5 Stars Kings could chase before the trade deadline

The Sacramento Kings snapped their playoff drought and are hungry for more. They were not happy about losing to the Warriors in the first round and desire a deep playoff run. The Western Conference is loaded, and the Kings need some help to separate themselves. They are unwilling to trade Keegan Murray but could put other players on the block in search of a third star.

A lot can change before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, but there will be All-Stars available. The market is still shaping up and teams are still deciding whether to buy or sell. Most will wait until just before the final buzzer before signaling their intentions. The Kings should be in on any deal as they attempt to add more talent.

Sacramento has two first-round picks to trade plus multiple swaps. They can increase it to three firsts if they remove a pick protection they owe to Atlanta. The Kings will only land a third star if the right deal comes along. Here are five All-Stars expected to be available that Sacramento could chase.

5. Zach LaVine

LaVine is firmly on the trade block, but his market has been slow to develop. The two-time All-Star is an elite scorer but has played in just four playoff games in his first nine years in the NBA. He is working on his sixth straight season of averaging over 21 points per game, but can LaVine do that on a contending team?

The Athletic’s Sam Amick noted that LaVine would welcome a trade (subscription required) to Sacramento, but are the Kings interested? De’Aaron Fox is a fellow Klutch Client, and they could form one of the best offensive backcourts in the league. It still may not be enough to make them title contenders, but LaVine certainly adds talent.

The Sacramento Kings should be searching for a star that helps on both ends of the floor and offers them a bit more versatility.