With a potential rebuild on the horizon for the Sacramento Kings, there are a lot of rumors about potential trades. Basically, the Kings are ready to do business on basically any player. That being said, there are a few members of the current roster they should be planning to keep around.
Keon Ellis is not on this list, and it's not because he shouldn't be. At this point, the Kings seem bound and determined to trade Ellis, despite the fact he's the exact kind of player they're looking for. Keon is young, can defend, and has a lot of potential. Trading him is a mistake the Kings are about to make.
Malik Monk
A member of the Kings' roster since 2022, Monk's name has become synonymous with the Kings. He remains one of the best Sixth Men in the league, someone who can generate reliable offense off the bench. That being said, he has some work to do on defense.
When going through this rebuild, Sacramento is going to need someone reliable on the bench to lead the second unit. That is Monk. They were shopping him around as a trade during the summer, which obviously didn't go anywhere. Keeping him is the better option for now.
Maxime Raynaud
As part of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Kings picked Raynaud 42nd in the second round. Born in Paris, he played basketball in France before heading to Stanford to play college ball in the USA. He's established himself as a solid center everywhere he's played.
While he's still early in his NBA career, Raynaud has already shown incredible potential. He's got good game on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court, and could be a huge part of the Kings' next chapter. Sabonis is good, but a center who can score, rebound, and defend is better.
Nique Clifford
During the course of the preseason, it became apparent very quickly that Nique Clifford might be the steal of the 2025 Draft. The Kings picked him 24th overall, which was a surprise that he went that late. Less surprisingly, he's a guard, the position Sacramento seems to be addicted to.
The regular season has been a little slow for Nique so far, mostly because of an injury and the weird state of the Kings' roster. When he has gotten real minutes on the court, he has made good use of them. Alongside Raynaud, the duo could grow into a solid combo for the Kings.
Keegan Murray
The Kings' star player recently made his season debut after a preseason injury kept him on the shelf for several weeks. While Keegan Murray can't turn things around on his own, his presence has made a difference. Without him, the Kings would not have defeated the Nuggets.
This is a no-brainer for Sacramento. Murray is the best forward on the team, a reliable scorer, and a tenacious defender. He has the potential to be the player the Kings plan their rebuild around. Once they are fully developed, he'll play incredibly well with both Raynaud and Clifford.
Russell Westbrook
Okay, hear me out on this one. Yes, the point of the rebuild process is to bring in younger stars, find a rhythm as a team, and turn them into a contender. The Kings need a rebalanced roster that can provide consistent offense and any kind of defensive presence.
All of that is true. But the Kings will also need a seasoned veteran who has a long, successful career behind him. Westbrook will be part player, part coach, and all legend. His impact on the current iteration of the Kings has been positive. He will be even more important to the next generation.