The Kings Herald Show returns with Jerry Reynolds, Will Griffith, and Tony Xypteras to break down the latest round of Kings trade rumors, and look ahead to the NBA Draft where Scott Perry is apparently trying to trade into the first round. Thanks for listening.
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Great episode as always, gents. 100% agree with Jerry about the jerseys. It’s a leaguewide issue, and I mostly blame Nike, but it would be nice to have a consistent color and design scheme for longer periods of time.
And I laughed really hard at Will’s response to it.
Credit where credit is due with Jerry. The most selfless man in all of podcasting… Always willing to make, or be the brunt of, the joke.
Any other Joe Fidoozle would get tired of my various schticks, so Jerry is a real trooper here!
I thought I had more time to buy the beautiful baby blue sactowns from 2018(?), only for us to keep switching it up with weirder designs. The inverse red sactown still kind of blows my mind for us. As a fan I do love me more Kings jerseys though
Agree that a guard line of Ja and Keon is much better than Levine and Keon . Change of teams may help mature Morant . Risk/Reward ? Either blow it up or take some chances based on talent . Remember Mitch, Webber trade .
Gotta give up something to get something. No risk, no reward.
If the Grizz were to trade Ja (they say they are not) they are going to want a picks to go full rebuild. I don’t think they get the haul that they did for Bane beause Ja comes with baggage and Orlando did overpay for Bane. I’m not really a fan of Ja’s game, but he would make the Kings better. If the Grizz accepted DDR, Monk, and 3 first round picks, I think you do it.
The rationale: The Kings got 2 future and LaVine as the main return for Fox. If you ship out those two picks plus one of the Kings picks, it boils down to Fox, Monk, Huerter and 1 pick for LaVine and Ja. That seems like a fair return. Now, I’m not fans of LaVine and Ja, but could understand the idea behind it.
As to Trey Murphy III, hell yeah, but I don’t see that happening. Pels would want a Bane or Bridges type haul for him. The Kings shouldn’t do that as they are not in a position to take the next step like the Knicks were and Orlando is about to be. It would take an all in move that only a contender should consider. DDR and 4 future firsts? Pass. I’d rather just offer them DDR and 2 picks for Dejounte Murray if the Pels are indeed selling.
The other PGs mentioned in this podcast are a bunch of meh to me. None will move the needle. Maybe just offer Monk for Collin Sexton just to get a low cost PG? Just saying, should John Collins opt in (I don’t think he will), Monk, DDR and a pick for Sexton and Collins fills a lot of holes. We getting 40 wins, baby!
Overall, I’m still in the rebuild camp. Kings won’t make any noise in the loaded West for years. Just sell off the assets for future picks, but Vivek won’t let that happen.
If we’re going big swing, don’t go after Ja. Go after JJJ or Herb Jones.
When boxes of rocks want to explain how dumb something is, they say “dumber than Ja Morant.”
Hard pass. And the notion that Cousins was worse is just silly. DMC certainly had issues staying under control, but those problems were almost entirely basketball related.
Morant? Pointed a gun at people, plus his father comes included, and that’s a guy who is frequently ridiculed by containers of rocks. Ja Morant in Sacramento would be a shitshow on a scale beyond anything ever seen over forty years.
He’s also an injury magnet, and a walking civil lawsuit.
Civil if he’s lucky.
I’m not arguing on behalf of Morant here at all, but DeMarcus had more than entirely basketball-related issues. He left voicemails threatening to put a bullet through the head of one of the mother’s of his children, a woman who also claimed that he choked her on a previous occasion. That plus the bus driver incident when he was in high school and the bar fight with Matt Barnes… not trying to equivocate one being worse than the other, because they’ve both shown their asses in their own ways, just saying DMC has certainly had instances off the court as well.
Don’t forget the time Cousins screamed at a little old man on video.
Right, DMC was a huge POS and recently had to be restrained from attacking fans in the stands at whatever poverty league he’s playing in right now.
That people are still defending him is puzzling.
Him and I are the same age and it still blows my mind he can’t hold himself accountable for his career and actions. I always loved DMC the player, he was my dream pick that draft to pair with our PG of the future Tyreke Evans! Obviously, nothing worked out. I still 10/10 times would have taken him over Monroe. But man, at his age, you should be better. All his crying about life being unfair to him during his time in the league on podcasts has really rubbed me the wrong way over time. 0 accountability for DMC and I guess I now see why everyone else felt their ways about him during his time here
Wait, did he point an actual gun at someone, because that would be a criminal charge, which didn’t happen I thought he was seen holding a gun on a social media video? I feel you can totally disagree with either, but pointing a gun at someone and holding a gun are entirely different.
He was suspended 8 games for pulling a gun in a Denver nightclub. And then suspended a couple months later for 25 games for the social media incident. Both in 2023.
You know it’s bad in King’s land when even Jerry blurts out “dismissive little chap.”
Clutchpoints saying that Raptors are interested in Monk and even tried to get him at the last deadline. Who do they have that we can use?
The #9 pick?
Ingram was a hot name in a trade for a while.
Pair Lavine, Domas and Ingram as the big 3 would give us one of the worst defenses of all time which probably appeals to vivek.
That’s an odd desire by Toronto when they already have a bunch of guards. Agbaji would be nice off the bench as a SG/SF, but I’m not sure he’s available and they’d have to add salary. I really don’t see how anything could work unless they are looking to move one of their starters.
Can they play a line-up of Quickley Shead Temple Monk Dick?
That’s a great band name.
My best of line-ups was “Gay Cousins Harden Love Dick”
read this as Anjali off the bench as SG/SF – was thinking, wait, isn’t she going to be our GM? Why would we need to trade for her?
If you are the Toronto Raptors and have dealt with the Sacramento Kings before – like they did last Summer and got Davion Mitchell, Sasha Vezenkov and draft capital –
wouldn’t you want to deal with them again?
They aren’t the fool-me-once Kings anymore. They are the “fool-me-again-and-again” Kings led by the guy from M.I.T. who says he doesn’t make the same mistake twice (and he’s right, he makes the same mistakes multiples of twice).
Is it just me, or isn’t the general demeanor at a very low level? As much as I would love for my season tickets to bring me games the Kings can and will win, I am more or less expecting either a dumb trade, a dumb draft choice or both. And Scott Perry? until we see something, he’s just another Kings idiot front office person not named Ranadive.
Offer this to Miami.
DDR & Val and 2025 second round pick
for
Rozier, Jaquez, 2025 first (20th pick).
A step in the right direction . Rozier a season rental .
I’d prefer to keep JV and offer Monk instead.
My offer: DDR and Monk for Rozier, Jaquez, Kyle Anderson and #20. Kings cut enough salary to take on the #20 and get 4 players for 2. The Kings need active bodies.
The other: DDR and Monk for Rozier, Jaquez, Jovic, and Anderson. NO PICk, just a straight salary swap. Jovic may be more of a sure thing than #20 and can slot in between Keegan and Sabonis.
Those would work for me, I don’t think they would take on the longer term contract of Monk. If we didn’t have to include Val in that trade, I think Denver would be interested in him. I’ll take Watson in a deal with Denver for Val.
These trades don’t make the Kings an instant winner and most likely in the short run they get worse but it would be a more compelling product to watch. Jaquez, Watson, Strawther, perhaps Walker and others would be interesting to watch develop. I’d love to have that 20th pick.
Keon Ellis’ status hasn’t really been talked about this offseason yet.
This from Hollinger at The Athletic:
Ellis has a non-guaranteed team option for 2025-26.
Ellis is a valuable player on a cheapo contract for at least one more season, making just $2.3 million on the final year of his minimum deal. The Kings can extend his contract for up to four years and $85 million and absolutely should be looking at doing this given his 3-and-D profile. Even if Ellis overlaps some with Zach LaVine, an extended contract for him at $18 million to $20 million a pop should still have positive trade value. (Also, LaVine isn’t good enough to be driving long-term strategy for a non-contender.)
One other option for the Kings would be to “decline-and-sign,” essentially throwing a bone to Ellis by declining his $2.3 million option for this year and turning it into a $14.5 million deal via early Bird rights, with a total package of four years and $65 million and a fourth-year player option. That could create a short-term tax issue for the Kings depending on some other roster choices, but long term, this is a much cleaner way to build the team over the coming seasons and removes some tax concerns in 2027 and 2028.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6418543/2025/06/16/nba-free-agents-2025-lebron-james-harden-jonathan-kuminga/
Also sounds like Minny will have two choose between two of NAK, Randle and Naz. If we could get Naz or NAK, either one would be a nice fit and fill a need. Especially Naz next to Domas. I assume it would require a sign and trade. Minny desperately needs another shot creator so I can see some interest for them in Monk or DDR.
Hats off to those of you doing the work as armchair online GM’s as the official off season is possibly one game away. I’ve really enjoyed the Finals, but it’s hard to escape the reality that these two small-market teams could be the Kings if The Little Chap picked a good GM and shut up. Crossing my fingers for Perry but not holding my breath.
Yup, totally agree.
I need to see a few positive moves – and not of the re-signing LaRavia variety – before I will start getting invested again in this organization.
Kudos to all here still churning out content and coming up with trade ideas etc. I don’t know where you get the inspiration from.
How about extending LaVine?
That doesn’t fall under “positive moves”.
Yeah, falls under “expected moves” though
It does fall under “pitiful moves”
I’m for taking big rebuild swings…like a trade rumor that was mentioned where Sabonis goes to Portland for Scoot/Ayton + 3 first round picks. Portland gets rid of Ayton’s horrible contract, we get first rounders and a possible future franchise (or at least solid) player in Scoot. Then ship off Lavine for a bad contract plus as many first round picks you can get or players with high potential. Ship off Monk for more first round picks. Get whatever you can with DDR or just keep him around in some mentor capacity. Maintain the treasure trove of picks, tank the next couple seasons for high draft picks + extras, while building around Murray and Scoot.
That’s the right thinking in my opinion but I’m not sure Portland would give up that much. I’d take it in a hot minute.
That is the type of move that Kings and Blazers should do ! Doubt 3 firsts .
After OKc wins the championship, here’s a trade OKC should make with us.
Hartenstein and Cason Wallace for Sabonis.
Would love to have Wallace, then don’t exercise the team option on Hartenstein in 2026 and you cut payroll by $28 mil.
Sabonis is worth more than that. I’d want this year’s #15, at a minimum, included.
I’d prefer Wallace over this years 15th.
I would the do your trade DDR and Monk for Rozier, Jaquez, Kyle Anderson and #20. Follow that up with Val to Denver for Watson,
Now I have Jaquez, Watson, Wallace, Murray, Ellis, Carter and this years 20th pick. That actually excites me. Play the hell out of those guys and find out what you got while earning a spot in next years lottery. If I could add Kuminga and/or Alexander Walker in free agency, I’d really be excited.
JV for Watson doesn’t work salary wise. I imagine they also value him and Holmes as being their heir apparents to Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. With Denver being capped out, they don’t want JVs deal. They are looking for a vet minimum guy.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to get Watson, but I just don’t see it happening.
If Saric opts in he’s the salary filler. There are other options too. JV has a good deal for them. They need a better backup for the Joker and JV would be great for them. The problem I have is Watson has one year left and then you’d have to resign him.
I don’t think they are high and Holmes and I don’t want him. Strawther would also be interesting. Val is the perfect fit for Denver right now.
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