart, gets hurt to often and is more potential than reality. And, yes there are the crazy ideas.
Gotta get way more for DDR- like Robinson and Jaime Jacquez
I love Trey Young. He makes his team better. He’s a great scorer but more importantly, an incredible playmaker and facilitator. Build around him with defense and Sabonis. Ditch everyone else except maybe Monk and LaRavia.
So ditch their two best defenders, Keon and Keegan, so they can build around Trae with the defensive skills of…Monk? Seems like keeping Keon and Keegan, along with retaining LaRavia and getting Carter minutes, would be the type of defensive players the team would want with Trae.
Keegan is fools gold on both ends. Yeah ditch him, especially now while he has value. He’ll go to another team like all the other Kings that fans were fooled by and then disappear. Keon can stay, he’s a good prospect as a backup point guard, but that’s it.
There was an article, on this very site, that showed his defensive prowess and improvement since his rookie season.
Offensively, yeah, it’s a mixed bag.
Trae and Domas are two of the worst defenders in the NBA at their respective positions.
Yeah notice how I separated Sabonis and defense…
Trae is the way agreed. I’m not sure what other people are seeing, but he can definitely be the floor general. The guy consistently averages double digit assists. We have defenders on the team and can add defenders.
Not agreed: Ditching everyone except Monk and Laravia is crazy. Keep Laravia, yes. I’m good with trading Monk and DDR as long as we get a starting PF in return.
Young
Lavine
Murray
Herb Jones/Wiggins/Any athletic PF out there that can defend
Sabonis
Is a winner.
Monk for PJ Washington.
Not bad Jack.
Teo awful defenders in the backcourt, not a rim protector/shot altering big man down low, “any PF that can defend, and Keegan. That team might give up 180 a night, and they won’t score 181.
If Trae comes in, Lavine has to go out.
The starting lineup isn’t the entire team. It’s more balanced than what we had. Trae is there to facilitate. Lavine is there to shoot. No one expects them to be lockdown defenders, but with Trae’s passing/P&R game, with Lavine doing what he does, that’s actually a fire backcourt. We can pick up some dawgs for defense. We got 3 now, Keon, Laravia, I-Jones.
What about Ellis? Best defender we have.
You can’t have Young and LaVine together . If you want Young it will cost LaVine and probably at least 2 first rounders.
I’m very curious to see what Perry does this off-season. Vivek, for the love of Jeremy Lamb just stay out of his way.
You really think that’s going to happen? I too want him to step aside and let Perry and company do their thing.
Four of our last six 1st round draft picks have been point guards, and yet here we are in desperate need of a PG.
I’m failing to see your point (guard).
So…
If the Kangz had a lottery pick this year…
they wouldn’t draft a point guard.
(comedy is a well established art form)
What was the point of all those draft picks then?
#Kangz
Sorry if its been discussed before, but is Carter just completely out of the starting pg conversation going forward? In year two he’ll get a whole off season, summer league, camp, ect to improve. I won’t pretend to have tuned in to too many games last season so I genuinely don’t have a read on him outside of some good highlights
Might as well be fun if we can’t build a contender.
When Doug is inevitably fired, who replaces him as HC? Woodson (“associate” had coach) or Bobby (Vivek reachback to glory years team)?
Doug isn’t going to be fired for quite some time.
Three years, plus or minus one.
Yeah, I’m sure the EIGHTH different head coach in 12 years is really going to work out.
A star to build around if your goal is a first round playoff exit. There is no combination of outgoing players with Trae Young incoming that’s going to make this team meaningfully better. He’s in exactly the same tier as LaVine with Fox a little ahead of both.
Yay 43 wins instead of 39?
Young is also incredibly inefficient, no where near LaVine’s efficiency (61% eFG, 56% from the field, and 45% from 3). If we have to pay a defensive sieve $40M+ a year, I’d much rather he be able to score efficiently to help offset the deficiencies.
If you are looking for a franchise PG, there are only few choices that are worse than Trae Young.
Great post!
Matt George is reporting on his podcast that the Trae Young talks are heating up. Had to figure that
PerryVivek would pull some kind of mortgage-your-future-for-mediocrity-now crap. What a freakin’ joke this franchise has become.If the Kings get Trae Young, Perry won’t last three years. They will be exactly where they are now or worse. And again, the Kings front office is run on fantasy basketball points.
100%. Not to mention the cost and likely future draft capital it will take to get Young will be a lateral move at best, but will instead most likely set the franchise back further.
I have to think that Vivek thinks that Trae can be Steph 2.0.
I don’t think Vivek’s fixation with the dynasty duds has magically gone away. Buddy was the Steph/Klay amalgam for Vivek and Trae is straight up Steph in his view.
Trae + Zach = splash bros in his eyes
It’s nuts. Those 2 are nowhere close to Steph/Klay. And on top of that, I’d argue that the league has adapted and the W’s model is outdated.
Today’s NBA is all about long athletic, switchable, play both sides of the floor, 6’6″ to 7 footers that can shoot and space the floor. (See Boston, Cleveland, OKC, Indy, Houston).
Monte never got the memo. He preferred short, unathletic players.
Fantasy basketball points explains everything in the Kings front office.
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, hear me out.
The only way I can even begin to support this move by PerryVek…
Bringing in Trae Young would allow him to take over most of the playmaking duties from Sabonis. That, in turn, lets Sabonis focus more on scoring and efficiency rather than being the offensive engine every possession.
You pair Jonathan Isaac with Sabonis in the frontcourt — a legit defensive anchor with size and versatility. Slide Murray to the 3, with LaVine and Trae as the backcourt
Bring in Bol Bol to replace Trey Lyles. Theoretically, Bol gives you everything Lyles brings — but with way more length, rim protection, and switchability between the 3, 4, and 5.
Ellis becomes the sixth man, and your bench rotation looks like:
Keon
Jonas Valančiūnas
Bol Bol
(hopefully) LaRavia
If LaRavia doesn’t stay, I’d be calling Cleveland for Isaac Okoro, or even looking at someone like Dante Exum to round out the rotation.
Now, I’m not saying this is a perfect scenario — I haven’t even looked at the cap math. But with this group, you’d at least have a functional and entertaining team. It wouldn’t be a complete disaster.
Starting Five:
PG – Trae Young
SG – Zach LaVine
SF – Keegan Murray
PF – Jonathan Isaac
C – Domantas Sabonis
Bench:
Keon Ellis
Jonas Valančiūnas
Jake LaRavia (maybe)
Bol Bol
This isn’t my idea of the full 12-14 man roster just an idea of what the top 9 guys can look like.
Been beating the table for years to trade for Isaac to pair with Domas.
At the very least, at last pair Domas with an athletic defensive minded 4 to help mitigate Domas’ glairing weaknesses. Could have drafted Ware instead of DC, but Monte just couldn’t pass up drafting another short G.
swap out for better fitting roster:
-demar to orl for issac and cole anthony (probably also net us a couple seconds)
-lavine and spurs and ‘26 kings first to atl for trae
-devin carter to mil for s&t bobby portis
trae/keon/murray/portis/sabonis
anthony/monk/(laravia?!?)/issac/jval
Forgot about Portis. He would certainly be a better option than the Bol suggestion.
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