As the Sacramento Kings grow accustomed to the Alvin Gentry era, it’s becoming apparent that the team may not be as far gone as many initially thought. So much so that the case could easily be made that the Kings should be buyers between now and the NBA trade deadline on February 10th.
While rumors continue to swirl around the potential availability of Kings star De’Aaron Fox, unless an unbelievable offer were to come across Monty McNair’s table, the team is better off looking to add quality players, not ship them off. This brings us to the recent rumors hitting the NBA.
Word out of Indiana is that the Pacers are considering a rebuild. Now, this could be less of a rebuild, and more of a retool, but regardless the point is the Kings are looking to sell, and the Kings should consider becoming buyers. There are a number of players the Pacers boast who the Kings should be interested in.
In fact, there are three players, in particular, the Kings should try to pilfer from the Pacers.
Indiana is in quite an interesting situation as it seems they’re considering both “blowing it up” or simply trading one for two of their top-end players as they attempt to remain competitive. While the latter is likely the case, Sacramento should approach them as if they’re looking to move anything that isn’t nailed down.
The Kings may be able to strike a deal for some serious talent without having to empty the vault of assets and they can’t let that opportunity pass them by.
Sacramento is short on both top-end talent and depth. Indiana can help solve one or both of those needs as it seems no player in Indy is untouchable at this moment. From pure hoopers to defensive titans to former All-Stars, the Pacers may just have what the Kings have been searching for.
The Sacramento Kings hardly have a small forward on the roster. They’ve been forcing guards and power forwards into that small forward role for some time, and it ends now, sort of. Both Jeremy Lamb and Caris LeVert have played the majority of their minutes at the three this season, but Lamb, traditionally, is much more of a shooting guard. LeVert, on the other hand, has a long history playing the role of a small forward, but his play-style is not that of a typical modern-day small forward.
Caris LeVert is a ball-dominant “hooper,” he’s not some two-way 3&D type (the prototypical NBA wing). In fact, his shot has been a question mark for some time now, but regardless he’s seen as a curious player with untapped potential.
Levert had a solid season last year, and the hope is that a change of scenery would help him find the success he’s had over the past two seasons. His length and athleticism would also be a welcome addition defensively and a major improvement over the offensive-focused guard.
Jeremy Lamb would fill the role left behind by Buddy Hield. His highs won’t be as high, but his lows certainly won’t be as low either. Lamb is also an improved defender over Hield and would be a smart part of the effort to turn the Kings into a respectable defensive team.
Moving both Marvin Bagley and Buddy Hield makes sense for Indiana as Hield (and Bagley recently) would be able to help the team compete this season. If the team decides to truly tear things down, they will be able to easily be able to flip Hield for draft capital and either let Bagley walk or resign the former second overall pick. Either way, the 2022 lottery pick is a nice asset for a team in flux like the Pacers.
Levert and Lamb would improve the Kings’ defense, but the next target would transform it:
Myles Turner is one of the top defensive centers in the entire NBA. The Kings could certainly use someone with his defensive prowess. He is dominant in the low post and capable of defending around the perimeter as well. Turner currently leads the NBA in blocks by a large margin and is on his way to finishing the season as the blocks leader for the third time in the past four seasons.
If anyone is aware of how well Turner has performed, it’s Turner. Recently, Turner spoke to The Athletic and expressed how he wants “something more, more opportunity.” Well, he would certainly be able to have just that in Sacramento.
Of course, Richaun Holmes is currently on the team, and adding Turner to him would certainly be redundant, to say the least. Now want fans won’t want to hear is that this would make Holmes expendable likely placing the fan favorite on the trade block but that only means more assets coming Sacramento’s way.
The Kings would also be acquiring veteran role player Justin Holiday who would be able to provide some much-needed depth and perimeter defense on the wing. Holiday isn’t as exciting as his all-star brother, but he certainly would be a solid addition to a Kings team that is light on veteran leadership.
In addition to Hield and Bagley, the Kings would be sending to lottery-protected first-round picks, and while two picks in addition to two players sound like a high cost (it is), the Kings wouldn’t lose either pick unless they were to make the playoffs and at that point, it’s certainly worth it.
If the Kings really want to make the playoffs, however, they may consider making a play for a “big fish”:
We end with a three-team extravaganza involving the Kings, Pacers, and the Philadelphia 76ers. As far as deals involving the Indiana Pacers are concerned, Domantas Sabonis should be Sacramento’s top target. He’s not without his faults, and many feel there’s a certain ceiling a team featuring Sabonis would boast. However, he is the greatest talent the Kings can realistically acquire without moving De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton.
This season, the Pacers’ star is averaging 18.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, marking yet another solid year. He’s not the perfect player, but he’s certainly a high-level contributor who could help transform the Sacramento Kings.
Worts and all, Sabonis would be the most talented player to wear a Kings uniform since DeMarcus Cousins. His ability to score, rebound, and facilitate would help open up the game for nearly any player in Sacramento.
Domantas Sabonis is a versatile 25-year-old two-time All-Star. The only other available player who meets that criteria is Ben Simmons, and he will certainly cost more than Sabonis. The Kings are in need of a new direction. They could use a player of Sabonis’ caliber to get them there.
Rumor has it that the Kings and Pacers haven’t talked a deal for Sabonis yet this season, or for Myles Turner either, but that could easily change between now and the deadline. After all, the Kings would be hard-pressed to do better than Sabonis (again, without giving up Fox or Haliburton), and despite his questionable ceiling, he’s certainly a risk worth taking.