Do the Kings have a Keegan Murray problem?

May 21, 2024, 10:42 AM

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 02: Keegan Murray #13 of the Sacramento Kings poses for a photo at...

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

The Sacramento Kings have two franchise centerpieces in De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, but how can the franchise make the leap to the next level?

After missing the NBA Playoffs by just one game, the Kings will head into the offseason looking to upgrade its roster–but how?

Sacramento has little cap room and won’t be a player for big-name free agents this summer outside of the franchise’s hopes to retain Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Malik Monk.

Regarding trading draft capital, the Kings are limited in which picks they can float in trade discussions due to the 2022 Kevin Huerter trade, which sent a protected first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks. Since Sacramento missed the playoffs and secured the 13th overall pick in the NBA Draft, the pick will now be conveyed in 2025 (if the Kings make the postseason).

That doesn’t mean that Sacramento will enter the summer without any assets, though. Huerter, Harrison Barnes, and more could be on the move if the right trade presents itself to Kings general manager Monte McNair.

Sacramento’s greatest asset is undoubtedly forward Keegan Murray, who emerged as a two-way threat in 2023-24 following an All-Rookie First Team season in 2022-23.

Murray, the fourth overall pick in the 2022 draft, averaged 15.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range over 77 games.

The Kings need to get better this summer. Can they make a notable roster move without including Murray in trade packages? Carmichael Dave dives into it all below:

Topics Discussed: Keegan Murray & his trade value

De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis need to be surrounded by more talent
Some big names could become available to the Kings if Keegan Murray is on the table
Sacramento doesn’t want to move Murray–neither does the fanbase
Dave says that most trades for All-Star talents “hurt a little bit”
Is this a problem of timing?
Are Kings fans overvaluing Murray?
If the Brooklyn Nets offered Mikal Bridges for Keegan Murray and picks, would you say no?

When is the next Sacramento Kings off-season date of interest?

The NBA Draft is now a two-night event.

Wednesday, June 26th, will act as the first night of the 2024 NBA Draft, where the Sacramento Kings will make their first-round selection (13th). The second round of the draft will be held on Thursday, June 27th, where the Kings will use its 45th overall pick.

Sacramento hasn’t had a first-round pick since 2022, when it selected Iowa product Keegan Murray with the fourth overall pick.

Stay locked into Sactown Sports for all of your Kings draft coverage, including player profiles, reports regarding pre-draft workouts, draft night coverage, and much more.

NBA Offseason Schedule