Sacramento Kings: The Aftermath Of The Infamous Trade In 2015

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SACRAMENTO, CA – FEBRUARY 19: Vice president Vlade Divac and Rajon Rondo #9 of the Sacramento Kings talk during the game against the Denver Nuggets on February 19, 2016 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Cap Space

After doing business with Sam Hinkie, Vlade and the Kings ended up being around $26 million under the salary cap. They immediately started trying to woo Monta Ellis and a freshly-injured Wesley Matthews before settling on Rajon Rondo, Kosta Koufos, and Marco Belinelli.

Belinelli signed to provide outside shooting for a team that desperately needed some, and as a result, he had a career low percentage from beyond the arc (.306) with Sacramento. By the time the 2016 NBA Draft rolled around, Belinelli was traded for a late first-round pick (later turned into Malachi Richardson, also no longer with the Kings).

Rondo was a controversial signing even before they signed him. Looking for some career rehabilitation after essentially getting shunned off the Dallas Mavericks, Rondo admittedly had some nice moments with the Kings. He and DeMarcus Cousins were a major reason why Sacramento briefly looked like a fringe playoff squad. However, Rondo was a major contributor to the toxic locker room that was already on edge with Cousins and coach George Karl feuding. By the 2016 offseason, Rondo was gone.

Kosta is the only free-agency signing that is still with the team. Although he no longer really fits with the roster that Vlade has currently constructed, and I would not be too surprised if he was dumped in a trade in the next few months. Still, he managed to get four seasons and 262 games under his belt with Sacramento so far, soooo…congrats, Kosta!

It is worth it to note that the Kings also signed Seth Curry, who looked promising in his one year with Sacramento! So naturally, the Kings yanked their qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. Steph’s little brother was making headlines this year for his play vs the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.

More. Marvin Bagley Becomes First-Team Rookie. light

All in all, the cap space was almost entirely wasted on one-year rentals that failed to improve the team in any tangible way. How did the pick trades turn out?

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