Six moves the Sacramento Kings could make at the trade deadline

Having been linked to Enes Kanter back in December, it’s not a stretch to believe the Kings could make another run at acquiring him — despite talks having reportedly fallen through. This is also a relatively low-risk here for the Kings.

First of all, Kanter is a solid rebounder — more than solid in fact, ranking top-10 in offensive rebounding percentage and top-15 in defensive rebounding percentage, two categories where Sacramento has no one in the top-50. Furthermore, he’s a free agent in the summer, meaning he wouldn’t tie up the books long-term.

On the downside, Kanter could become a locker room issue if he doesn’t receive playing time and could also crowd the power rotation even further if the Kings don’t trade another big. Still, for a relatively low-price, it could be well worth the gamble for a team sorely lacking strong rebounders.

A simple trade like this works for both teams, cap-wise, though it’s possible the Kings could get this done for just Z-Bo plus a 2021 pick, as Kanter’s trade value continues to free fall. If you wanted to get crazy, though, the Kings could go big with the Knicks, bringing over not only Kanter, but also Tim Hardaway Jr. and a draft pick. A trade like would address their holes at two areas of needs, while also bringing back a draft asset, though it’d certainly be just a future second.

A trade like this costs the Kings nothing in the way of assets, but does add THJ’s massive contract to the Kings’ books. Hardaway signed a four-year, $71 million deal in 2017 and is owed two-years, $37 million over the next two seasons.

He is averaging 19.2 points per game though, albeit on a dismal 39 percent shooting percentage and could benefit from a change of scenery, all while adding another body at a position of need.