The Sacramento Kings Are Spiraling—Can They Recover?
The amount of speculation around what the Sacramento Kings need to do to end their recent slump and light the beam again has reached fever pitch over the past month but especially the past week. Everyone, from GM Monte McNair to head coach Mike Brown are seemingly on the hot seat right now. And honestly, it’s hard to blame fans for the frustration—the past four games have been especially rough.
The Kings have been digging themselves into deep first-quarter holes, resulting in several consecutive disappointing starts. Against the Denver Nuggets last Wednesday, the team nearly pulled off a comeback for the ages. They were missing Keegan Murray, their best defender, and Kevin Huerter, who’s nearly thriving in his new sixth-man role. Still, they clawed their way back from a 20-point deficit to take a 10-point lead late in the fourth quarter, only to lose by one point on a heartbreaking final play. Domantas Sabonis delivered a beautiful pass to DeMar DeRozan, cutting to the rim, but the ball slipped, and the opportunity vanished.
Thursday night’s game, though, was the most frustrating loss of the season. The Kings faced off against a struggling Los Angeles Lakers team led by a LeBron James who—even at his age-defying best—showed his decline. LeBron is now more of a designated hitter than a two-way force, barely getting back on defense these days. But despite a shallow Lakers roster (outside of Anthony Davis), the Kings came up short. In the two games against the Lakers, AD dominated both defensively with 9 blocks and 3 steals, but more importantly, turned away anything the Kings attempted at the rim. Beyond the Lakers’ starters, the team was largely operating with a thin lineup, aside from D’Angelo Russell, who always seems to bring his A-game against the Kings. Adding to this was an exceptional showing from Stockton’s very own Gabe Vincent, who appeared to step straight out of the Miami Heat Hot Tub Time Machine by shooting a blistering 6-for-8 from deep over the two games. Even with the advantage of playing at home, a healthier and supposedly deeper roster, and an energetic crowd, the Kings got out-rebounded, out-hustled, and overwhelmed.
Sunday against the Pacers was more of the same, with the team appearing to give up entirely in the second half.
Is It Coaching?
This brings us to the heart of the discussion. Frustrated fans have turned their criticism toward coach Mike Brown. Many have their proverbial pitchforks sharpened, twisted sideways, and aimed right at his rear. But is Mike Brown really the problem? Our very own Tim Maxwell has got more of an in depth breakdown on the year that has been Mike Brown.
To some extent, criticisms of Brown have merit. The lack of consistent rotations, odd minute allocations (why isn’t Keon Ellis, their best perimeter defender AND three-point shooter, seeing more minutes?), and his struggles to ensure strong playmaking throughout games have been head-scratching at times. But let’s also give credit where it’s due. Mike Brown is still the sharpest defensive strategist and most competent coach the Kings have had since Rick Adelman. Remember, this roster miraculously finished 14th in defense last season and sits 14th again this year.
Ultimately, though, even the best coach can’t fix roster issues with strategy alone. The most glaring problem with the Kings isn’t coaching—it’s construction.
Sacramento’s Missing Piece
Even though it might feel like everything is unraveling and the beam is flickering, I believe the Kings still have a strong foundation. Since December and with Malik Monk stepping into a starting role, the team has shown flashes of brilliance. Some standout five-man groups, including the underrated Huerter and Ellis alongside starters Sabonis, DeMar, and Monk, have delivered an impressive +5.5 net rating. The point being, there is a solid 7 man core and various lineup machinations such as this that make a lot of sense and perform. But they’re still missing a vital piece—particularly on the defensive end. They need another 3-and-D wing who can share the workload with Keegan Murray.
Just one more! Is that too much to ask?
Sure, backup center consistency would be nice too, but that’s a much easier fix given the number of serviceable bigs across the league. Meanwhile, a true defensive wing could provide the Kings with the balance and versatility they desperately need. That’s where a player like Dorian Finney-Smith comes in.
Why Dorian Finney-Smith Could Be the Solution
Dorian Finney-Smith checks all the boxes for what this roster lacks. He’s a proven defender, capable of guarding multiple positions, and adds value on offense with his three-point shot—he’s hitting a career-high 45% from deep this year. Even better, his contract is manageable at $15 million, with a player option for next season. According to reports, he could be moved for a relatively modest price—one first-round pick or a package of second-rounders.
You’d think a deal such as this would be incredibly appealing to a front office that is historically averse from making big swings and giving up substantial assets in trades.
Picture a scenario where Sacramento trades Trey Lyles, Colby Jones, Alex Len, and a protected first-round pick—likely not until 2028 due to the protections tied to their pick owed to the Hawks through 2026—for DFS.
This move would allow the Kings to strengthen their roster without needing to disrupt their current starting lineup. Malik Monk, thriving in the starting five, stays in his role. Kevin Huerter continues coming off the bench as a sixth man—a role he’s starting to excel in. And, most importantly, the Kings would shore up their forward rotation without having to take a massive swing at someone like Cam Johnson or Kyle Kuzma.
Adding Finney-Smith makes the Kings a deeper and more balanced team, creating a solid nine-man rotation that includes DFS, Huerter, Keon, and one of the backup bigs. It gives Mike Brown the tools to actually implement his defensive vision while maintaining the offensive firepower that Fox and Sabonis bring nightly.
The Bottom Line
The Sacramento Kings have something with this core. But if they truly want to rise out of the muck and make a postseason run, they need to shore up the roster. The front office doesn’t need to make a blockbuster trade—they just need to address the obvious hole at forward.
Acquiring a player like Dorian Finney-Smith is attainable, fits their biggest needs, and comes at a price that doesn’t completely mortgage the future. It’s a no-brainer move for a team that still has plenty of potential left to light the beam consistently.
Hear us out and let us know what you think.
I agree it’s worth a shot. Then they would need to find a competent big man to spell Domas. I’m sure there are many out there that could be had for relatively cheap.
I’d actually like to believe that there aren’t that many of these prototypical back up bigs that are perfect for spelling Domas. You know, cause Domas has been here for going on 4 seasons now. And not once in that entire time has Monte been able to find a competent big man to come off the bench for Domas.
So, like, there must be practically zero of those guys. Cause we would have already brought one in. Right? Right?
Trayce Jackson-Davis, you know the guy the Kings passed on so the Warriors could get him
The guy who’s agent was the Warriors GM and was angling to get selected by the Warriors only, by telling other teams he wouldn’t want to play for them?
It’s a good story. But I suspect the real one is that Davis wanted a guaranteed contract and that the Kings didn’t want to give him one.
Based on the reporting at the time of the draft. He was also not drafted by every other team.
I think just about everyone on this site loves the idea of adding a 3 and D wing to both play alongside Sabonis and spell Keegan. The question I have is the rotation.
Ideally, The Kings get a 3 and D big that can protect the rim that can START next to Sabonis and give you a solid 27-33 minutes per game. This would allow Keegan to slide back to the 3, add much needed length and defense. As the roster stands now, getting a guy like DFS puts him behind Keegan, a bit in the role Lyles currently has, which is around 20MPG. Is that enough for DFS to be effective? Fo the Kings to turn things around, wouldn’t they benefit from starter level minutes from a guy of DFS’s skillset?
The issue for me, which has become clearer in recent weeks, is what to do about DDR. His role, style of play, and the way Brown uses him has been the bug, and not the feature, in the Kings offense. IMO, the team would perform better on both ends of the court with a consistent lineup of Fox, Monk, Keegan, DFS, and Sabonis, as opposed to Fox, Monk, DDR, Keegan, and Sabonis. In a perfect world that would mean bringing DDR off of the bench, but I highly doubt that would happen.
So….my asinine trade idea: DDR and some seconds for DFS and Day’Ron Sharpe.
I think you’d need to make that a three-team deal, I can’t imagine the Nets wanting DDR’s production or contract.
I think you are right, my only thought is they could flip him for more assets by the deadline, or even next year. Their goals currently aren’t the same as the Kings. If DDR came attached with a pair of seconds and then they were able to later flip him for more seconds or even a protected first that could be a win for them.
I’ll add, It’s hard to really find a team that could use the services of a guy like DDR, but one that I could definitely see wanting and needing his ability to score, especially in the playoffs, is Orlando.
I don’t know how exactly to make it work (haven’t spent too much time thinking about it at this point), but I could see the Kings involved as the third team in a Jimmy Butler trade with DDR ending up in Miami.
I’m not saying it would happen, but it works in the trade machine:
Kings get: Kuminga, Looney, Anderson
Heat get: DDR, Wiggins
Warriors get: Butler
This is the first kings trade proposal that I’ve seen that I would be ecstatic for so that probably means the Kings aren’t giving up enough lol
Done! Do it!
I would assume just sending out DDR would not get that haul though.
That’s a pretty nice trade, but I’m guessing we’d have to throw in a first which I wouldn’t do.
and I think I’d be cool with that. Kuminga is worth a 1st, IMO. You start him next to Keegan, Looney is your backup 5, and Anderson is your backup 3/4. To make room you just cut the unguaranteed deals of Robinson and McDermott
Makes a lot of sense and I think would fill a lot of holes. Adding Looney’s toughness would be a huge bonus.
I have no idea if there is any possibility of it actually happening.
I like it. Now see if Monte likes it too?
AND THEN the Kongs can trade Huerter to the Nets for DFS! Become a wing heavy team. Let Fox, Monk, Ellis take the majority of the Guard minutes, and even play big with Keegan at the 2, then some combo of Kuminga/Anderson/DFS/Lyles at the 3 and 4.
Kongs, Kangz, Kings…all the same.
And hopefully in a month bring in Carter.
That is great and seems to work well for each teams needs . Probably why it won’t happen . Makes too much sense .
Wouldn’t the Dubs need someone to back up TJD at the Center position?
Add in Alex Len to the Dubs and Gui Santos to the Heat. Works numbers wise and is actually more balanced roster wise.
Using the Fanspo trade machine, only works if Santos comes here and the Heat also send us a small salary—maybe Pelle Larson. I think we’d want to waive ORob, Crowder and McBuckets before their Jan 10 guarantees kick in.
This is the kind of move, giving up yet another first round pick, that ensures indefinite mediocrity.
I don’t the Kings should be giving up any first round picks for a guy they intend to bring off of the bench. After all, they already have one in Huerter.
Shouldn’t be giving up any second round picks for a guy like DFS either. Time for Monte and co to accept defeat this season and try to stock up for the future.
DFS is an upgrade to Huerter.
Yeah I wouldn’t give up a first rounder for a bench guy. Kings only have a single second round pick available for trade right now. If Nets wouldn’t take the 2nd, best I’d consider would be maybe a pick swap, but I’d probably want protections on that if it’s just to get a bench guy.
Wow, I didn’t realize they only had one 2nd round pick to trade!
They have more, but two of them are tied up in the contingencies of the Heurter trade. This year it’s a top 12 protected first, 2026 it’s top 10, and if it doesn’t convey in 2026 it becomes second rounders in 2026 and 2027.
at what point do you figure that might as well pack it in for the season and keep the first and give the ’26 and ’27 second rounders instead to Atlanta? is it worth mortgaging even more of the future to scrape into the play-in and then get blown out? i assume a lottery first is worth way more than two seconds (as long as Vlade isn’t doing the drafting)
You’d have to have the Kings pick in the top 12 this year and the top 10 next year. You’d be looking at two really bad finishes, not just this year.
What’s the word on next year’s draft class? This one looks pretty good, I think.
I heard the 2026 class is supposed to be pretty good too.
d’oh. although, to be fair, these are pretty much run of the mill finishes for the kings, not ‘two really bad finishes’!
Me too.
If Monte ships out another draft pick just to acquire a guy who might help the Kings notch like three more wins over the course of the entire rest of the season, I’m going to be seriously disappointed.
MM might be in save his job mode, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we see moves like this, which would be horrible for the long term health of this franchise.
IMO, they desperately need to disrupt their current starting lineup; they need to get a rimprotecting PF who can stretch the floor.
Or alternatively, get a rimprotecting center who can defend in space, allowing Sabonis to switch to the PF spot. That would mean that the Center can also space the floor or Domas will have to take more perimeter shots, which is probably not ideal.
But you need length and you need athelticism and Keegan has to go back to his rookie season role.
Deal DDR or let him come off the bench. That shit isn’t working.
But giving up a FR pick for DFS isn’t going to radically improve the outlook of this team, nor convince Fox (let alone Rich Paul) to stay.
I agree. The dream player that would help a lot of their issues is a player who can rim protect as a 5 on defense and play stretch 4 on offense and hit some open 3s. Not sure who that would be or if they would be attainable.
We have been clamoring for this type of player ever since the Domas trade was made and MM has done next to nothing to fill this major need. My concern is he is feeling the heat and job insecurity and gives up the farm for a player like Grant, Cam or Kuz.
The idea that Monte is going to compound his lack of earlier action mistake by forcing a bad deal for another square peg scares me.
And I was in on the DDR pick up because I was hoping/expecting another move for the player we are discussing and that shoe never dropped. So it makes the DDR move very questionable and unnecessary.
Maybe John Collins?
Collins’ a perfect fit . He is playing great now and much more productive than Markkenton . Ainge will raise the asking price for certain . Wasted a chance last summer to get him .
Lots of good discussion here since the last post. I do think that The Dutchman has the only strategy if they keep Sabonis. He needs a jump shooting rim defender. Murray is getting the life drained out of him as an out of position 4 and 4th option. He was drafted as a high scoring 3. DeRozan is a good player but a disaster for the lineup because of what he does to Murray. The same goes for neglecting a rim defending 4. If I knew who would take Fox and/or DeRozan for that unicorn 4 and a guard who can defend and hit 40% from 3, I could quit my day job and work for Vivek for half Monte’s pay. I just know that’s the only alternative to blowing it up, and if they can’t move Sabonis, it’s the only move period.
Whoever that mythical player is, they probably aren’t available.
John Collin’s . 18 ppl 8 rbs 53,44,87 % shooting . Played a lot of 5 in Atlanta and 3 point range great now . Bad news his value is high as opposed to summer when it was lower . Missed opportunities ?
Yeah, John Collins, I like him. My guess is the asking price is high now, and other teams that want frontcourt additions might have more to offer than the Kings. (Spurs, Thunder, Lakers, Grizzlies, Magic, just to name a few)
Really? Are we really going down that road. Again? Finney Smith is the missing piece? Deck chairs, again. Is this Monte or Vivek’s muse? Kings still aren’t going anywhere with this bench piece. They sign him. It’s a very very likely his shooting returns to the mean. And he shoots a total of 3 a game. If he impacted the game at the level, Dallas would have never let him go in the first place.
More and more I have a feeling this isn’t going to end well for this franchise. More sideways moves whilst compromising long term assets (picks, cap, etc).
Oddly, you can argue that the healthiest move for this franchise right now is to trade players of value for future assets. There’s a lot of risk in doubling and tripling down over and over on this core to the point where future assets are completely compromised and you’re still a mediocre team with a well defined ceiling that does not include the WCF or Finals.
Just my .02.
If you are trying to save this season, I think trading Fox for a legit 4 and a backup wing might rebalance the roster enough to make it interesting.
On the other hand, blowing it up and starting over might be the wiser choice. As a fan, not sure I can wait out more years of sucking though. And I have SERIOUS doubts about Monte being able to do this successfully.
My question on a potential Fox trade is which teams would actually be interested?
Most teams either already have a similar player and the ones that don’t are tanking or not trying to win now.
The only potentially interested teams I could come up with:
HOU
SAS
LAL
MIA
Not a long list.
I’d add Brooklyn to that list, and possibly Detroit and Orlando.
Not Detroit. Have Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey . Cade better at same stage career as Fox . Orlando seems a great fit with nice assets to trade .
Houston. Sam Vecenie suggested Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Steven Adams, Jeff Green (Adams and Green for salary), and a few picks.
Doesn’t seem like much at first. Kings would really have to like Reed and Cam. Adams would be nice to give Domas some relief.
I love it. They would have to add Brooks or Van Fleet for salaries. I prefer Brooks. He would literally change this culture overnight.
Sheppard has a very high ceiling.
Cam will be the Kings future 3.
2 first rounders will be ideal.
The roster will still be competitive.
and maybe even better defensively out of the gate.
Carter/Sheppard
Monk/Huerter
Brooks/DDr/Whitmore
Keegan/? 2025 pick
Domas/Adams/2025 pick
Cam, Reed, Adams, Green is within $770k of Fox’s current salary. So no other contracts would need to be added.
Yeah. That is the thing. Really don’t like Green. Flame thrower guard who disappears against good competition and feasts on bottom feeders. I just think he’s at his ceiling as a player.
From what I heard Rockets are regretting that extension on him.
If we can’t get Brooks, they wills throw in Fleet.
Jeff Green, the old as vet. Not Jalen Green. Jeff Green and Adams are expiring contracts that can be flipped again this season, bought out, or just go into the off season and left unsigned.
I think Orlando would also be interested. Suggs, Issac, Anthony and picks is what I have heard.
I think Orlando should stay with what they have. Once Paolo and Franz are healthy, their offense should be fine. They get after it defensively with Suggs, Anthony Black, and KCP.
I like the way you are thinking. I know a ton of people want to blow this team up and start over, but as bad as we are playing right now, and it is very bad, we are currently 16th in defensive rating and 8th in offensive rating. That doesn’t match the eye test, but it does match the net rating.
With that in mind, do we really need a huge change, or is it a more medium-size adjustment? I do hate the idea of giving up a first rounder for a player who is going to come off the bench, but I don’t think that DFS would require a first rounder.
What would you guys think of including Carter in a trade? Since he hasn’t played, he might actually have more value than a lot of draft picks from last year, because he is still an unknown. He plays a position that we are already stacked at. But he could be a lottery ticket for another team. I’m guessing that including him in a trade like this might work, and we would still have all of our other resources for a bigger trade later.
Shipping out Carter for someone and a future 1st round pick for DFS? These would be the players that would supposedly perform well on rookie contracts, even if the team wasn’t rebuilding. This, plus 50 million super max for Fox would be a disaster.
No, I’m talking about trading Carter for DFS instead of a first rounder. I think the Nets would take that. Then we still have our picks plus Huerter for a bigger move later.
It’s really a lottery ticket vs a know player. If the known player is what you need, you take a risk by trading the lottery ticket.
I don’t want to, but i’ll be the wet blanket here. DFS is a fine addition but it doesn’t change the overarching issues with this organization and team.
Unless we are going to “blow it up” and start fresh… once again.. i don’t see us piecing together this mess. I understand people are in love with Murray but he’s shown us over and over he’s not the guy. Fox for all his stats it clearly the best player on this team, but he’s never been the leader that players listen to. Domas is probably the only player as of current that i would keep on this team to “rebuild” it with since he’s so consistent an great at the things he does. Everyone else can and probably needs to go.
I don’t want any first rounders going out, because at seasons end, Mike Brown and Monte need to both be gone. This upcoming draft class is probably one of the better ones of the last decade, we can retool and start again.
sorry not sorry.
I think that DFS would help, but I would project him more as the third man of your three man rotation at the 3-4. That is, if you had Collins & Murray & DFS, you’d be onto something. But DFS on his own would not be a huge needle mover. And it would be tough to justify moving true assets for him.
Occam’s razor: DDR does not fit. He is not an overly onerous contract, and there should be at least a couple of teams with interest (Mia was pursuing him in the off season, and I think the Clips were, too?) It would likely take a multi-team deal to ship DDR out and address the issues at the 4. And with DDR’s outgoing usage, we might see a little more Sabonis distribution & a little more Murray offensive success, all while balancing the roster & shoring up the 4.
Man if this happened it would be like the 4th time Monte has acquired someone then shipped them out for peanuts.
Holmes, Vezenkoff, Divencenzo come to mind. Might be more.
the problem is, most teams don’t have the “window” like the kings seem to currently have. we’ve brought players in and needed to get away from them as opposed to letting them play out their contracts because … ” window “.
Well, I’m not saying ship him out for peanuts. I’m saying use him to address the 4 in a meaningful fashion.
I see no issues shipping off DDR and cutting our losses before they compound.
he’s a good player, but overall fit on this team just it’s ” fitting ” like it should.
I just wonder if it’ll cost us something to ship him off to the east, and if so .. at what additional cost ?
His contract is reasonable – partial guarantee in the 3rd year. I don’t think you’d have to attach a pick to move him. Then again, Monte.
But it’s a jacket! without sleeves !
You could say that he has … a vested interest?
Get a good starting four. Move Keegan back to the three (because he is a three). Play a real offense other than spraying.
I think at least a few of us are here that are DDR is part of the problem and it would be better if you can move him now for positive assets. I don’t think his value is going to last long. Ideally getting a starting PF would be phenomenal.
Appreciate the take, but DFS doesn’t rebound well, doesn’t protect the rim and will not shoot .452 from three. He seems to be very up and down with his three point shooting from year to year. Yes, he would solve some problems on defense and (maybe) in three point shooting, but you can’t spend a first round pick on a guy at his level.
Yup, he’s basically a better defending Harrison Barnes. I’d also point out that his 3pt% this year is an outlier. He’s a career 35% shooter from deep, which is right around the league average.
The Mavs had him and got better after he left . Seems a rotation player at best on a good team .
This is the trade that could turn the season around and not cost too much.
I’m far from knowledgeable and don’t know how interested each of these teams would be but this works financially and I can see benefits for each team. They would have to be some picks moving around too, especially going Utah’s way:
Jazz get Wiggins from Warriors
Warriors get Butler from Heat
Kings get Collins from Jazz
Heat get DDR from Kings, Schroder, Kuminga and Podziemski from Warriors
For all the talk about what needs to change, the main issue is several key guys not performing up to potential. Mainly Keegan and Huerter. Huerter is a known commodity, he’ll come around and is coming off of a shoulder injury. We’re already seeing flashes and he’s a solid fringe starter or lead bench guy. He’s an underrated defender and creator as well.
Keegan is still a question mark in my opinion. His defense is undeniable, but I’m not convinced the shot is real. As I watch him repeatedly miss wide open 3s, his rookie season is looking more like an outlier at this point. You can’t be a 3 and D player without the 3, and with DDR the team needs players with gravity on the perimeter. I’m starting to think that concerns about his upside were well founded. Prior to this season I had Keegan in the almost untouchable category, but I have real concerns now.
If Huerter comes around and Keegan’s shot comes back, that solves a lot of this team’s problems. Additionally, we haven’t seen the production from Lyles like we did the last couple of years and there’s a likelihood that he’ll start producing again as he gets into game shape.
I am maybe in the MM camp in that I am reticent to hit any panic buttons and start selling low or giving up too much for a “missing piece”. The pieces may already be on the roster, there are just several players that are playing below their career averages right now.
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