There was speculation in the weeks leading up to March 25 that the Kings could be major sellers at the trade deadline, with players like Harrison Barnes, Buddy Hield, and Richaun Holmes frequently mentioned as possible candidates to be on the move.
However, general manager Monte McNair chose another direction, making a series of smaller-scale deals to add talent to the current roster, rather than dealing away established veterans for long-term assets. While Sacramento didn’t go all-in, the team’s deadline deals made clear that the playoffs are still a goal in 2021.
“I think really we saw this year that there were maybe some traditional buy/sell moves, but I think where we categorize ourselves was like, value buyers,” McNair said, per James Ham of NBC Sports California. “We kinda explored all opportunities and this is what came to the forefront.”
As Sean Cunningham of ABC10 tweets, McNair said the Kings entered the deadline hoping to add depth and defense, and he felt like they did that by acquiring Delon Wright, Terence Davis, Maurice Harkless, and Chris Silva.
Here’s more on the Kings:
- The Kings’ deadline deals are paying dividends so far, with Wright, Davis, and Harkless helping the team extend its winning streak to five games on Monday night in San Antonio, Ham writes for NBC Sports California. “Delon does a great job of making sure our pace is good. TD adds an aggressiveness on both sides of the ball. Moe is just savvy, smart, knows where to be,” center Richaun Holmes said of his new teammates. “Those guys came in ready to fit in and ready to help the team.”
- Kings big man Marvin Bagley III has remained away from the team while he recovers from his left hand fracture, but he has remained in constant communication with the Kings and the plan is for him to rejoin the club as he gets closer to returning to action, writes Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee.
- In case you missed it, an earlier report indicated that Holmes’ price tag in free agency this summer could be upwards of $20MM per year, with Charlotte among the teams expected to challenge Holmes for free agent center.
Bagley should be traded before December. It’s clearly a mistake
I don’t know what the GM is doing
Now Bagley has little value
Bagley value before December
10th pick
Now
32th pick
According to Chris Hayes
Kings GM submit this trade proposal to Hawks a few days ago
Bagley for John Collins
Buy Out Whiteside ……. that’s all I want to hear from Kings ……… BO now.
Rockets go after Bagley. Hire me. I’ll have you in playoffs next yr. HoopsRumors has my email lol.
Tbey dont need to buy out Whiteside. He is on a minimum contract. They can just release him. Couldn’t get a minimum contract from anyone but Sacramento, barely plays, and nobody wanted him in a trade, even at the minimum
Release him is a BO. Minimum or max they have to pay him to let him go. April 9 is last day a player can be added and be available for the playoffs. Barely plays is why I want him.
Fill Whiteside’s spot with who? Releasing him only makes sense with some player(s) in mind for that spot.
I think I mentioned Sacramento doing a good job of clearly targeting defensive help, with their last ranked defense. Once Woodard gets minutes, that side of the ball might look a lot different
About the Kings
If your hypothetically the 7 seed they are probably the scariest team RN to knock you off twice in a row outta SAS GSW MEM NO
Over 72 or 82 games they will find ways to lose and be a burden to nobody
They need to hit a home run with a new Coach like yesterday
Love the upside talent on this team, its the suits that need an upgrade
Considering the s**t show Divac left, McNair has accomplished a hell of a lot. With the weak bench he had, Walton has actually over-produced. I hope he gets one more year, one with a more normal training camp unless you find someone you love, because giving a weak roster and changing coaches every 1.5-2 years hasn’t been a great strategy so far.