Report: Kings make three players available, eye Siakam in trade talks
Jan 5, 2024, 10:39 AM | Updated: 10:58 am
(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
It’s hard to believe that we are nearly within one month of the NBA’s February 8th trade deadline, but the season of dealing is near.
There has been no shortage of buzz surrounding the Sacramento Kings’ potential trade deadline plans, though that buzz has primarily been rhetorical chatter and trade machine creations on social media–until now.
On Friday morning, Yahoo! Sports’ NBA reporter Jake Fischer published a new report that the Kings have made forward Harrison Barnes, guard Kevin Huerter, and defensive specialist Davion Mitchell available on the trade market as they eye roster upgrades.
Along with the report of Sacramento’s intention to gauge the value of Barnes, Huerter, and Mitchell, Fischer also relayed that the Kings continue to show interest in acquiring Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam.
Latest NBA trade notebook @YahooSports centers on New York, Atlanta, Indiana, Sacramento, and Detroit; Pascal Siakam, Dejounte Murray, Zach LaVine, and much more: https://t.co/uEqi06C2Ha
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) January 5, 2024
The Kings have been calling opposing front offices to gauge the value of packaging Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Not exactly the youthful tandem that came back from New York, and Sacramento won’t consider moving sophomore sharpshooter Keegan Murray, sources said.
But Sacramento has third-year guard Davion Mitchell available for trade, and the Kings hold future picks beyond this year’s first-rounder owed to Atlanta to help facilitate any deal before next month’s deadline. Huerter, it should be noted, was recently moved to Mike Brown’s bench in exchange for Chris Duarte.
There’s a chance Sacramento makes the best real offer for Siakam in the end.
More on the Kings’ pursuit of Pascal Siakam
As we have recently seen following the trade of OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks, Toronto is intent on building for the future when it comes to trading off players like Siakam.
The Raptors brought back forward RJ Barrett and guard Immanuel Quickley in return for Anunoby and will likely look to bring back a similar haul for Siakam, who–like Anunoby–is set to become a free agent at the end of this season.
By adding Huerter, who is just 25 years old with two years remaining on his deal after this year, Toronto could add a shooter to its lineup that features Barrett, Quickley, and Scottie Barnes, while adding a veteran presence in Harrison Barnes.
It’s no secret that Sacramento has been searching for answers on the defensive end. Last season, shortcomings on defense had a huge hand during a hard-fought seven-game playoff series against Golden State.
The Kings currently sit at 21st in opponent points per game (117.2) and 16th in defensive rating (115.9) as head coach Mike Brown searches for internal improvements. One of those recent attempts at finding improvements has been the demotion of Kevin Huerter to a reserve role, while Chris Duarte has been inserted into the starting lineup.
Huerter, who has struggled on the defensive end during his time in Sacramento, has also been unable to find consistency from three-point land (33%) after setting career highs in nearly every offensive category during 2022-23.
Brown, who has been hesitant to make starting lineup changes during his time with the Kings, has ripped the band-aid off by sending Huerter to the bench, meaning that there could be more changes on the horizon.
Any trade for Siakam and his $37 million salary would have to include Barnes ($17 million) and Hueter ($15 million), while the Raptors could have interest in a young, controllable player like Mitchell.
Michell, who has fallen in and out of Brown’s rotation due to inconsistencies on the offensive end, is set to enter restricted free agency after the 2024-25 season, meaning that the Raptors would be able to match any offer that the Baylor product might sign on the market.
Now is the time for Toronto to cash in on Siakam, who is expected to test the waters in free agency, especially after losing Fred VanVleet to the Houston Rockets last summer instead of moving him during the past trade deadline.
Sacramento has been protective of this current group that has remained largely intact since the start of last season, but push is coming to shove when it comes to the Kings’ glaring weaknesses.
Siakam would give Brown a versatile, athletic forward that can slide next to Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray in the front court, especially when you factor in the 29-year-old’s 6’8, 230-pound frame and 7’3 wingspan.
Trading Barnes, who has been in a Kings uniform since the 2018-19 season, Huerter, and Mitchell would be a tough pill to swallow for some, but it could be a necessary roll of the dice as Sacramento hopes to insert itself in the mix for NBA Finals contention.
Right now, the Kings are a good team–but they have work to do before they can be mentioned in the same breath as teams like the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets.
Could Siakam be the piece that Sacramento general manager Monte McNair has been looking for?
When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
Sacramento’s four-game homestand will continue on Friday night when the new-look Toronto Raptors come to town.
Toronto recently acquired forward RJ Barrett and guard Immanuel Quickly from the New York Knicks in return for two-way star OG Anunoby in a move that has given the Raptors a new young core to build around.
Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Raptors coverage, beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from Golden 1 Center.
Upcoming Schedule
- Friday, January 5th – Sacramento Kings vs. Toronto Raptors – 7:00 PM PST
- Sunday, January 7th – Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 3:00 PM PST
- Tuesday, January 9th – Sacramento Kings @ Detroit Pistons – 4:00 PM PST
- Wednesday, January 10th – Sacramento Kings @ Charlotte Hornets – 4:00 PM PST
- Friday, January 12th – Sacramento Kings @ Philadelphia 76ers – 4:30 PM PST
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