The Sacramento Kings are once again the definition of mediocrity as they currently sit 11-17 on the season. Amazingly they are right in the race for the play-in tournament, but that speaks more of the rest of the West than the Kings themselves.
Things are not sunny in Sacramento as they continue their standard operating procedure of one step forward and three steps back. The franchise has made some lower-level changes, but nothing has significantly worked as of this moment.
Luke Walton is out as the team’s Head Coach, and the Kings are a less than stellar 5-6 in the Alvin Gentry era. Not to say that it is entirely Gentry’s fault, though, because it’s obvious that is not the case. This team’s problems are much more than skin (or coach) deep. Gentry can only do so much with what he’s given, and the fact of the matter is that the front office hasn’t given him very much.
While the Sacramento Kings’ players certainly need to play better, it’s also up to Monty McNair to bring in better players.
Sure, players like Harrison Barnes are solid additions to a core built around De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, and Richaun Holmes has played better than anyone, yet the rest of the roster is either full of inexperience or devoid of talent. There doesn’t even seem to be a sense of pride from the team at the moment. The Kings are bad, and they know it.
This brings us to one Buddy Hield. Back in the rumor mill, it seems clear that the Kings are looking to trade Hield and are hoping for a “hefty” return.
Whether the Kings are looking to rebuild or if they’re still hell-bent on making a playoff push, it makes all the sense in the world to be shopping him. There are many reasons to trade Hield, but the biggest is also the most obvious: Buddy Hield doesn’t want to be in Sacramento.
With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at what the Kings could realistically expect in return for Hield:
The first path the Kings could take is very future-focused. The Cleveland Cavaliers are frustratingly miles ahead of the Kings at the moment, and they’re looking to make some noise in the playoffs this season.
One area they could certainly improve in is three-point shooting. The Cavaliers rank 12th and 20th in three-point percentage and three-point attempts, respectively. Buddy Hield could fix both of those issues and then some while Tristan Thompson is allowed the chance to return to where it all began and make one last playoff run with the Cavs.
Of course, the Cavs cannot have Hield without a price. Isaac Okoro is in his second year in the NBA, and he’s still an extremely raw prospect, offensively that is. Defensively, he’s already a stud who has been one of the biggest reasons the Cavaliers boast the second-best defense in the entire NBA.
It’s no well-kept secret that the Kings’ defense is about as tough as tissue paper. Okoro cannot fix that himself, but he can certainly improve the situation in Sacramento. The long-term potential of him and Donovan Mitchell is positively frightening defensively, and they could lead the Kings into a new era of defensive competency.
The deal doesn’t end at Okoro either, as the Kings would also receive a lottery-protected first-round pick from the Cavaliers. Currently slated in the early 20s, the pick would likely end up in the late teens by the end of the season, giving Sacramento the chance to draft a solid contributor.
What the Kings would have to do in order to secure both Okoro and a pick is take on the behemoth that is Kevin Love’s salary. It’s not the toughest ask considering not only what the Kings would be receiving but also the surprising fact that Love has averaged 11.9 points and 7.3 rebounds with shooting splits of 41.9/40.4/96.2 this season.
Okoro isn’t the only young small forward the Kings should have their eyes on, though:
While there have been no confirmed rumors, Cam Reddish and the Sacramento Kings have been connected for some time as a pair that makes sense. Reddish, a promising young wing has been unable to fully establish himself in Atlanta because of the presence of players like De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovich. Meanwhile, the Kings haven’t been able to field a proper small forward all season.
Reddish has shown some legitimate potential on both ends of the floor, and his offensive progression has particularly been impressive. While his traditional averages haven’t changed too much, looking at them through the lens of per 100 possessions tells a more complete story.
His scoring has increased from 18.3 to 19.2 points per game last season before leaping to 24.5 points per game this season. The major reason for this has been the increased accuracy from Reddish. The third-year wing boasts shooting splits of 40.0/36.7/90.7, which is leaps and bounds better than previous years.
It may be bold to suggest, but there’s a legitimate chance that Reddish could one day become a member of the 50/40/90 club. At only 22 years of age, Reddish has a world of potential ahead of him. With an opportunity for a higher usage rate in Sacramento, Reddish would have the opportunity to take the next step in his career and could surprise many with just how well he can play in the right situation.
The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly seeking a first-round pick for Reddish, but Sacramento should be slightly hesitant if that is the price, especially if they’re also including Hield. Instead, they should look to swap Reddish and Hield effectively, who have value similar to that of a decent first-rounder.
Add in Danilo Gallinari and a second-round pick from the Kings to balance out the value, and Sacramento may just have themselves a deal.
Isaac Okoro and Cam Reddish are all well and good, but is there an even better player the Kings could acquire in a deal involving Hield?
The Sacramento Kings have many paths ahead of them, but seemingly the two most favorable would be to either lean into a youth movement or to try to find a way to add difference-making talent. While Isaac Okoro and Cam Reddish fall under the former, Ben Simmons is a realistic option for the latter.
Simmons is done with the Sixers; that much is clear. It’s just a matter of how to obtain him. Frankly speaking, there is no way to trade directly for Ben Simmons without giving up either De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton. If it were to be a three-team trade, however, that could potentially change.
The Sixers are rumored to be interested in the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while the Kings are rumored to be interested in Simmons, and the Thunder seem to only be interested in acquiring future assets. It will take quite the offer for the Thunder to part with SGA, but it certainly is a possibility.
It would take a boatload of draft picks (five to be exact) to convince the Thunder to make such a deal, but they could almost certainly be convinced. That is especially the case with a couple of young players (Bagley & Springer) added as sweeteners.
The Sixers would acquire their top 25(ish) player for Ben Simmons along with Hield, who they have converted for some time now. They would also acquire Mike Muscala, who, oddly enough, is something of a hero in that town. It may hurt to part with the picks and Green in addition to Simmons, but it’s exactly the type of move the ever-wily Daryl Morey would attempt to pull off.
Now, to the Kings who should remain the focus of this deal. Going against the path of acquiring future assets, the Kings would make their play for a legitimate star and do so without giving up Fox or Haliburton. Questions can certainly be asked about the fit of Fox and Simmons, but that’s certainly a problem that can be solved later, likely by moving Fox for another legitimate talent (think Brandon Ingram type).
Ben Simmons is a highly decorated player who is 25 years young, and while he wouldn’t solve every problem the Kings suffer from, he’d raise both their floor and ceiling a great deal and provide some much-needed entertainment for the longsuffering fans of the Sacramento Kings. Adding a player like Simmons could be key for the Sacramento Kings’ future that is currently shrouded by darkness and uncertainty.
Along with Simmons, the Kings would also acquire two-way veteran Danny Green, who could help transform a locker room in Sacramento in desperate need of leadership. Green not only provides value off the court but also on both ends of the floor. Similar to the way Kenrich Williams would be another solid improvement from the Kings’ roster.
Whatever Monty McNair decides to do, the Sacramento Kings need to choose a direction and commit to it. Hopefully, that directly leads to an exciting young player who is a legitimate talent.