Kevin Huerter
2023-24 Stats: 10.2 PPG/3.5 RPG/2.6 APG on 56.4% True Shooting
Barring some significant improvement, it is unlikely that Mitchell and Duarte could be on a team's eight-man rotation in the playoffs.
The same can't be said about Kevin Huerter, who is just one season removed from a year where he posted 15.2 PPG while shooting 40.2% on his 6.8 3-point attempts per game. When he was on the floor, the Kings were in the 96th percentile in offensive rating (per Cleaning the Glass). And overall, his Offensive Estimated Plus-Minus (OFF EPM) was in the 91st percentile (per Dunks & Threes).
Huerter is still a solid starting caliber player in the NBA. Last season, was a little bit of a down season (36.1% from three). But as we've discussed before, it isn't uncommon for elite shooters to have a down year or two from three throughout there career. Plus, Huerter still has two years on his team-friendly four-year, 65-million dollar deal. He's also only 25.
This makes Huerter a plus asset in a trade, which gives him a higher probability of being moved than Mitchell and Duarte. You need plus assets to acquire good/great players (which is what the Kings want to do).
Given the deluxe shooting that Huerter offers and the New Orleans Pelicans' desperate need for spacing around Zion Williamson, the Kings could package Huerter with some picks and matching salary to try and acquire Brandon Ingram.