Inconsequential move could lead to a big trade between the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets

On Friday, it was announced that the Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets had agreed to a trade headlined by former 2021 NBA Draft lottery selection Ziaire Williams.

For the Grizzlies, this deal is about cost-cutting – probably so that they can re-sign Luke Kennard without having to foot a huge luxury tax bill. Meanwhile, for the Nets, the idea here is to take a flier on a young wing/forward (he'll be 23 to start the season) who couldn't ever really find a role for himself on the talent-laden Grizzlies.

Last season, Williams played 51 games (starting 15), and during that stretch, he averaged 8.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, and 0.7 SPG in 20.4 minutes of action per contest. For the analytical folks out there, Williams finished last year in the 31st percentile in overall Estimated Plus-Minus (EPM) and the 70th percentile in Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus (DEF EPM, Dunks & Threes).

Why Does This Matter To The Sacramento Kings?

This is cool, but this website is dedicated to the Sacramento Kings. What does this seemingly inconsequential trade have to do with them?

One of the best parts about acquiring DeMar DeRozan was that it gave the Kings the flexibility to make another trade. And as we've discussed before, two players that the Kings should consider allocating resources toward are actually rostered by the Nets.

Those players, Dorian Finney-Smith and Cameron Johnson, play similar positions (small forward/power forward) to the ones that Williams could see minutes at. So, if the Nets are serious about seeing if Williams has some untapped potential, they should be looking to trade one (or both) of Finney-Smith and Johnson to clear some minutes out for him. Plus, if the Nets are truly trying to rebuild, they don't want Finney-Smith and Johnson to help them accrue any unnecessary wins.

Between the two of them, I think I would prefer the Kings go after Finney-Smith. Johnson is the better offensive player. But Finney-Smith is the better defender (which is more of a need for the Kings now that they have DeRozan), he can still provide some spacing (34.8% 3-point shooter on good volume), and he's on a cheaper contract than Johnson (his average annual value is nearly ten million less than Johnson's).

Now, this is pure speculation on my part, and this Williams deal by no means guarantees that Finney-Smith and Johnson will be moved. However, the Nets surely have more reason to do so now that they have added Williams to the team.