Over the weekend, Kevin Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets, ending weeks of speculation about his future. Now, fans are looking to other teams to see what they do and how they react.
The Sacramento Kings have received a lot of buzz because analysts believe they could do business with other teams who missed out on Durant. Malik Monk and DeMar DeRozan are allegedly seen as consolation prizes for the franchises that didn't outbid Houston. But apparently another Kings player could be on the move, and the news has many fans surprised.
It could be one-and-done for Devin Carter in Sacramento
According to a new report from Michael Scotto at Hoops Hype, rookie Devin Carter may be leaving the Kings this summer. In fact, the Kings have apparently gauged interest in Carter, along with Monk, as they have sought a first-round draft pick. It seems like the Kings are willing to do just about anything to get that first-rounder.
To say this news about Carter is a shock is an understatement because he looked like a valuable and perhaps unmovable asset just 12 months ago. Selected as the 13th pick in the 2024 draft, the Kings envisioned big things for Carter. That was when hope for the team was high and Carter looked like a great backup behind De'Aaron Fox.
But injuries got in the way, and things didn't go as planned in 2024-25, as all Kings fans know. During his 36 games, Carter put up 3.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 37.0 percent from the field.
The Kings held tightly to Carter during the season and refused to let him be a part of potential trade negotiations, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Of course, many fans are worried that Sacramento is repeating a painful trend: trading away a young player before they hit their prime. In fact, some disgruntled Kings fans are already predicting he will go to a new team, develop his skills, and compete for a championship in a few years.
The Kings are intent on landing a first-round pick and also finding a new point guard to lead them. Some would point out that Carter is a former first-rounder who plays point guard, but he obviously isn't exactly what Sacramento has in mind.
The NBA offseason has just begun, and the list of Kings players who could be leaving Sacramento is growing. Perhaps this summer will be much busier than many expected.