The Sacramento Kings are at the heart of one of the most polarizing sagas of the 2025 NBA offseason. As Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors struggle to come to terms on a new deal, the Kings are emerging as a potential landing spot for the former top-10 pick.
Sacramento would need to part with key assets in a potential sign-and-trade, but there's one player they refuse to give up: Keon Ellis.
Ellis is coming off of his best NBA season thus far, during which he emerged as an exceptionally efficient and effective 3-and-D wing. As such, it would come as no surprise if the Warriors were to request for the 25-year-old to be included in a Kuminga sign-and-trade.
According to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee, the Kings refuse to include Ellis or Keegan Murray in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga—making them all but untouchable in such negotiations.
"The Warriors would probably be quick to pull the trigger on a deal involving Keegan Murray or Keon Ellis. However, a source with knowledge of trade conversations told The Sacramento Bee that Murray and Ellis have not been discussed and both are considered off limits in talks for Kuminga."
For as appealing as that revelation may be to Kings fans who understand Ellis' value, there's one issue with the franchise's logic: Its offseason strategy has seemingly undermined his development.
Kings refuse to trade Keon Ellis, but haven't positioned him to succeed
Ellis finished the 2024-25 regular season with averages of 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 1.7 three-point field goals made in just 24.4 minutes per game. He did so while shooting the lights out at a clip of .489/.433/.849.
Ellis' numbers are even more impressive when translated to marks of 12.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.2 blocks, and 2.6 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
Unfortunately, the fact remains that he played fewer than 25 minutes per game in 2024-25. His playing time admittedly increased to 28.1 minutes per contest after the All-Star Break, but his usage rate simultaneously decreased by 1.3 percent.
The truly alarming element of Ellis' usage, however, isn't what transpired a season ago—but what the Kings have done since then to potentially limit his opportunities.
Sacramento already had a crowded perimeter with DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk operating as high-volume scorers in featured roles. The rotation became even more complex when the Kings drafted Nique Clifford and signed Dennis Schröder.
With DeRozan, LaVine, Monk, and Schröder all known to be players who command significant touches and shot attempts, it's fair to question where Ellis fits into the equation.
Backing him as a player who will not be traded is a plus, but head coach Doug Christie has been given quite a collection of players to juggle. DeRozan, LaVine, and Schröder will likely play starter minutes, and Monk is coming off of a season in which he averaged 31.6 minutes per game with the Kings.
Perhaps Sacramento will find a way to fit Clifford, Ellis, and second-year guard Devin Carter into the rotation, but it's becoming more difficult by the day to envision their roles fitting their abilities.