Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

Trade speculation around the Sacramento Kings’ Tyreke Evans has and will continue to be rampant, after all, players of Evans’ caliber don’t hit the market very often. Despite his struggles, a 22 year old talent that combines the size and speed that Evans does is rarely seen on the trading block, not to mention, putting up stats (although inflated) that only Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson and LeBron James did in their rookie years? That’s not exactly a tough sell.

But, like in most situations, opposing teams see a struggling Evans and want to lowball their offers. It’s good business for the opposition, but the Kings aren’t in panic mode – at least not yet, according to Sam Smith, who says the Kings are asking for quite the return in any Evans move:

A deal for Evans has been much speculated upon everywhere. But the Kings are said to want a lot and would hardly add the No. 5 pick with him. Maybe you get the pick for Noah. Hardly Evans and the pick. Maybe you get Evans and the pick for Noah and Deng, which would be ridiculous for the Bulls to do. It makes little sense for either side.

Speculation about Evans to the Bulls has been the hot topic in recent weeks, but it was a trade I never really understood for both sides. Derrick Rose and Evans seemed like an odd coupling from the start and while Deng does fit a need for the Kings, I’m not sure the price is right for Sacramento.

Every so often, we here at FanSided like to gather up the heard and do a Network themed blog posting. Today, snowflakes, is one of those days.

With so much negativity surrounding the NBA lockout, it’s about time we look at something positive – our respective teams. Below, we’re going to look at five reasons to be optimistic about the Sacramento Kings, something given the current circumstances we shouldn’t find too much trouble in doing. So without further ado, let’s get to the listing:

#5) Arena situation/Lack of move – This one is pretty cut and dry. The Sacramento Kings are staying the Sacramento Kings, at least for this season (assuming there is one) and given the momentum that was stirred up by the Here We Stay fan movement along with the continual positive progress on the new arena front, it’s hard not to be excited about the Kings future in Sacramento. A few short months ago, the Maloof’s were pulling out their best early Halloween costumes, dressing up as the NBA’s version of Art Modell – the only thing missing were the moving trucks backed into the PBP loading docks. Now, the Maloof’s have taken a back seat (partly out of shame), the fans have made their voice heard, the community has come to the rescue and while it’s far from etched in stone, the Kings odds of staying in Sacramento seems to get better and better with each piece of positive news – a welcome change from the brash of negativity we were bombarded with not so long ago.

#4) Flying under the radar – Let’s face it, if there is a 2011/12 season, the Kings are still going to be a below average team. That’s not to say they wont have their moments, but, you can only expect so much from a team who’s average age is a few years past visiting their pediatricians. Expecting the Kings youth to come together and pull a 2009-10 Oklahoma City Thunder turnaround just isn’t realistic, but, the Kings aren’t far away from competing for a playoff spot in the aging Western Conference. Will it be this season? More likely than not, no – but the Kings returning to glory isn’t very far off at all.

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