After a trade deadline that didn't lead to much change for the Sacramento Kings, general manager Scott Perry held a press conference to discuss the team's status. The common theme of many of his comments hinged on patience, an important concept that will see the Kings through the rebuild.
Since day one of this process, Perry has been clear that this is not a short-term project in any way, shape, or form. He's planning for years of work to turn this franchise into a winner, which is no small task. It's a long trip from the basement to even get into the playoffs, let alone being a contender.
Some of that will be accomplished through trades, such as bringing in De'Ander Hunter while moving Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder, and Dario Saric. That in turn made room to change rookie Dylan Cardwell's two-way contract into a full NBA contract, which is big for the team.
As Perry pointed out, the majority of the rebuild will be accomplished through drafting young players and developing them. In 2025, those players were Maxime Raynaud and Nique Clifford, as well as signing the undrafted Cardwell. The Kings are looking for more players in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Patience is the name of the game for the Kings
The through line here is patience, a concept that came up more than once in Perry's press conference. He reiterated that it takes a lot of time to turn a team into a winner, which requires patience from everyone involved. That includes the fans, who are desperate for change now.
Trying to trade expensive players with limited use, like Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, is tough at best. While both players will eventually move on from the Kings, it could be a while before that happens. The same is true when it comes to drafting and developing rookies.
Making no move is significantly better than making a bad move, and bad moves were the only options the Kings had at the trade deadline. Perry made the right call to hold off, get through the draft, and see what the trade landscape looks like in the 2026 offseason.
Right now, the Kings have a solid young core to work with as well as newer players who are more focused on defense. While it doesn't always feel like it, the Kings' rebuild is underway. The hardest part is going to be staying patient while it all plays out.