Report: Kings dangling Kevin Huerter & Trey Lyles in trade talks

Dec 2, 2024, 10:06 AM | Updated: 10:07 am

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Following a lackluster 9-12 start to the 2024-25 regular season, there is a growing sense of urgency surrounding the Sacramento Kings.

The Kings have lost seven of their past nine contests as they navigate an increasingly difficult strength of schedule and injuries to several key pieces, causing many to wonder if moves are on the horizon for the ‘Beam Team.’

While Sacramento will surely avoid a complete rebuild this early in the season, general manager Monte McNair will begin canvassing the league for potential deals before the Kings dig deeper into the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

McNair and his staff are often active in discussions with other teams around the league, but each loss adds another layer of pressure to the team, fanbase, and last but certainly not least, team owner Vivek Ranadivé, who has looked anything but pleased while seated courtside at Golden 1 Center this season.

With injuries piling up early, McNair signed forwards Doug McDermott and Jae Crowder to deals in hopes of beefing up Sacramento’s thin forward depth, but it’s likely that the Kings will need more reinforcements to aid a starting lineup that plays nearly 40 minutes on a nightly basis.

Story: Who are the top trade candidates for the 2024-25 season? Reporting on all 30 NBA teams, including intel on Brandon Ingram, Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, Walker Kessler, Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Dennis Schroder, and more on @hoopshype. https://t.co/2RHOeTd5il

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 2, 2024

Although the duo are currently rehabbing injuries, Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles are players to watch as McNair scours the trade market.

According to HoopsHype‘s Michael Scotto, the Kings are expected to dangle Huerter and Lyles in trade talks ahead of the February 6th trade deadline. Sacramento included Huerter’s name in several potential deals over the past year, including the team’s offer for Utah Jazz star forward Lauri Markannen, but no deals came to fruition.

It’s been a rollercoaster Kings tenure for Huerter, who posted career-highs across the board during the 2022-23 season as Sacramento snapped a 17-year playoff drought.

Over the past two seasons, the Maryland product has struggled with consistency from beyond the arc and holding his own on the defensive end, causing head coach Mike Brown to make several starting lineup changes, with Keon Ellis and now Malik Monk taking over the role from Huerter.

Huerter ($16.8 million this season and $17.9 million in 2025-26) will be the Kings’ primary trade chip, while Lyles’ expiring contract ($8 million) can also be used to help facilitate a deal for a $20+ million salary.

While Huerter and Lyles’ names in trade talks aren’t surprising, Scotto also reports that executives around the league are monitoring whether the Kings will be willing to part with their future draft picks, rookie guard Devin Carter and third-year forward Keegan Murray.

All signs point to Sacramento being willing to deal its future picks if the deal was right, as was the case in the proposed trade for Markkanen during the offseason. As for Murray, the perception around the Kings is that they are still not looking to move off of the 24-year-old, even amid a rough start to the regular season.

Murray has not progressed on the offensive end as many had hoped he would following a record-breaking rookie season, but the fact remains that Sacramento is currently playing with one true forward on the roster, and it’s Murray.

The time to trade Murray–or even hit the reset button on this group–may arrive someday, but it won’t be in early December with the Kings still 3.5 games behind a top-six spot in the Western Conference standings.

More Kings coverage from Sactown Sports

The Sacramento Kings entered play on Sunday night having allowed their opponents to shoot 38.6 percent from three-point range this season (29th in the NBA).

In another close game that came down to the wire, the Kings’ poor three-point defense continued to rear its ugly head during a 127-125 loss to the San Antonio Spurs at Golden 1 Center.

San Antonio drilled a season-high 23 triples, which passed their previous high of 22 that was established on November 11th–also against the Sacramento defense.

The Kings’ early-season woes have put them three games under the .500 mark (9-12), dropping them to 12th in the Western Conference standings.

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

Sacramento will face the up-and-coming Houston Rockets at Golden 1 Center on Tuesday night.

Last season, the Kings were swept by the Rockets, losing all three games in the regular-season head-to-head series.

Be sure to catch all of the Kings vs. Rockets action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage starting at 2:00 PM PT on The Drive Guys before action tips off at 7:00 PM PT from downtown Sacramento.