Through Trades
You can’t talk about the Kings becoming a super team if you do not talk about the DMC trade. Face it, as good as DeMarcus Cousins is, there was no way the Kings could go anywhere with him as the face of their franchise. So how can you solve that problem? Well, one way is by trading him. As we all know, Cousins was the centerpiece in the blockbuster trade that saw him heading to the New Orleans Pelicans on All-Star weekend.
In return, the Kings received Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans (all around me are familiar faces), Langston Galloway and a 2017 first round and second round pick (via 76ers). The latter two players left in free agency but it’s not like they were part of the team’s long-term plans. The real assets the Kings needed from the trade were Buddy Hield and the first round pick which later turned into two first round picks.
This is where the reload (not rebuild) mode started to take place. Again, we know the Kings drafted De’Aaron Fox, Justin Jackson, Harry Giles and Frank Mason. Jackson and Giles came to Sacramento after the Kings traded the #10 overall pick to Portland for the #15 and #20 selections. Yet again, we see a trade involved that brings in two potential-filled prospects.
Now the Kings have their roster the way they wanted it to be. The only person I honestly wouldn’t mind being traded is Kosta Koufos but that’s a whole different topic.
Via trade, the Kings brought in valuable assets to commence a “potential” super team. It isn’t as big as the Boston Celtic trades (the 2008 champion team), but that’s two different comparisons. The Celtics traded to be immediate title contenders, but the Kings traded for the future.