The Kings Herald Show returns with Jerry Reynolds, Will Griffith, and Tony Xypteras to break down the latest Domantas Sabonis trade rumors, a Kingston Flemings meeting, and more with two weeks to go before the 2026 NBA Draft.
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Sadly, the Kings aren’t even in the rebuilding phase. They are in the tear down phase. They have to tear it down before they can actually start a rebuild. There’s probably another 1 or 2 years of tearing down before they can start a rebuild.
Some bad contracts, players that don’t fit well together, draft capital isn’t that great, coach is most likely gone after this season, etc. Just a complete mess.
As for the guards, I have rank them: Brown Jr., Flemings, Acuff, Burries, Wagler.
We’ll see who is available at 7. By no means send out picks to move up. Need all the assets they can get right now. Stick at 7 amd take whichever guard they think is the best player. I’d be fine with any of the 5 listed above.
Kings can just clear out the books by next offseason by standing pat. That’s what a smart FO would do.
I still think Vivek will push to trade up to the Clips at 5 to take Acuff. I’d be fine with it as long as it doesn’t cost future firsts or swaps.
It’s a dilemma. If you truly believe this guy (Darius Acuff, Jr.) is a future star, then by all means make sure you get him. You don’t want to look back – if he is grabbed at 4,5 or 6 – and you get Wagler, Flemings or Brown – and think that you had a chance that you let slip away. We saw them stand pat on Kuminga. I just don’t know with this front office.
Harken back to the last point guard draft: Lonzo, Tyreke, Jrue, Steph – but also Lawson, Collison, Rubio, Eric Maynor, Jeff Teague, Brandon Jennings and Jonny Flynn (at 6). /shrug
So many choices, many many good ones. Others even better, and some even worse. You couldn’t have predicted that Jrue (the youngest at the time) and Steph would be stars, one a first ballot HoFer, All Time Great. The rest are out of the League – drugs, drinking, injuries, diminishing skills.
There are some who believe that Acuff should go in the Top 4 – it isn’t just a Kangz thang. But maybe it’s Flemings. or Wagler. or Brown. or even Burries.
You rolls yer dices and ya takes yer chances.
As you alluded to, it’s pretty much a crapshoot with all these PGs/combo guards in this draft projected to go around where the Kings are picking. Logic says to just stand pat and take whoever is there at 7. But Vivek likely has a man crush on Acuff and will push SP to make a dumb trade that mortgages the future yet again, just to move up two spots.
Nothing more awful than trading up for “your guy”, then seeing the guy taken with your original (lower) pick outplaying him, and knowing that you also squandered additional assets to get “your guy”.
Remember the time Milwauke wanted Tractor Traylor and gave up the rights to Dirk Nowitski to trade up 3 spots? You don’t want to be “that guy”.
Let the draft play out and take BPA.
I’ve always felt that trading up for your guy gives the impression of a bit of narcism, over confidence, and an aura that you know more then the other GMs. Trading back, however, and winning the trade (see Boston trading #1 for #3 in Tatum) proves the above.
I can’t recall too many success stories when someone traded up, especially when they gave away future assets, but I can think of quite a few success stories in trading back.
Trading up stories are abundant, I will give you that:
Tractor Traylor and Dirk, Markelle Fultz, you could even argue Luka Doncic at #3 for #5 Trae Young and 2019 pick (which turned into Cam Reddish). CWebb (#1) for Penny Hardway (#3), Antawn Jamison (#4) for Vince Carter (#5) – both Warrior (old regime) trades so maybe it’s in Vivek’s blood.
I’ve commented a lot recently, that it’s not a bad idea to just let the expirings this coming season expire instead of making trades, unless you’re really getting something of value back. Domas still has two years left, so he’s the one I’d be more keen on moving, but as Jerry says, you’re not giving him away for nothing.
Expirings:
Lavine $49 million
DDR $25 million
Hunter $25 million
Monk $20 million (PO)
There’s a boatload of potential cap space next summer if the FO doesn’t F up and extend any of these players or trade them for future contracts. We could have a major reset as early as next offseason and that should be the objective. Additionally, Domas’ contract would also be much more palatable for teams next summer with it being an expiring at that point.
All in all, with the new draft lottery rules, not a bad idea to run it back as is and clear the books for next offseason.
With all the potential cap space, they would theoretically be in the mode of taking bad contracts for assets, which lengthens the timeline for rebuilding even longer.
They have such a long road back to being competitive. Maybe by the 29-30 or the 30-31 season they might be good.
Kings gonna Kangz
Seems like the new draft rules will make cap room for Free Agents , and trade assets more important than previously . Really appreciated Jerry’s thoughts on Rick Adelman as well as his apology to Rik Smits . One of the best from Will, Tony and Jerry !
Thanks for this podcast. Nice to hear some morte stories about coach Adelman.
Amick is reporting that the Kings and Hornets have had recent discussions about a Domas trade. What about something like:
Sabonis for Green (expiring), Salaune (take an upside swing), Williams (expiring) and either 14 or 18 in the 2026 draft?
Hornets would have a solid starting lineup: Ball, Knueppel, Miller, Bridges, Sabonis. Bench would be Diabate, Kalkenbrenner, Sion James, Colin Sexton, Tre Mann, Coby White)
Kings can add a PG/SG with the 8th pick, and whomever they see as the BPA at either 14 or 18 (Carr, Morez Johnson, Karim Lopez, Swain, etc).
trading for another DV’er in Miles Bridges would represent a new low of fandom for me (which is saying something). if that happens i will just delete my account. theres some other fun teams in the league to follow
Yeah, pass on Bridges.
If Kings trade for say Bridges and Green ,both expiring contracts, or even Green, Williams, both expiring contracts and Saluan, not expiring.and a 2027 first(Dalles first) then you are freeing your cap space and all other restrictions and still get Saluan and the pick which gives you 2 solid first rounders next year I would do this in a heartbeat. Freeing up your cap space and getting a first is about the limit what you could get for Sabonis.
Agree, it would be good for the Kings and great for Domas .
Wasn’t it a couple weeks ago when you were suggesting a trade with Charlotte? Sorry, I normally don’t spin my wheels over theoretical trades because they are mostly rumors, and the discussions on this site often result in undervaluing our own players like a fire sale, but the last time, it appears you might have been on to something.
I suppose from Charlotte’s perspective, they might be building more around Ball, Kneuppel and Miller and which might raise questions about Salaune. I have not been closely following Salaune, but I liked him as a draft prospect and I have read that he has been improving lately. I’m listening.
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