The Sacramento Kings found their success at the center position with Domantas Sabonis. From there, it was a battle between the backups on who could crack the rotation between Richaun Holmes, Alex Len, and Chimezie Metu. It turns out none of them played that much. Most of the time, especially in the playoffs, the Kings decided to play small ball with the second unit.
While I still believe it is best when having some size off the bench, I think the Kings will address that through free agency or the draft. Alex Len and Chimezie Metu are pending free agency, and Richaun Holmes is making $12 million per year to play 8 minutes per game. It is time to move on from these big men, starting with trading Richaun Holmes.
These are three potential trade destinations for Holmes and realistic mock trades that would help out the Kings:
1. Dallas Mavericks
Reggie Bullock, coming off his 10th year in the NBA, would be a great fit for the Sacramento Kings. The sharpshooter averaged 7.2 points per game this season, shooting 38% from three. He also had a career-high in rebounds, averaging 3.6 per game. Bullock is an average defender, and his offense is limited besides his long-range shot.
I believe both teams would be happy with a player swap here, as the Kings are looking for a backup wing who can shoot, and the Mavericks need help with their big-man depth. The Mavericks had two centers in their main rotation this year: Christian Wood and Dwight Powell, who are both entering free agency.
With the Kings having their two small forwards entering free agency, Harrison Barnes and Terence Davis, they look for wing depth here and acquire a sharpshooter.
With Richaun Holmes making $12 million next year and Reggie Bullock making $10.4 million, Sacramento saves some money and upgrades their second unit.
2. Washington Wizards
While I know Corey Kispert does not get every Sacramento Kings fan super excited, his ability to shoot the ball is undeniable. Coming off his second season in the NBA, he averaged 11.1 points per game, shooting 42.4% from three. You can never have too much shooting. Kispert would be a fantastic bench piece as he keeps improving. He has already shown he can be one of the top shooters in the league, so why not let him shine in Sacramento’s offense?
The Wizards are a good fit to trade for Richaun Holmes because they need a backup center. Their starting center, Daniel Gafford, has been solid in Washington but has no backup. This Wizards squad struggled to rebound the ball, and a big man full of energy like Holmes could help them out.
The Wizards could be looking to give up Kispert because, one, the development of Deni Avdija, and two, they hold the eighth pick in the draft this year, where they most likely take a younger wing with more potential. A player like Ausar Thompson or Cam Whitmore would be more within the vision of the Wizards’ future.
The Kings throw in the second-round pick this year to make up for the salary difference, as Kispert is making just $3.7 million next year, about $8 million cheaper than Holmes. This gets Sacramento a cheap backup wing who has the potential to be an elite shooter in this league.
3. Los Angeles Clippers
After a disappointing season for the Clippers, they will be looking to make some moves. While this is not the most significant move I see them making, it is needed for their frontcourt depth. Terance Mann would be a great addition to the Kings lineup, and Sacramento could get him on a discount after he took a step back this season. Mann averaged 8.8 points per game on 51.9% shooting from the field and 38.9% from three.
The Clippers are hoping for their star forward duo, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, to return healthy next season, resulting in fewer minutes for Mann. Terance Mann is a great 3&D player who would fit right in on the Kings as he can play small forward off the bench.
Richaun Holmes would be a good fit for the Clippers to back up Ivica Zubac and bring energy off the bench. Their current backup center, Mason Plumlee, is entering free agency. The Clippers are loaded with wings, so I do not see their value for Mann being that great.
Mann signed an extension with Los Angeles, as he will make $10.5 million next year. The Clippers might be a little stingy in getting rid of Mann, which is why the second-round pick is included. This would be the ideal trade scenario for Richaun Holmes and my favorite of the three, as Mann’s defensive ability sets him apart.
The Athletic suggests the Sacramento Kings draft electric wing with 24th pick
In this mock draft via The Athletic, we look at their selection for the Sacramento Kings with the 24th pick and give our opinion on the prospect