Thoughts: Sacramento Kings Should Trade For Tony Allen

They were so many times this season where the fans of the Sacramento Kings thought that their team hit rock bottom.

First it was when the team started the season at 1-7, then the loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, and now during this span where the Kings have lost eight of their last nine games.

Somehow the Kings need to salvage their season and try to make a legitimate run to making postseason contention. If unable to, major changes within the franchise are likely to happen.

One way the Kings can improve is through the trade deadline, which ends on February 18th. The Kings could definitely improve spots on their depth chart, one particular area, the two guard position.

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It has been clear this season that the shooting guard group for the Kings has been the weakest link on their roster. The group contains Ben McLemore, Marco Belinelli, James Anderson, and Seth Curry, who all have shown through their performances that they are not capable of being legit starting two guards for this team.

So that leads us to focus on enhancing the two guard position. What trade would make sense for the Sacramento Kings to pursue in order to improve their team?

One option, in my opinion, that makes sense is looking at the Memphis Grizzlies and making an offer for shooting guard Tony Allen.

Nov 5, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Marcus Morris (15) against Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Allen has shown through his long career that he is a savant when it comes to defense. His honors for NBA All-Defensive First Team (3x) and NBA All-Defensive Second Team add to this testimony.

Even at the age of 34, he still shows that he can defend at a solid rate and probably is a better defender than anyone on Sacramento right now.

The defense has been a big weakness for the Kings so far this season, and if they were to attain Allen through trade it be a good risk for the team to take in improving it.

A trade that I think makes sense for both parties is if the Kings gave up Ben McLemore and Caron Butler for Tony Allen and Jarell Martin. Butler and Martin are solely in this trade to make it successful based on the NBA trade machine.

Although Allen is still an asset for the Grizzlies, he is 34 years old and the Grizzlies as a team are not a contender for the NBA Championship. The team should consider getting younger and looking for players that have the potential to be assets going forward. Enter Ben McLemore.

McLemore is still young (22 years old) and a player that has the potential to become really good in this league. But unfortunately, I do not foresee it being in a Sacramento uniform. If traded to Memphis, he has a chance to make a fresh start with a new team in the Grizzlies, which I think will help him flourish through the franchise’s good leadership and coaching.

Overall, if the Kings traded McLemore and Butler to the Grizzlies for Allen and Martin in return, it would make sense for both parties.

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Right now the Grizzlies are not a serious contender for the NBA chip, and, therefore, need to bring in some young talent that they can potentially rely on for the future. On the other hand for the Kings, a team that wants to win now, Allen would be an immediate upgrade to the defensive struggles that the team has been suffering this season.

The Kings right now on in a tight spot. Either they ride the ship with the players they currently have or look to make changes in hopes of upgrading the team.

Speaking for myself, if the Kings do have the main priority of making the playoffs this season a trade needs to happen. Bottom line, the Kings will not get better if their defense remains inept, and the current roster so far has shown no signs of turning their defensive woes around.

Therefore, the Kings need to make a change, and Tony Allen is a player that can help with that.

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