Welcome back to Chainmail! Last week, Will and I foolishly asked you to come up with your best Kings-centric trade ideas, and we are prepared with our responses.
Before we get into the mailbag, we also want to thank our sponsor for the mailbag, Carter Imports! Carter Imports is a Sacramento-based company that imports some of the very best Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Cretan Thyme Honey available in the world today. There has never been a better time to support one of our own than right now!
To kick things off, we responded to the trades that inspired this insanity, which were proposed by Bill Simmons of The Ringer and Zach Lowe of ESPN.
From Bill Simmons
Kings Receive: Andrew Wiggins, #2 pick
Warriors Receive: Buddy Hield, #12 pick
Tim: This is the kind of deal that is interesting to me in Buddy’s weird situation. I’m getting rid of an unhappy player who isn’t going to push my team into the playoffs, and I’m swapping him for a much better pick and a guy who also isn’t going to help me get into the playoffs. Wiggins makes more per year than Hield, but his contract also ends a season earlier. I wouldn’t hate Monte McNair for pulling the trigger on this sort of trade, nor would I be upset if that offer was leaked and the Kings declined. It’s right on the edge for me.
Will: So, I’m entirely fine with this deal. Wiggins will only turn 26 a few months into next season and is a talented, yet aloof scorer. He will never be the promised ‘Maple Jordan’ but on a team built to get out and score quickly, the Kings could do a lot worse. He’s played shoot guard and small forward in his career so there’s still flexibility that the Kings can use to draft who they want and re-sign who they want. Wiggins also isn’t by any means a headcase or someone who stirs the pot. In fact, much of his issue is that he’s probably too even keeled to the point of looking disinterested. The contract is a wash in my mind and getting the #2 pick, even in a weak draft allows the new front office to pick whoever the hell they think has the most star potential. Kings get younger, don’t get much more expensive and they replace the scoring with someone of fairly equal stature.
Kings Receive: Gordon Hayward, #14
Celtics Receive: Buddy Hield
Tim: Yes! Yes! Yes! I would take this deal in a heartbeat. Sacramento sheds long-term salary, gets rid of an unhappy player, takes on no long-term deals, and gains a lottery pick to add a rotation player. The Kings would also gain some flexibility to move up in the draft if they so desired. Give me something like Saddiq Bey and Tyrese Maxey and I’m thrilled.
Will: This is a deal that is almost solely about the future. Gordon Hayward could be a $34 million rental of the Gorton Fisherman’s likeness and it would probably end up being a decent deal. Would casual fans enjoy that we traded Buddy for a pricey rental? Hell no. But it clears salary, gets Buddy to a spot where he can shine (probably off the bench) and the Kings get draft assets in return. Hayward won’t help the Kings sniff the playoffs, so a high 2021 Draft pick would still very much be on the table. Having the 12 and 14 would also allow the Kings to pick a more NBA ready player while also adding a home run swing like Poku a few spots later. Oh, yeah, just assume if the Kings get any second pick in this draft, the lowest selection in the first round goes to the Serbian Scorpion.
From Zach Lowe
Kings Receive: #2 pick
Warriors Receive: Richaun Holmes, Nemanja Bjelica, #12, top-5 protected 2021 first rounder
Tim: When I first heard about this proposal, I was a yes vote, but I’ve changed my mind over the last few days. From a value perspective, I couldn’t care less about Holmes and Bjelica, as they probably wouldn’t garner anything more than a second rounder on their own, but the protections on the 2021 pick are far too low for me. If I can bump those up to top-10, I would consider making the deal, but missing out on a top-6 or 7 pick in the 2021 draft would be pretty devastating. Also, I’m going to need to see that Anthony Edwards is still on the board before completing the transaction. Wiseman and Ball aren’t worth it to me.
Will: There’s almost nothing on this green Earth that could persuade me to give up this years pick and next year’s pick with any protections higher than “lottery protected”. Richaun and Bjelly can be had, no ifs, ands or buts about it. The #12 can likewise be packaged in for a trade up with those two. But the Kings need to inject youth and talent into this team and the risk of losing the #6 or #7 pick in a deep 2021 draft class is just too rich for my blood. Now, say that Top-5 turned into Top-12 and the next year converts to second rounders or something that is steep in the drop off, I’m fine with the risk.
From Wonderchild
Kings Receive: Victor Oladipo, Grant Williams
Pacers Receive: Gordon Hayward, Robert Williams IIICeltics Recieve: Myles Turner, Buddy Hield
Tim: I have no idea why the Kings or Pacers would do this deal, to be honest. For the Kings, they’re getting one year of Victor Oladipo and then he’s walking to Miami. I also legitimately have no idea who Grant Williams is or what position he plays. I know he’s probably not very good. From Sacramento’s position, I would much rather take Myles Turner on for Buddy Hield. He fits the timeline and fills a position of need.
The Pacers may be interested in Hayward, but I can’t imagine they’ll have to give up Oladipo AND Turner to get him and a project center. The Celtics would be thrilled with this deal, though.
Will: I’ve got to be honest, Victor Oladipo scares me. Trading him for one year scares me, his injuries scare me. Even if he said he’d agree to contract extension, it would make me very nervous pulling something like this off. Obviously, I would do it because it only costs the Kings Buddy and we also get a nice little asset in Grant Williams but Victor is rather fragile and every fall or drive into traffic would have me holding my breath. Without an agreement from his side to play beyond next season for the Kings, we’re really dumping Buddy in the hopes of mowing Oladipo’s lawn well enough to get him to stay.
From Adamsite
Kings Receive: Kevin Huerter, #6 pick
Hawks Receive: Buddy Hield
Tim: I would love this return for the Kings, but I think it falls too much in Sacramento’s favor. Monte McNair would probably need to give up #12 in this deal, and even then, I’m not sure Atlanta pulls the trigger. They can find not quite as good, but not nearly as expensive shooting elsewhere in free agency and in trades. That being said, I’ll be the Kings could send Hield and #12 for #6, which is a deal I would take as well.
Will: We’ve heard that Atlanta is all in on making a playoff push this next season and this might be the kid of deal Trae Young pushes management for. With Hield by his side, Young would have himself a Dollar General version of the Splash Bros. ( “The Puddle Buds” perhaps) and their scoring would be more than enough to get to the outer edges of a playoff race. But is Buddy enough to get that deal done? I’d be willing to part with a guy like Nemanja Bjelica, who furthers the shooting prowess of that Atlanta team while also not hampering them long term. I’d stop short of offering the #12 and offer other guys on contract, but with enough pressure, I could be convinced to toss it in, especially if I knew someone like Okongwu was still on the board.
Kings Receive: Aaron Gordon, #15 pick
Magic Receive: Buddy Hield, #12 pick
Tim: This one one of the most interesting to me fair value-wise, but in the end, I don’t pull the trigger. Aaron Gordon doesn’t fit at all with Marvin Bagley, and we’re still hoping/betting/praying that Marvin become an above-average starter. Neither of those guys can stretch the floor or protect the rim. I like the idea, but I don’t like it for the Kings core.
Will: I’m breaking with Tim here. I do this deal and to hell with Marvin Bagley and whatever positioning he thinks he’s deserving of. Gordon has a contract that descends from $18 mil this season to $16 mil next season and if this season doesn’t quite work in terms of spacing, I trade whichever between he and Bagley doesn’t fit next season. Each will be assets in their own way and I have a year to evaluate both guys and their fit with De’Aaron Fox. Gordon’s a local kid with ties to the central valley who is looking for a change of scenery to give his career another boost. He’s a good defender, a very streaky scorer and a highlight reel that can get the Kings on SportsCenter without being good enough to ruin much of any draft stock. The #15 pick also isn’t much of a sink, especially in this draft. The Kings could very easily like a guy at #12, pull this trade off and find that kid dropped to #15.
Kings Receive: Al Horford, Josh Richardson, Matisse Thybulle, #21
Sixers Receive: Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, 2021 second rounder, 2022 second rounder
Tim: I’m intrigued. I’m very intrigued. The Sixers got themselves a new coach and some new front office personnel, so I’m not exactly sure how all of their pieces are valued within their organization. Probably the biggest issue with this deal is that Philadelphia wants to get out of Horford’s long-term, overpaid deal, and I’m not sure that the long-term, overpaid deals of Barnes and Hield are exactly what they need. I’ll say this, if we can take on Horford for Buddy and get Thybulle and another piece, I’m thrilled.
Will: Did Sacramento give up any first round picks? No. Did they get better? Also, no. Adding Matisse Thybulle and the #21 is the real prize here and a perfect use of renting your cap space. Fox and Josh Richardson will play well together as a scoring tandem, Horford and a healthy Bagley could be nice in theory without being dominant. Adding a budding defensive monster and high character guy in Thybulle plus another youngster at #21 is a big boon for the youth movement. Fox, Tyrese Maxey (at #12), Matisse Thybulle, Mavin Bagley (and of course POKU!!) is a damn good, quick rebuild, not to mention the 2021 pick and the option to resign Bogi. I like this deal. I like it a whole hell of a lot.
From AirmaxPG
Kings Receive: Mitchell Robinson, Frank Ntilikina, Bobby Portis, #8 pick, 2021 NYK first rounder
Knicks Receive: De’Aaron Fox, Nemanja Bjelica, Jabari Parker
Tim: If, and I can’t imagine this would actually happen, that 2021 NYK first rounder is fully unprotected, I’m taking the deal. If there are any protections, even top-1 protected, I’m out. Trading Fox has to give you a near guarantee at a top pick in the stacked 2021 draft, so if I can get two of those shots (Knicks and Kings picks both likely being high), I have to consider the deal. I’m too lazy to figure out the different salaries, but Bjelica, Parker, Ntilikina, and Portis have less than zero meaning to me in this deal. If it’s two first rounders and Robinson, I’m in. With those two picks, plus Sacramento’s own selections in the next two years, the Kings could build a core of 21 and under that looks something like:
Suggs
Haliburton/Maxey
Kuminga
Bagley
Robinson
Will: So I’ve been one of the few on this writing staff willing to publicly say that I would trade Fox for the right deal. I’m pretty set in that thinking. That being said, I’m not sure I trust the Knicks to stay bad enough in the East with Fox and whatever pieces are left after this deal. Thibs being a new coach there doesn’t assuage my concerns either. All you need is one maligned star to decide that he wants to play in New York and the Kings are looking at a pick in the teens next year. Robinson is a good get, the #8 is fun too. I just… the Knicks have been screw ups for so long that with Fox, Thibs and a midseason swing, they might just screw up and wiggle Sacramento out of a high pick. I’ll give it to you, it’s definitely close.
From jlandweh
Kings Receive: Russell Westbrook
Rockets Receive: Harrison Barnes, Richaun Holmes, Cory Joseph, 2021 SAC first rounder (top-8 protected)
Tim: NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.
Will: Not going to lie, the thought of Westbrook in Sacramento, three years from now while making $47 million is hilarious to me. I have no idea why. That said, it would be an all-time dramatic move and McNair might not survive to the end of his contract if he pulled this off.
From TheGuyOnTheCouch
Kings Receive: Victor Oladipo, Myles Turner
Pacers Receive: Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, #12 pick
Tim: I don’t know why either team makes this deal. Similar to what I said above, the Kings shouldn’t be paying a high price for a one-year rental of Oladipo, nor should the Pacers settle for such a low price for two pretty good players.
Will: I agree here. I think the Kings would be happy to do this deal, and if Indiana offered, it might be worth it just to get out of their salaries and collect Turner in the process. That being said, it isn’t enough for Indy to be remotely interested in it and it might be a bad use of Kings resources if they were.
From Hobby916
Kings Receive: John Wall, 2020 WAS first rounder, 2022 WAS first rounder, 2020 WAS second rounder
Wizards Receive: Cory Joseph, Buddy Hield, Richaun Holmes
Tim: There’s no doubt that Wall is probably on the worst contract in the league due to his injuries, but Washington probably can’t afford to do anything but wait him and out hope he works his way back to decent production. I don’t forsee the Wizards engaging in a salary dump when they’re almost certainly going to be bad over the next couple of seasons.
Will: I’m pretending in this moment that Washington is the one that offered the deal as a way to reset after a disappointing last few years. The Kings would have Wall, the #9 pick and whatever Washington’s pick is the year that high schoolers might be allowed back into the draft. That’s almost tempting to me. Wall makes the exact same amount of money as Westbrook, but I’d venture a guess that even if you told Wall to stay home and collect the largest paid vacation money in history, a year or so down the road, some team desperate to build a superteam might come knocking. I’d leeeean towards a no on this deal, but its a risk that is nearly worth taking. Maybe toss in another first rounder to really make up for that nasty contract and I would make it work.
From RAP87
Kings Receive: Gordon Hayward, Enes Kanter, #26
Celtics Receive: Buddy Hield, Cory Joseph
Tim: I’m going to need a hell of a lot more for Hield than two expiring contracts and a late first rounder in a bad draft. If this is the best offer I receive for Buddy, I’m waiting until the trade deadline or next offseason to pull the trigger on a deal.
Will: Two year-long rentals and the #26 isn’t enough for Buddy at this moment, but I will say that if he starts publicly mouthing off about wanting out? This might be the deal the Kings HAVE to take. I would be disappointed in this haul, but it really isn’t a lowball given the reality of the situation.
even though it’s kind of a sell low buy high situation, I think I’d be willing to send Buddy to the Pistons in a sign and trade deal for Christian Wood. I think I’d rather do a speculative overpay at +$15 million per year for Wood versus Buddy at his salary. Wood’s a few years younger than Buddy, and would theoretically fit with Fox/Bagley. They’d definitely need to add more playmakers in the draft and/or trades, but that wouldn’t be an impossible task for a competent front office.
I believe Wood is an unrestricted FA.
Well I guess my point is that I’d be willing to overpay Wood enough that Sacramento would be his preferred destination. In that case a sign-and-trade would still work I believe. I honestly don’t know if $15-16 per year is enough of an overpay to be the highest bid though.
of all the 900+ variations of the Hield to Philly deals I’ve seen here and elsewhere, the one listed here is probably the most fair and intriguing. I’m not sure Philly does it though.
Philly’s closing lineup probably becomes Embiid/Harris/Barnes/Hield/Simmons which is pretty lackluster in playmaking, though it does provide sufficient spacing for Simmons to create so it may be a wash.
Yeah, after I posted I thought Philly might want more, which I’d totally be willing to do. If they want to add filler salary to make things work, I’d be fine with adding Nemanja or Holmes to the deal or even additional 2nd rounders.
I do think they might like Nemanja for his shooting. IMO, that was their biggest weakness. they just need legit 3pt threats. Buddy and Nemanja could really help them. They could add Mike Scott to the make numbers work.
I feel like you’re just adding salary filler on both sides. If Philly tries to add Mike Scott, it means they’re trying to remove an asset, most likely either Richardson or Thybulle.
I’d see win now teams as the most likely trade partners for Buddy, Cojo, and perhaps Barnes, Belly and Holmes. If we could collect some young players and/or assets, we do the deal. It might not end in that move, but collecting assets sets us up for the future.
I’m open to trading Buddy for an expiring contract (Hayward or Oladipo). I think his contract has negative value, as he’s paid like a 2nd/3rd star on a team while being a rotational player. In addition, he could get in the way of developing a future guard that has creation potential. McNair has talked about wanting flexibility, and having salary cap flexibility could allow Sacramento to take on either bad contracts for draft capital or a star that wants out.
I would like to clarify that my trade idea was just a part of a much bigger plan. Basically after trading Buddy + Joseph to the Celtics for Hayward, Kanter and the 26th pick. We then do a deal with Indiana which includes a S/T Bogdanovic, Holmes and the 12th pick for Oladipo and Turner.
Lineup: Fox, Oladipo, Barnes, Bagley, Turner
Bench: Hayward, Kanter, Bjelly, a couple of FA and our draft picks.
The only problem with that additional idea is the S&T of Bogi would need to be after the draft, so that #12 will not be in play for Indy. Also, I believe Bogi can not be packaged in a S&T with Holmes. the two would need to be 2 simultaneous trades, which I’m not sure would work for Oladipo and Turner. A S&T of Bogi for Turner would work, but not Nemanja for Oladipo. At least that is what I think is correct, but I could very well be wrong.
Shoot you might be right! Oh well that was a crazy trade idea to start with.
OT: Incredible. $1.6B!!!!!
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1321480358957907969
There goes any traction the owners have in their “losing money” argument.
Also, time for expansion. That could be a windfall for the owners.
Would be a smart way to inject some cash flow into the league Adam, and generate some excitement in two new markets.
Most owners, anyways.
I mainly meant the owners stance in negotiating with players in CBA talks.
Thinking about the league as a whole, it’s not a particularly stable business model if a team’s controlling partners can only make money when they sell. It just means most teams will be sold more often. Could lead to more relocation in the future as well.
All I know is if I was an investor interested in the NBA (or MLB or really anything that requires people to show up), I’d want to know exactly what the league’s plans are for the future in the event fans aren’t in the stands. This probably isn’t going to be the last pandemic we see, unfortunately.
From a safety concern, the NBA has handled it best out of everyone, except maybe the WNBA. We won’t know for sure until the financial numbers come back for MLB and NFL though. I’d imagine the NFL comes closes to financial security because they care the least about player safety (which shouldn’t shock anyone).
Right, but the league as it currently exists is not sustainable under conditions where fans can’t be in the stands. From a purely financial perspective, they’re looking at immediate revenue losses dragging everything from valuations to the salary cap down. From a more fundamental level, how many of these players would still be interested in playing in empty arenas?
Damn, there wouldn’t be enough days in my lifetime to spend anything close to $1.6 billion. Even if I were a cat!
That’s a lot of cheezburger.
And the new owner is jut 42 years old. Incredible.
Thanks for your feedback on the Fox/Knicks trade.
I think Will’s concerns that the Knicks may get a pick in the teens in 2021 are fair, but I think ultimately that Knicks team would be just as shitty (or perhaps even shittier) than their current iteration. They’d be rolling with a rotation of Fox, Randle, Barrett, Knox, Bjelly, Gibson, Ellington, Smith, Parker, and Payton. Even in the east, I don’t think that team is even sniffing the 8 seed. There’s really not anything that team does especially well.
Free agents to NY may be a thing, but James Dolan is still the owner. And Thibs couldn’t keep Jimmy Butler from forcing his way out in Minny. I don’t think any big names would be choosing the Knicks.
If there’s any organization I have more trust in their suckitude as much or more than the Kings… it would be the New York Knickerbockers. And it starts at the top. We’d be losing a good player in Fox (who is due for max money)… but we’d be firmly in the running for one (possibly) two top-5 picks in a highly-anticipated draft.
Well there are a lot of ideas out there for sure, and I for one can’t wait to see what McNair does. It’s going to be very interesting to me what plan he comes up with to get this team out of the cellar.
I do have a feeling that nothing that gets done this year is going to wow me or satisfy my craving for a new and improved team though. I just don’t think they can make a big enough splash in one offseason. This is going to be a multi year (at least 2, maybe 3 or more) process to clear out the mistakes and build up this program’s assets. I am prepared for the Kings to suck badly next season, especially given that Walton is still going to be here. That is sad, because at the end of last season I was pretty hyped about the direction of the team.
Whatever he does is going to feel like eating ONE Dorito… I might think it’s good but I’m going to wish for a lot more.
Atlanta seems like an intriguing partner if they really want to go win-now. There’s Buddy as a starting point, obviously, but we also have Bjelica, Joseph, Barnes, Ferrell, and Holmes. Maybe there’s a way to get Huerter and Reddish from them, toss in a pick swap or something.
What do you guys think about DeMar DeRozan being unhappy in San Antonio and the possibility of McNair giving the Spurs a courtesy call to find out what they might take for DeRozan?
He’s got a PO. My guess is he opts out and signs one more good deal or a one year deal on the cheap for a contender.
One other point here is that there is more potential value. Hayward is still a very good player with value to a playoff team. This could easily be a Preti-like set of trades where we get the #14 pick coming in the deal and then 1-2 months into the year trade Hayward to another contender.
For example, if Utah wanted to try to get over the hump and finally escape the 2nd round would they give up Royce O’Neal + filler + a first round pick for Hayward? Setting aside filler could be hard when Hayward makes $32M.
Net of the trade could be Buddy for the #14 in 2020, #20 in 2021, Royce O’Neal, and filler contracts.
I’d imagine Utah wouldn’t want Hayward as they already have Bojan Bogdanovic. They probably get past Denver if he’s healthy.
But I agree with your point. It would be smart to get rid of an unruly player for a rental of Hayward, even if he gets dealt at the trade deadline.
Fair point
My one big concern with 2021 draft is: will there be as many talented players as it has advertised due to another potential shorten season by the pandemic?
Just one quick note:
I’d say that Philly trade probably makes the Kings a better team right now. Assuming a normal decline for Horford rather than a cliff.
I think it also makes Philly a better team. They really need outside shooting and Buddy and Barnes give that to them. It seems to me that Buddy to Philly is just destined, but now the Morey is there, it’s anyone’s guess.
Okay, I am absolutely baffled at Tim’s take on Grant Williams- he admittedly doesn’t know who he is, but I guess he didn’t watch the Celtics in the playoffs? Williams doesn’t always show up in the stat sheet but he’s a good, versatile defender with potential to stretch the floor.
The what? What is this “playoffs” that you speak of?
A fictional story that we tell our kids at night.
Badge Legend