Secondary targets if Sacramento Kings strike out in free agency
The 2023 NBA offseason is off to an eventful start for the Sacramento Kings! With Barnes returning to Sacramento and the Kings reportedly trading for Indiana Pacers G/F Chris Duarte, the Kings have a chance to add more depth to their roster this offseason through trades and free agency.
Below are a few options the Kings could target, via trade or free agency, to improve their roster for this season and beyond:
1. Grant Williams
Williams, a restricted free agent with the Celtics, is unlikely to return to Boston after they acquired Kristaps Porzingis earlier this month. His defensive strengths, versatility, and ability to shoot the basketball would make him a suitable replacement for Trey Lyles. Sacramento is still sitting comfortably under the cap, with around $15M of space left to work with. They could use all of this on Williams to draw him away from Boston or split it amongst several players this offseason.
Bringing in Williams would also likely mean the departure of Trey Lyles for Sacramento due to the tight cap situation unless the Kings would be to go over the cap to bring him back. Lyles, one of the few veterans for the Kings this past season, was very productive when he was on the court for them and had an impactful playoff in their lone series against the Golden State Warriors.
Williams has an innate ability to frustrate opponents because of his tenaciousness defensively and the effort he provides on a nightly basis. Additionally, his playoff experience while being young could be a massive beneficiary for a Kings team looking to contend not only next season but in the West moving forward. Williams would be a major upgrade at forward for Sacramento, but who could the Kings bring into their core in the frontcourt to add depth behind Domantas Sabonis?