Over the last five games, Trey Lyles is showing some signs of life, reclaiming his status as a vital (and much-missed) Beam Team member. He’s putting up 10.8 points and 5.6 boards on 53% shooting in 22 minutes per game—with real effort and energy, mind you. Those minutes? Largely coming at the expense of Jonas Valančiūnas, who, while a solid acquisition, hasn’t been the perfect fit lately. Trey’s ability to stretch the floor as a small-ball five is exactly what the Kings have craved but couldn’t consistently get all season, which is probably why they gave up two second-rounders for JV in the first place.
Now, don’t get me wrong—I’ve supported the JV trade in general, unlike most of Monte McNair and West Wilcox’s moves the last couple of seasons. But his mobility issues have been blindingly obvious recently, whether it’s against the Warriors’ Formula One tempo or, bizarrely, against Nikola Vučević, who happily rained threes while JV stayed rooted to the hardwood. Over this same five-game stretch, Trey is a -14 in plus-minus (respectable, considering three losses), while JV is sitting at an eye-watering -43 in 16.5 minutes per game. This isn’t a direct hit on JV, but more of a well-deserved spotlight for Trey, who I’ll admit to roasting way too often on the internet this season.
This is Trey’s best five-game run all year, and the numbers back it up. Even compared to a month wide sample size, back in in February, he averaged a modest 4 points and 2.8 boards in about 12 minutes per game. Fast forward to March, and he’s putting up 8 points and 5.5 boards—nearly doubling his production. It’s clear he’s stepped up.
With Domantas Sabonis healthy, Trey was glued to the bench while JV and Jake LaRavia gobbled up the backup five and four minutes. But what happens when Domas returns from his ankle sprain? Does Doug Christie start giving Trey more run over JV altogether? Will JV slide back into a full time backup center role completely? Or will the backup center minutes be matchup dependent?
What does all of this uncertainty spell for Trey’s future in Sacramento? Here’s the deal. Trey is in the final year of a two-year, $16 million deal that he signed back in the 2023 offseason. While the salary cap is rising, the middle-class contract market is shrinking, and I’m not so sure Trey still claims membership in that middle class. Trey was coming off one of his best seasons as a pro in the 22-23 season and had his most consistent role on a playoff team in years. Also, it’s worth noting the beam team vibes were at an all time high, and in particular for Trey, felt he found a home and a role long term in Sacramento.
But now? I don’t see many teams (including the Kings) banging down the door to sign him to anything more than a minimum or bi-annual exception deal. If that’s the case, Trey might chase a role on a contender or at least a playoff regular.
For now, I’m just happy to see Trey engaged and productive when it’s desperately needed. Whatever happens next, this stretch has been a reminder that there’s still a little Beam Team magic left in him.
Yeah, I think Lyles is gone after this season. It’s not like the Kings can, or even will, pay him more than anyone else. Like Zach stated, he’s probably a vet minimum deal kind of guy right now. If you were him, would you want the deal in Sac to play behind Sabonis, JV, and Keegan or take the same money and title chase on a team like the Bucks, Celtics, or OKC?
He probably wants out of Basketball Hell like a few others might.
Ah, the sweet smell of the run to free agency.
Turning 30 in November, Lyles is a 10 year vet, a 15 minute a night guy. He’s the guy that you want as no higher than the 4th guy in your front line rotation if you are a serious team. He’s great as an OCCASIONAL step up guy when one of the three guys in front of him goes down with an injury, but if you are relying on him to provide you with a consistent and productive 20+ minutes each night, you’re going to be disappointed. Lyles has teased over his career, but has never been able to string success.
Good NBA pro, in the right role. If he stays with the Kings, it will likely be because the org. is willing to pay him more than he’s worth and will ask more of him than his skillset can provide.
That means the Kings will definitely overpay and sign him.
Keeping in mind our salary situation, who are some players we’d bring in if we don’t keep Trey?
Subject in some cases to opt outs, Bobby Portis, Dorian Finney-Smith, Guerschon Yabusele, Al Horford, Precious Achiuwa, Chris Boucher, Larry Nance Jr., Taurean Prince, Nicolas Batum. These are all guys that I would put at or above Lyles, and all available for probably BAE money or less.
It will be interesting to see how the Kings proceed this summer. They now have one of the best backup 5s in the league, so maybe a 3/4 combo player is more ideal going forward as opposed to a 4/5 combo like Lyles.
Finney-Smith could definitely work, but man, I’d prefer this team not get any older. LaRavia fits the bill, but we all know it’s going to be hard to retain him. The more pressing problem is the Kings really don’t have the cap space to really sign anyone of worth beyond bi-annual or mid-level exceptions.
It sure would be nice to break up a contract like LaVine’s or DeMar’s, but that’s going to be hard to do.
Question? I’ve been working on some trades(hypothetical of course). If Sabonis wants out this summer a trade to bring in Dejounte Murray and Herb Jones works out. Monk and Lyles for Cam Johnson and De Ron Sharpe. My question can we use a sign and trade for Lyles? I still can’t find a trade for Derozan and We have to keep Lavine. Starters: Murray. Lavine, Johnson or Jones, Murray and Sharpe. Backup: Carter, Ellis, Derozan, LaRavia, JV. Got offense and defense. Got a lot younger.
PS we still have Fultz and Issac Jones.
It depends on who we draft in the lott…oh wait.
Isaac Jones. He’s the cheap option for the Kangz.
Two years ago Lyles felt like such an irreplicable part of our bench. Now, it feels like the Kings throw him at whatever problem needs solved, and Trey does a pretty admirable job, but he isn’t the same consistent bench contributor he was before. It’ll still be a loss for the Kings if he leaves, but losing Trey will be overshadowed by the larger roster issues facing this team. I think some contender will be very lucky to have Lyles on their bench. I think he’d be really good with the Nuggets.
This is true, but it took me a while of thinking “he’ll get back to 22-23 form any day now!” before realizing that his level of play that year was just part of the confluence of positive things that fell our way that year.
Now I just accept that he’s a solid player that will add positive value in whatever minutes he’s out there.
I will forever stand up for Trey just for this
Needs more uppercut!!!
Paging Doug Christie vs. Prick Fox
Props to both of them. Lyles for the fight, and Brook for those impressive DIP joints.
LOL not gonna lie, I had to look up what DIP joints were, but you are absolutely right.
Also had to look up DIP joint. Legitimate lol when I zoomed in on those hands.
Apropos as the Bucks return tonight
Anyone know the over/under on made 3’s by Lopez tonight?
ducks
Love Trey and the effort he brings. Regardless of how consistent he is you can tell he’s a great teammate and plays the game with the same consistency nightly.
I actually think he will be back.
Two reasons….guys are asking out as soon as the season is over…this ownership loves to bring back known players at an overpay almost as much as they like signing free agent overpays.
There is a reason you were “roasting him too often” on the net
he fell from nba contributing the previous two years to this year just being bad, not nba quality and looking like he just woke up in the morning
time to move on regardless of the last few games
I like Lyles,and miss the times when there were more frequent Trey Days.
He’s been injured often, and maybe his body is finally in better shape at the right time. Otherwise, it’s a contract year and the last furlong of the season is a smart time to shine.
The former Kentucky Wildcat has shown flashes throughout his career and yet he has moved to various squads due to inconsistency. At the time of his signing a Beam Team ago, retaining him was a good deal. Now, with Mike Brown gone and the Beam Team a shadow, Sac needs to be younger and more athletic at that position, IMO. And better than Orlando Robinson.
Trey Lyles’ level seems to fit in with those older vets who can flash for a game or two and then rest up for next time – Kelly Olynyk (making $13M this season and next), Jeff Green, Kevin Love are older and flashier.
Trey seems a cut above Alex Len at times (meaning- look how much better Alex Len was for Sac than for LAL. Is it that Sac is that much worse, or is he just a bad fit?) other times, like these last number of games, he’s Beam Team Trey (like vs. Chicago). I don’t believe he will be better or healthier next season.
And as these last 13 games wind down, the talk is already headed for next season, isn’t it.
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