Rumor Mill: Sacramento Kings Targeting Simmons, Sabonis

The Sacramento Kings are in need of some change. One cannot expect the team to significantly improve if the clearly flawed roster does not. As we approach the NBA trade deadline, more and more rumors will make their way forward involving many teams, but one that is expected to be heavily involved is Sacramento.

Many players have been linked to the Kings in trade rumors, from the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown to the Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram to, more recently, frustrated Atlanta Hawk John Collins. Two players who are perhaps the most frequently (and legitimately) rumored are the Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons and the Indiana Pacers’ Domantas Sabonis. Once again, they find themselves connected to the Sacramento Kings, this time, thanks to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.

“The Kings, I do believe, are actually pondering the idea of doing Simmons and Harris. I don’t think that’s off the table.”

Amick informed listeners that the Sacramento Kings are heavily interested in Simmons on the most recent episode of The Athletic NBA Show. He also confirmed that they’re likely willing to add in a Simmons deal Tobias Harris as well:

The Philadelphia 76ers’ disgruntled star continues to be the apple of the Sacramento Kings’ eye.

Whether it’s his ability or his availability that Sacramento finds more alluring remains to be seen, but in spite of Simmons’ very public faults, it cannot be denied that he is an extremely talented player. Philadelphia’s front office continues to be hard-headed, though, when negotiating a deal for Simmons, so the reality of Simmons is Sacramento is not that until it actually happens.

“If they can’t get Simmons, then they’re going for Sabonis…that’s one and two.”

Amick was clear that if acquiring Simmons does not become a reality, the Kings have another potentially available star in mind. Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis has been all around the rumor mill, as is the case for most of the Pacers roster. The Kings could focus on the two-time all-star if they fail to construct a deal for Ben Simmons.

A few more things of note were the comments from Amick about the potential availability of both De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton:

"“I’d be stunned if they didn’t make a big trade… It’s weird to see people casually talking, you know, people of influence casually talking about, like yeah, De’Aaron’s in discussions. You know, not telling teams to not talk about De’Aaron. Haliburton’s a different one. It’s not that he’s untouchable; it’s more like if he gets a deal over the finish line and it’s an incredible deal, then maybe he ends up being in it. The idea in general that nobody is untouchable is new.”“I’d be stunned if they didn’t make a big trade… It’s weird to see people casually talking, you know, people of influence casually talking about, like yeah, De’Aaron’s in discussions. You know, not telling teams to not talk about De’Aaron. Haliburton’s a different one. It’s not that he’s untouchable; it’s more like if he gets a deal over the finish line and it’s an incredible deal, then maybe he ends up being in it. The idea in general that nobody is untouchable is new.”"

Fox, in particular, appears to be available in trade talks, and if the fish is big enough, he may not be in Sacramento by the end of the season. The notion that Tyrese Haliburton would be more difficult to pry away is not surprising. After all, Haliburton is younger and boasts a more modern, well-rounded skill set.

While the Kings would certainly prefer to move on from Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield first, the feeling seems to be that Monte McNair will more whatever, or whomever, he has to in search of a playoff berth. Currently, the Kings uncomfortably sit 1.5 games out of the play-in game.