Six moves the Sacramento Kings could make at the trade deadline

For the first time in a long time, the Sacramento Kings are buyers at the trade deadline. What should they look for and more importantly, who could they trade for?

There’s been no shortage of trade rumors surrounding the Sacramento Kings since the season started. There’s also the fact that without the rights to their first round pick in the 2019 draft, the Kings have no incentive to tank — something that could make them one of the busiest teams at the deadline as they push for the playoffs.

There’s also no shortage of tradeable pieces on this roster, as the Kings are flush with expiring contracts and have a multitude of second-round picks they could dangle to help sweeten a trade, i.e. a move for Taurean Prince.

National media and local media both have also reported the Kings could be heavy buyers at the trade deadline, with ESPN’s Brain Windhorst saying they could go in big on this season.

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"“Sacramento, famously, owes their first-rounder to Boston (via Philly),” Windhorst said. “They have no incentive to tank, and with the upside-down Western Conference — miraculously, there are five teams who made the playoffs last season who are currently out of playoff position — the Kings apparently are thinking big. Though, let’s be honest, it’s always hard to understand exactly what this team is thinking.”"

James Ham of NBC Sports California echoed the Kings potential as buyer at the deadline, indicating management was surprised at how this season has gone, saying:

"“The mindset behind the scenes was asset acquisition coming into the season,” Ham said. “The Kings hoped to use their cap space to land a future first-round pick while relieving a team of a cumbersome contract. That seems to be shifting over the last month. There is an excitement about where the team is and they are contemplating becoming buyers, although they’ll want long-term solutions that match the player arc of the team and breaking up the young core is off the table.”"

With that said, just who could the Sacramento Kings be angling for? Undeniably, their biggest need is help at small forward and with Iman Shumpert struggling as of late, that need has gotten exponentially bigger. Aside from that, the Kings also need another option behind De’Aaron Fox at backup point guard, as Yogi Ferrell and Frank Mason III just haven’t gotten it done this season. There’s also a need for another rebounding big off the bench with Willie Cauley-Stein and Nemanja Bjelica both struggling in that regard recently as well.

So, who could they trade for? And what would a potential deal look like? Let’s find out.