Moving Zach LaVine‘s maximum-salary contract without attaching a draft pick as a sweetener could be a challenge for the Kings, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, who suggests that Sacramento general manager Scott Perry views the team’s draft assets as a valuable part of a potential rebuild and isn’t inclined to move them.
With that in mind, Amick suggests there’s a “very real chance” that LaVine and other Kings veteran trade candidates, including Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan, stay in Sacramento beyond this season’s trade deadline. As Amick points out, Perry has preached patience as he attempts to turn the Kings’ roster into one capable of contending.
League sources tell The Athletic that Sabonis has “heeded that call” for patience and is prepared to remain in Sacramento for the foreseeable future. The Wizards, Suns, and Bulls are among the teams that have had interest in Sabonis in the past and could still be suitors, according to Amick, but like LaVine, the veteran center won’t be easy to move due in part to his sizable contract.
Outside of the Kings’ veteran stars, guard Keon Ellis continues to be the trade candidate who holds the most intrigue around the NBA, but the team hasn’t ruled out the possibility of hanging onto Ellis and working out an extension when he becomes eligible for one later this season, Amick writes. While that may be the case, I have to think that Ellis would have a more consistent role in Sacramento’s rotation if that path is really the team’s preferred outcome.
Here are several more trade-related items of interest from around the Western Conference:
- A team source confirmed to The Athletic that the Timberwolves have interest in Bulls guard Coby White, as was reported on Thursday. However, because White will likely be in line for a significant raise in the offseason, the Wolves may view him as a potential rental, which would make them less inclined to give up the sort of return Chicago would be seeking, Amick explains.
- While many NBA observers were anticipating a fire sale in Dallas following the Mavericks‘ slow start, one league source who spoke to Amick said there have been some indications that the Mavs are still mulling the possibility of pursuing upgrades on the current core this season rather than becoming a deadline seller. As Amick points out, Dallas is technically in a play-in spot right now at No. 10 in the West, so if the team expects to get Kyrie Irving back from his ACL tear in the coming months, the idea of making a postseason push isn’t outlandish.
- While the Warriors have long had interest wing Trey Murphy III, Amick has gotten “mixed” feedback on what the Pelicans think of Jonathan Kuminga, who would likely be a salary-matching piece in any Golden State offer for Murphy.
- Meanwhile, while Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area tweeted earlier this week that the Suns are still a potential suitor for Kuminga, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 reports (via Twitter) that Phoenix’s level of interest in the Warriors forward has dropped since the offseason. Part of what appealed to the Suns when they considered Kuminga during the offseason was the idea of getting him on a four-year contract, Gambadoro explains, so acquiring him on his current short-term deal holds less appeal.
Pretty sure the Bulls aren’t trading White as a rental. If they trade him it will be as a future piece for somebody or they’ll probably let his deal run out and try and re sign him. As for him being a PG that’s a big fat no. However like with Williams the Bulls do love pounding square pegs into round holes for years until it starts to sink in.The last guy you want handling the ball on your last possession to win or tie the game is him. Take the last shot? Fine. Find an open lane-Turnover-Game over.
We’re running it back Mike!!!
Coby/Ayo/Vu
LFGGGGGGG
He isn’t a true PG, I agree. He is a combo guard and can handle the ball. AE is a ball dominant guy. Cause their offense is built off the attention he gets. Imo Coby can help there cause he can shoot and he is another ball handler. Coby will get better looks playing alongside AE. I think it’s a great move for TWolves …..
Personally I like Giddey and Coby backcourt.
Unfortunately for Kings fans they are stuck with a Zach’s contract unless they get another bad contract coming back and sending out a FRP.
As for Kuminga the media will throw almost every team against the wall and see what sticks. Not expecting much but a player that will fit the warriors better than Kuminga.
i don’t see the Pelicans trading Murphy when they have others on the team that they need to get rid of first.
Mavs can hope for Irving coming back from injury but that is not the type of injury you want to rush back in an older player.
Kuminga for Murphy is a fantasy at this point. Murphy is a legit little star, Kuminga is a reclamation project. Let me ask you this: what current or former NBA player do you see Kuminga playing like, best case scenario? What kind of NBA player could Kuminga become if he fulfilled his potential?
Best case would be something like Rashard Lewis IMO: link to basketball-reference.com
Oubre as of now the type of player i see Kuminga being. Inconsistent but can be very good offensively but not a high IQ player. like I said Murphy is staying in NO so its a fantasy unless somebody over pays NO for him.
Richard Lewis had a stroke Kuminga probably wont be able to get to. Not consistently anyways. His shot has a lot of leg into it like Jason Richardson.
I think you are right re Lewis. Who could Kuminga emulate then?
Antonio McDyess. He had the advantage of being 6-10 but he was a jumping jack super athlete. But after his leg injury, he developed a wonderful mid range jumper and skill set.
It might behoove Jonathan Kuminga to give the man a call.
You know dubs shoulda took McDyess. Joe Smith looked like the real deal at Maryland but played without that relentlessness he showed in college.
McDyess was such a wildcard, and Joe Smith was more of a refined sure thing but low ceiling.
What an outright horrendous draft for the Warriors.
I was actually quoted in the newspaper the next day after the Warriors Nuggets preseason game at the San Diego sports Arena.
I did not like what I saw as a Warriors fan.
I think Richard Jeffersons game would be a good example for him. Jefferson was rarely the featured guy even on any given possession. He had all the skills and athleticism but learned to play within team structure and made his impact anywhere it was needed. Especially defensively. Kuminga has more Raw athleticism but I think the combination of humility and grit would be a realistic goal. As a fan I would feel good if that was an image of his game goals. Highly unlikely he sees himself as a role player.
That’s an excellent proposal. I don’t think Kuminga benefited from the bb education that RJ got at AZ. Nothing impresses on the mind like a coach yelling at you to do something you should be doing, especially at a young age.
A team could see Kuminga’s contract as expiring one as next yr is team option.
Yes, and the Warriors would take back a guy with two years left or something like that, but would improve team and the roster and their prospects going forward. It would be a great chance to get out from under a guy for a team not looking so great right now.
I think that was the whole point of the Warriors holding to their principles and not giving two years guaranteed or three years guaranteed.
Zach has a PO next yr. Kings can just buy him out next year. And he can go where he wants. Not so bad now.
Kings are still paying Mike Brown and will soon be paying Doug Christie when they fire him, if you keep paying for people who no longer work for you the bucket of money eventually runs dry.
The Giannis + Kuminga + Draymond trade will have SEVERAL more teams and MANY more players involved. Entire teams could rebuild or reload their teams with this one deal, within this singular trade!
Colby White is a stat padding trash can. No thanks.
White’s career VORP is 1.5 in 7 years. The ultimate stat padder.
Jimmy Butler has about that much in 21 games this year. lol
Kings should try to contact OKC and pull on heart strings for a Russ reunion. That is their only chance at getting a few 2nd rounders. Derozan is 36 with multiple years on deal hard sell. Sabonis is not a rim protecting big, he needs a strong defensive team maybe the Heat with Bam by him but still hard to move Sabonis. Lavine will accept that player option so maybe they can move him as an expiring in off season.
Thunders would not have won with Russ on the team last yr. He’s not about winning.
That was last year. He wouldn’t even be playing with them just collecting a ring. Only player I can see OKC trading is Dieng he is on last year and never plays. Makes more than Russ and it would save money. Besides that wouldn’t trade anyone else on the team.
Let Kyrie heal and have a full season. Thrusting him into this hot mess is what injured him in the first place.
Pelicans need third team to take Kuminga?
Pelicans Positional Needs and Outlook
Center: There is ongoing debate about Queen’s defensive capabilities and whether he needs to find a more defined role to succeed long-term.
Guards/Forwards: The Pelicans have several capable guards and forwards, including Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, and Jordan Poole. They recently added rookie point guard Jeremiah Fears, who has been given an extended look as a starter.
As a Kings Fan, I’m sick n tried of hearing be patient. We’ve been patient enough, for 40+ yrs. The GM needs to Shut that Hole under his nose and do something or Resign, one or the other !! NOT wait til the Trade deadline., Do it now so any new players have a chance to gel.