The Kings‘ 2021/22 season got off to a rough start and didn’t get any better from there. Sacramento became the first and only team to make an in-season coaching change in ’21/22, and Alvin Gentry‘s winning percentage (.369) after replacing Luke Walton was barely an improvement on Walton’s mark (.353).
The Kings made a major splash at the trade deadline when they sent 2020 first-round pick Tyrese Haliburton to Indiana in a six-player deal that landed two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis in Sacramento, and there was some brief hope that the acquisition of Sabonis could help push the team into play-in territory during the home stretch of the season.
However, the Kings continued to lose games after the trade and ultimately shut down Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox, neither of whom played in the final three weeks of the season due to injuries. The end result? Sacramento is now the holder of an ignominious NBA record, having missed the playoffs for a 16th consecutive season.
The Kings’ Offseason Plan:
The Kings will be laser-focused on ending their postseason drought in 2022/23 and general manager Monte McNair will certainly be feeling some pressure to make it happen, since he’s reportedly entering the final year of his contract.
Sacramento’s desire to be a playoff team raises some interesting questions about the No. 4 overall pick in the draft. With Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, and Paolo Banchero likely to come off the board in the top three, would the Kings target an older prospect who is considered more NBA-ready, such as forward Keegan Murray? Are they interested in rolling the dice on guard Jaden Ivey to create an electric offensive backcourt, even if it creates more questions about how their defense would hold up? Would they be willing to put that fourth overall pick in a trade for an impact veteran?
It’s a tricky spot for McNair. There’s certainly no guarantee that the Kings will be able to add a franchise player at No. 4, but it’s still such a valuable asset that they’d want to acquire a legitimate star if they were to trade it. Will a player of that caliber be out there this summer? If not, could the Kings consider a deal where they move down a few spots in the draft and acquire a starter-caliber veteran rather than a potential All-Star?
Whether they keep it or trade it, that No. 4 pick will be the Kings’ best bet to acquire impact talent, since they won’t have cap room available to make waves in free agency. Re-signing restricted free agent Donte DiVincenzo and using their mid-level exception on a rotation player could be the extent of Sacramento’s free agent moves.
If they do hang onto their lottery pick, there are some other ways the Kings could get involved in trade discussions.
Center Richaun Holmes looks like the most obvious trade chip on the roster — the four-year, $46.5MM contract he signed last summer seemed pretty team-friendly at the time, but Holmes struggled to find his niche following the acquisition of Sabonis and his stock has dipped a little over the last year. Still, he’s in his prime at age 28 and he should draw interest from teams in need of help at center.
The Kings will also have to decide whether they consider forward Harrison Barnes part of their long-term future. Barnes is a solid – but not spectacular – scorer and defender who is entering a contract year. His expiring $18.4MM deal would have positive value, but he’s also the sort of player who should fit well alongside Fox and Sabonis, so a possible contract extension shouldn’t be ruled out either.
Other non-core pieces on expiring contracts include Justin Holiday, Terence Davis, Maurice Harkless, and Alex Len. While there shouldn’t be any urgency to move any of those four, I imagine the Kings would be open to discussing any of them if rival teams inquire.
Of course, Sacramento has already made one of its biggest offseason decisions, announcing earlier this month that Warriors assistant Mike Brown will be the team’s next head coach. The Kings wanted a coach who had experience turning a lottery team into a playoff club. Brown technically fits that bill, having done so in Cleveland, but he had plenty of help from LeBron James in that instance — he’ll face a more significant challenge trying to repeat that feat in Sacramento without one of the NBA’s all-time greats on his roster.
Salary Cap Situation
Note: Our salary cap figures are based on the league’s latest projection ($122MM) for 2022/23.
Guaranteed Salary
De’Aaron Fox ($30,351,780)- Domantas Sabonis ($18,500,000)
- Harrison Barnes ($18,352,273)
- Richaun Holmes ($11,215,260)
- Justin Holiday ($6,292,440)
- Davion Mitchell ($4,833,600)
- Maurice Harkless ($4,564,980)
- Terence Davis ($4,000,000)
- Alex Len ($3,918,000)
- Total: $102,028,333
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- Trey Lyles ($2,625,000): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $2,625,000
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Chimezie Metu ($1,910,680) 1
- Total: $1,910,680
Restricted Free Agents
- Donte DiVincenzo ($6,602,272 qualifying offer / $14,027,490 cap hold): Bird rights
- Total (cap holds): $14,027,490
Two-Way Free Agents
- Neemias Queta ($1,616,044 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $1,616,044
Draft Picks
- No. 4 overall pick ($7,901,280)
- No. 37 overall pick (no cap hold)
- No. 49 overall pick (no cap hold)
- Total: $7,901,280
Extension-Eligible Players
Note: These are players who are either already eligible for an extension or will become eligible before the 2022/23 season begins.
- Harrison Barnes (veteran)
- Justin Holiday (veteran)
- Domantas Sabonis (veteran)
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Jeremy Lamb ($15,750,000 cap hold): Bird rights
- Josh Jackson ($6,506,955 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Damian Jones ($1,811,516 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Corey Brewer ($1,811,516 cap hold): Early Bird rights 2
- Total: $25,879,987
Offseason Cap Outlook
Accounting for their guaranteed salaries and the cap hold for their first-round pick, the Kings will have about $110MM on their books, putting them in position to be an over-the-cap team. They should be able to re-sign DiVincenzo to a fair contract and use their full $10MM+ mid-level exception without going into luxury-tax territory, if they so choose.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Mid-level exception: $10,349,000 3
- Bi-annual exception: $4,050,000 3
- Trade exception: $4,023,600
- Trade exception: $1,630,934
Footnotes
- Metu’s salary will become fully guaranteed after June 29.
- The cap hold for Brewer remain on the Kings’ books from a prior season because he hasn’t been renounced. He can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
- These are projected values.
Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post.
Trade up
Mitchell and 4th pick to get any of top 3 picks
Trade Holmes for a guy like Pat Bev
Can’t believe I’m saying this…agreed. Mitchell isn’t enough for a team to roll the dice and move back, but the Kings number one and unprotected first rounder next year for a swap with either Houston or Orlando would be interesting. Based on the Kings history, can’t see one of them not biting. Gets the kings a solid top three player to go along with Fox, Sabonis, Barnes, and a decent bench behind them. Move Barnes for a pick at the deadline if things aren’t working out.
Trade :
#4 Pick, Holmes to Toronto for 6-9 PF Pascal Siakam and their 2nd rnd pick #33
If the Top 3 goes as expected, I would love this idea as a Kings fan. Not sure the Raptors would agree
If this involves a Gobert trade the Raptors probably are interested. But giving up Sikam for Gobert would leave them pretty stale on offense.
Siakam is worth more. Borderline All-NBA. Holmes is an ignima.
I know Holmes isnt as good as Siakam but that is what the top 4 pick is for. Also, doesnt having Scotty Barnes and Anunoby make Siakam kind of redundant.
Holmes would work for the Raptors as their new starting center and they could draft Ivey or Sharp to get younger at guard.
They could use another back court scorer as Vanvleet and Trent Jr. are really their only decent guards right now and they kind of have a log jam of 6’8” forwards right now
You’re an ignima bro.
You are.
Other Moves that should be done : (In my opinion)
—————————————————————
Trade Harkless, (He doesn’t Score, Rebound, Blk Shots, Nothing)
Resign Jones & Trade Len (Seldom Scores, Seldom Rebounds, and doesn’t Blk Shots)
And why is Brewer still on the books ?? He hasn’t played in 2 seasons for the Kings
Pick Up Lyles Team Option
I never been a big fan of Fox. Yes he has speed and can score but they need somebody who can assist and play D. I would put him on the trading block and see if some team offers up a great trade.
I agree that Fox would be the smart piece to move,
however, I think that the King’s front office knows they are toast if they don’t make the playoffs this year so they will probably make an ill-fated win-now move for another starter to pair with Fox and Sabonis and probably still miss the play-in.
The west will be a tough crack next year. GSW, Suns, NO, Mavs, Grizzlies, Nuggets should be top 6. Clippers, Jazz, T-wolves next 3 so that leaves Spurs, kings, Lakers, Blazers up for a play in spot. OKC and Rockets could get some much needed draft picks. That is one tough confrence.
Fox for Randle or Fox and Barnes for Randle, Burks & Rose.
Draft Ivey.
That makes the Kings worse.
Kings need an upgrade at SG, SF, and youth at PF.
I think you trade Barnes, Holmes and Harkless to the Hornets for Hayward and Bouknight as a start. You take Murray. Now they at least have a balanced and potential for a good starting 5 if Bouknight and Murray develop. And Mitchell is your 6th man. They have Holiday and Len as serviceable bench pieces and they over pay some dudes in FA to fill out the rest of their bench.
I mean the Sabonis trade is a head scratcher bc that is more of a win now move. But maybe they extend him. We know they aren’t going to attract any mid tier FAs without overpaying and they’ve already upset White Donte so he’s gone.
I Wish the Kings would opt for this kind of approach but sadly i think their is little chance of this happening.
This front office knows they will be fired if they don’t make the playoffs this year so they will most likely trade the pick for a starting-caliber player to try and win now again and probably still finish outside the top 10 in the West
Of coarse we are in a Play to win Now. The fans are sick and tired of hearing we are Drafting for the future. we have been hearing that same BS since 2005 and what has it got us ?? No playoffs in 16 years. Yes, Yes, the ole revolving Coach mess. we know that, and we agree, but Fans are not going to wait another 4, 5, 6 years before this team sniffs any playoffs, because they want to draft a player that isn’t ready to contribute now.
We’ll Halliburton for 9 years or Sabonis for 2, maybe 7 if he accepts an extension.
Draft Mathurin or Chet at #4, whichever is still there. Trade Richaun & DDV (s&t) to Charlotte for Mase Plumlee & Bouknight. Trade Harrison Barnes back to Dallas Bertans, Josh Green & a future 1st. Try to sign both Martin twins with the MLE if possible. If not go hard after Gary Payton II with the MLE… DFox/Davion/JHoliday/Chet/Domas with GPII, Bouknight, TDavis, Josh Green, Bertans, Harkless, Plumlee, Len off the bench is a nice group that would def get more Ws than they got this past season. Harkless or Bertans could start until Chet is ready. If they’re looking good into Feb they could upgrade atvthe deadline by attaching future picks to guys like Holiday &/or Harkless
You can’t sign and trade a player in the same trade has to be separate deals.
I’m sure they could find a way to swap Bouknight/Plumlee for Holmes/DiVincenzo without much difficulty
Why would we want Plumlee, Holmes is better than him.
Plumlee fits Sac’s need better. He has less baggage. He’s more experienced. He’s a better passer & ball handler. He requires less touches & is more willing to be a mentor to a guy like Chet compared to Richaun who would moreso be competing with the rookie. Also the fact that Richaun is “better” than Mase is what could convince Charlotte to give up a recent top10 guy w/ 3yrs left on his rookie contract for DDV.
Trade HB for Gallinari. Gives them more shooting.
Take Sharpe over Ivey.
Trade Holmes and a protected top 10 pick for Christian Wood.
Then go out and overpay for Bruce Brown or Lu Dort.
PG Fox/Mitchell
SG Sharpe/Davis/Holiday
SF Brown OR Dort/Stanley Johnson
PF Sabonis/Gallinari
C Wood/Len/
You acquire a defensive first guy in Brown, big man shooting in Wood and Gallinari. You need to stay the course in Sacramento. They’re not a year away from contention. Look at what Phoenix did. They built with draft and then when they struck they went out and got Crowder and CP3. That’s the blueprint they should model themselves after. It gives them salary cap flexibility after Gallinari is off the books and Wood while they develop Fox and Sharpe together.
Win total next year would be around 40-43 games with that group. Think Wolves but obviously with lesser talent.
Trade pick #4, Rich Holmes and a future first to OKC for the second overall pick and Derrick Favours.
OKC gets to upgrade at centre with someone younger, and gets to add a future first which they live to do. Kings get the second overall pick which I hope is Chet Holmgren, if not take Jabari Smith.
Sign Malik Monk in FA
He played college ball with Fox at Kentucky and they were great together. He finally found his way in the NBA, and shouldn’t cost to much in FA.
Thirdly try be smart filling out the bench.
You have two second round picks 37 and 49. I’d take Trevor Keels and Micheal Foster.
To finish FA, cut Harkless, sign IT and Kevin Knox.
Meaning you line up:
1. Fox. Mitchell. IT
2. Monk. Davis. Keels
3. Hayward. Holiday. Knox
4. Sabonis. Lyles. Foster
5. Holmgren. Len. Favours
Good mix of young guys and vets. Fox and his mate Monk in the backcourt. With Mitchell IT Davis and Keels behind them pushing for minutes. Hayward and Sabonis start at SF and PF but expect them to move to PF and C to accommodate Justin Holiday when he comes on. Holmgren is the starting Center and can learn a lot from Sabonis skill wise.
If SAC can wind up with Holmgren, then this may be their last lottery for awhile. On paper, he shouldn’t fall past #2; but, if teams think he’s risky, then there may be a trade up possibility for them from #4, and if it’s at all palatable, they should jump at it. Holmgren-Sabonis will give them a special identity, which they can build around, in the same way that adding Mobley to Allen did for CLE.
McNair needs to go back on the medication he was on when he pulled off the Sabonis trade. Don’t worry about winning a trade, winning draft night, or otherwise winning the hearts and minds of 2k’ers everywhere. Don’t worry about 2nd round picks and backup centers. Be the rarest thing in NBA FO’s these days, a team builder. There’s potentially a foundation piece that fits. Get him.