A Royal Pain
Fansided

Biggest questions for Sacramento Kings ahead of the trade deadline

By Jonathan Roberts

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 8: Vlade Divac and owner of the Sacramento Kings, Vivek Ranadivé, talk before a preseason game between the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers on October 8, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 8: Vlade Divac and owner of the Sacramento Kings, Vivek Ranadivé, talk before a preseason game between the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers on October 8, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
DETROIT, MI – JANUARY 31: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Dallas Mavericks jocks for a position during the game against Reggie Bullock #25 of the Detroit Pistons on January 31, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JANUARY 31: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Dallas Mavericks jocks for a position during the game against Reggie Bullock #25 of the Detroit Pistons on January 31, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Perhaps the biggest question ahead of the deadline is whether or not the Kings will trade for a small forward. As was said earlier, the Kings could very well be a small forward away from a playoff spot and though it’s possible they could get there without an upgrade things would be much easier if they made a move.

Think of it this way, you could take your 1999 Civic with 200,000 miles on it across the country, but wouldn’t it be better to take a different, newer, more reliable car? Even if it’s just a rental? That’s what I thought.

There seems to be plenty of mid-level small forwards on the market, but the Kings seem to be most attracted to Dallas’ Harrison Barnes. There’s plenty of moves to be made here, but a deal centered around Barnes-Willie Cauley-Stein might be the best solution after Dallas shipped out their starting center in the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

Harrison Barnes may not be the flashiest pickup, but the Kings desperately need something and to get that without giving up too much and clearing a starting spot for Marvin Bagley III seems like a win-win for both parties.

If Sacramento is set on acquiring Otto Porter Jr., however, a trade centered around OPJ-Cauley-Stein + salary relief could get the deal done, though reports indicate the Wizards might hold out for more.

Related Story. Three reasons to trade for Harrison Barnes. light

A trade like this offers the Wizards a metric ton of cap relief, clearing Otto Porter Jr. and Ian Mahimi’s contracts while taking on no future salary — something they’d be hard-pressed to turn down. The Sacramento Kings could add in a second rounder or two to seal the deal, but if Bogdan Bogdanovic or Harry Giles’ names come up in discussions they need to just walk away.

Home/Kings Rumors