Keon Ellis has everything it takes to succeed in the NBA. His lightning-quick reflexes, intelligence, and tenacity make him a solid defensive presence for the Kings.
Additionally, Ellis is a strong shooter who brings intensity to Kings' offense. He's the kind of versatile player Sacramento needs to grow and take things to the next level.
The problem is that the Kings don't seem to know what to do with him. Ellis has a huge amount of potential, but he's stuck in an unbalanced system that doesn't put him to good use. As such, a move away from Sactown might be the best way to go if things don't change.
The Kings don't put Ellis to good use
For quite a while, there has been a lot of internal debate as to whether Ellis is a starter or a bench player. They can't seem to make up their minds on how he fits in.
This has led to erratic usage and inconsistent minutes. In turn, this has hindered Keon's individual development as a player, in addition to how he fits into the team dynamic.
As such, Ellis is widely seen as both an under utilized and underpaid player. It's no surprise that reports indicate that Ellis is quite unhappy on the Kings.
Keon's future is away from the Kings
The Kings exercised their team option with Ellis for the 2025-2026 season. This means they can offer him an extension, though it also opens him up to unrestricted free agency after this season.
Unless the Kings are willing to give him a secure starting role and commit to his development, it might be time to let him go. They have an overabundance of guards, though his growing defensive presence would be missed.
Given Fred VanVleet's tragic injury, the Rockets could use a player like Ellis. And if the Kings aren't going to commit to Ellis, they should try to get something out of a trade for him before he walks.