After being inactive for two games last weekend due to a minor knee issue, Kings guard Keon Ellis has missed two more contests this week as a DNP-CD. Still, that hasn’t diminished league-wide interest in Ellis on the trade market.
League and team sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic that there are approximately 10 teams in the mix for Ellis, with a deal expected to happen on or before the February 5 trade deadline. Sacramento is seeking a late first-round pick for the fourth-year guard, per Amick’s sources.
While the Kings have no shortage of trade candidates on their roster, Ellis is the one who has generated the most interest to this point, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic said on Thursday. Vecenie observes that the 26-year-old has a limited offensive skill set and doesn’t have the size necessary to stop bigger wings and forwards, but his energetic backcourt defense and solid outside shot provide real value.
Here are a few more items of interest from Amick’s latest NBA rumor round-up:
- The Warriors haven’t shown any interest in veteran forward DeMar DeRozan to this point, a Kings source tells Amick. DeRozan has been cited as a possible target for Golden State in the wake of Jimmy Butler‘s season-ending ACL tear, but it sounds like that’s just speculation right now and isn’t consistent with the options the Warriors are actually pursuing.
- After reporting in December that the Wizards, Suns, and Bulls have had interest in Domantas Sabonis in the past, Amick reiterated that point today. However, he acknowledges that the Raptors appear to be the most legitimate suitor for the Kings center at this point. Toronto has been connected to Sabonis by multiple reporters throughout the season, with Jake Fischer stating on Thursday that the Raptors maintain their interest in the big man.
- Like Ian Begley of SNY.tv, Amick hears that the Knicks haven’t engaged in any trade talks about big man Karl-Anthony Towns, despite one report to the contrary. The expectation, Amick writes, is that New York will focus on getting the most out of Towns in Mike Brown‘s system rather than looking to move him when his value has dipped a little.
I’m not necessarily a DeMar DeRozan fan. I’ve bashed him in the past for not taking Toronto further in the playoffs when teamed with Kyle Lowry for all those years. To me he was never a championship caliber shooting guard.
But now at this point in his career and the Warriors needs, I like him for Golden State.
They need guys who can get a bucket and take some pressure off of Curry. DeRozan is that guy right now even years later and slowing down a bit.
DeRozan is a good player but if you are looking to contend for titles, he’s not that guy. He’s a hooper but a guy who doesn’t show up in the spring time when it counts, Warriors can do better.
DeM has been in playoffs for 63 gms in 7 yrs avg. 37.6 mins.
I’d say you can’t show up more than that. …..
Avg 22 pts a game, 5 reb, 4 ast, 42% FG, 85% FT
Everybody can’t be MJ. Raptors never had a Title team. Or a contending team with DeM.
Nothing that warriors do will get them past the second round. Rebuild would be better.
DeRoza’s hit next year on payroll is not worth it for warriors unless its for Green or green included in the trade.
Derozen makes more sense for clippers.
Quickley and Poetl with a first for Sabonis and Ellis.
It feels like you need to add more picks just to get teams to take on those two contracts, thats over $55M in bad contracts a year and none are expiring.
Derozan doesn’t give you defense like jimmy.
The warriors should look to improve from within. Podz needs to take more ball handling off of Steph. I feel like Steve Kerr’s biggest mistake was labeling podz as a player who is much better off the ball.. I mean, why even say that? Warriors Basketball is dynamic and there are going to be situations in which podz needs to initiate the offense, so why cut his confidence? Right now the team needs Stephs scoring so who’s going to take on the ball handling? it can’t all be dray and steph again now that himmy is out.
This team really could have enough even without himmy, especially if Kuminga is pumped up and making the correct reads, but they have to reinvent some offensive responsibilities. Steph was just bringing the ball up and chucking Hail Mary shots against the Fkin Mavs man.
Watching D’Angelo Russell whisper stuff to Steph and klaytism dancing on the bench while his team closes his ex team out is infuriating on so many levels. Where is the justice?
The only time I’ve seen “Jonathan Kuminga,” and “making the correct reads,” in the same sentence is when I read,
Jonathan Kuminga does not know how to make the correct reads.
I really don’t understand this Ellis situation at all. Christie was a defensive minded guard and the kings are better with Ellis on the floor.
Only player with a demand ….
Happily take Ellis to Boston for peanuts if heading that way.
Sabonis is a nice for Bulls or Raptors. Just not at center to me. I would love to have him next to Mitch. Instead of Towns on team ….
Towns value is down. Cause of all the NY media retreading stories about him. I just don’t understand how knowing you are going with him. You don’t add a player or two. To help him look better on D. Mitch isn’t the one.
Towns isn’t going anywhere this year. So I hope they get him help. Great to see Landry back. Just take your time to get stronger. I expect the Knicks to make a trade. McBride to Rockets for DFS might not be bad. As long as they take Yabusele lols. Knicks have to do something about Towns and the bench this TD. Have to !!!!!!