Official 2025 Trade Deadline Discussion

[codydaze]

Now that the deadline is over, let's hand out grades.

Out:
De'Aaron Fox
Kevin Huerter
Jordan McLaughlin
Alex Len
Colby Jones

In:
Zach Lavine
Jonas Valanciunas
Jake LaRavia
2027 SA 1st
2031 MIN 1st
2 Seconds (? I think that's what we ended up netting. Maybe more with the fake 2025 CHA 1st)

[LightTheBeam]

Was getting ready to post in Trade Thread, like this idea.

So the bad, good, and okay.
Losing Fox sucks, but we had no choice. Wish we picked a better direction, but at least we have a few picks to start our stock pile.

Jonas should be a huge upgrade to Len, but realistically doesn't play defense.

LaRavia was my favorite pickup of the deadline, but unfortunately its a rental which absolutely sucks. His 4th year got declined, meaning we can only offer him 5 a year. maybe he falls in love here and we give him another 1 year deal, then extend him if it works out. He's the kind of guy I've been begging us to take a chance on, just sucks that special circumstances.

Realistically team needs to bench one of LaVine/DeRozan while starting Keon. Then a bench of LaVine/Derozan - LaRavia - Lyles - JVal would actually be one of the best in the league. And we've already seen the team performs great with keon starting.

[codydaze]

I think I'm sitting at a B-. I think for the direction of staying competitive we seem to have chosen, this was a decent return. I don't think our ceiling has changed too much, maybe slightly elevated with the extra depth we got but I still see second round exit as best case scenario. I really like Jake LaRavia but it sucks that it sounds like it would be pretty difficult to re-sign him. Val is pretty solid, I would have preferred Rob Williams but any playable size is better than what we had. Zach Lavine should be okay but I just don't trust Malik as a full time PG, I think committing him to this role was one of the bigger mistakes of the deadline.

Grade dips to a B- because it isn't the direction I would have chosen but I do think we did okay for that chosen route. We still have never fully committed to a full rebuild and this would have been a great draft to start it.

[codydaze]

Also, two roster spots (up to three) need to be filled. Chances we convert Isaac Jones to a standard deal. I'd like to go after Reggie Jackson and Mo Bamba on the buyout market. Call me crazy but I'm actually interested in Ben Simmons quite a bit too.

[LightTheBeam]

Also, two roster spots (up to three) need to be filled. Chances we convert Isaac Jones to a standard deal. I'd like to go after Reggie Jackson and Mo Bamba on the buyout market. Call me crazy but I'm actually interested in Ben Simmons quite a bit too.

Posted this on Reddit, and got a ton of good reactions.

Brogdon
Simmons
Smart
Brown
Tre Jones

If we could land 1 of those 5 guys, it changes a lot. But if we are being real, none will come to Sac.

[codydaze]

Also, two roster spots (up to three) need to be filled. Chances we convert Isaac Jones to a standard deal. I'd like to go after Reggie Jackson and Mo Bamba on the buyout market. Call me crazy but I'm actually interested in Ben Simmons quite a bit too.

Posted this on Reddit, and got a ton of good reactions.

Brogdon
Simmons
Smart
Brown
Tre Jones

If we could land 1 of those 5 guys, it changes a lot. But if we are being real, none will come to Sac.

A lot of teams are out of the running for some of those guys since anyone over the 1st apron isn't allowed to sign buyout guys who were on deals over the non tax MLE or something like that. So chances go up for some of those guys but we need to start winning some more to be more attractive.

[LightTheBeam]

Also, two roster spots (up to three) need to be filled. Chances we convert Isaac Jones to a standard deal. I'd like to go after Reggie Jackson and Mo Bamba on the buyout market. Call me crazy but I'm actually interested in Ben Simmons quite a bit too.

Posted this on Reddit, and got a ton of good reactions.

Brogdon
Simmons
Smart
Brown
Tre Jones

If we could land 1 of those 5 guys, it changes a lot. But if we are being real, none will come to Sac.

A lot of teams are out of the running for some of those guys since anyone over the 1st apron isn't allowed to sign buyout guys who were on deals over the non tax MLE or something like that. So chances go up for some of those guys but we need to start winning some more to be more attractive.

I thought it's just second apron that can't sign those guys? So who does that leave in play for these guys.. Us, LAC, Houston, Memphis, Indiana, Philly, OKC, SAS, Orlando, Detroit? If that's the case a few of those teams are stocked up heavily on pgs.

Slot any of those guys into our backup pg role and I actually really like the direction. I'd bench DeRozan, but seems unlikely. So let's bench LaVine. Monk/Keon 4-0 starting together. Add a guy like Smart

Monk - Keon - Derozan - Keegan - Sabonis
Smart - LaVine - LaRavia - Lyles - JVal

Suddenly we would have by far the best bench in the league. Great mix of scoring, shooting, and even some defense.

[OxAndFox]

I give the deadline a C+

Love the LaRavia pick up. He was one of the guys that I was thinking about. But get this guys & gals. Monte traded for a guy that is over 6'6 and not a center. I can't believe I just said that. THE SACRAMENTO KINGS ADDED A PLAYER OVER 6'6 THAT ISN'T A CENTER!!

[BoogieTime]

Overall Monte does the most without overpaying

[City of Trees]

Only two big men average more than 36 mpg: Jokic and Sabonis. Valanciunas makes too much sense for several reasons already mentioned.

I give trading for Valanciunas an A


Fox wanted out. Dropped his trade value by presenting himself as a rental to the trading market. Using Fox to get off Heurter, add some picks, and Lavine isn't terrible given the situation Fox put the team in.

I give trading Fox a D. While Fox made it clear he wouldn't be back, the Front office had years to improve the roster, not doing so led to Fox's wandering eye. The Kings front office must own it. Lavine being a good player is my only reason this isn't an F


Trading for the Memphis kid was a good move. Can't complain about Monte taking a flyer on a roster weakness with a young player. I'll give it a B-


Overall grade: C+ to B-. If Lavine flops my overall grade tanks to an F

[OxAndFox]

This is why my grade of a C+ was generous.

PG:
SG: Lavine/Monk/DDR/Ellis/Carter
SF: Keegan/LaRavia
PF: Lyles
C: Sabonis/Val

That's the depth chart. Players playing out of position everywhere.
Midgets R Us

Monk 6′ 3″
Ellis 6′ 3″
Carter 6′ 3″
Lavine 6′ 5″
DDR 6'6"
LaRavia 6′ 7″
Keegan 6′ 8″
Lyles 6′ 9″
Sabonis 6'10''
Val 6′11″

[ecuhus1981]

Nets fan here, I come in peace.

I know you guys value Keon Ellis highly, even though he's not starting. Do you know how your front office will approach his contract situation this offseason?

IIRC, Ellis has a team option for the 25-26 season. However, the Kings can negotiate with him this offseason before the free agency period opens, in case they want to give him an extension. I think they can only pay him up to the nontaxpayer MLE though, since his current deal is a minimum.

The Kings could of course choose to keep him on his current deal next season. But if they do, Keon will be an unrestricted FA in 2026. Obviously, the guard rotation is pretty crowded, and expensive.

Would SAC entertain a trade of Ellis this summer, to get value for him before he becomes cost prohibitive? Or try to extend a homegrown developmental success story, IF he'll agree to ~4yrs, $55mil? He might make way more in 2026 from a team with capspace.

I would love Ellis in Brooklyn, but I wanted to see how realistic it was to keep tabs on him.

[OxAndFox]

Nets fan here, I come in peace.

I know you guys value Keon Ellis highly, even though he's not starting. Do you know how your front office will approach his contract situation this offseason?

IIRC, Ellis has a team option for the 25-26 season. However, the Kings can negotiate with him this offseason before the free agency period opens, in case they want to give him an extension. I think they can only pay him up to the nontaxpayer MLE though, since his current deal is a minimum.

The Kings could of course choose to keep him on his current deal next season. But if they do, Keon will be an unrestricted FA in 2026. Obviously, the guard rotation is pretty crowded, and expensive.

Would SAC entertain a trade of Ellis this summer, to get value for him before he becomes cost prohibitive? Or try to extend a homegrown developmental success story, IF he'll agree to ~4yrs, $55mil? He might make way more in 2026 from a team with capspace.

I would love Ellis in Brooklyn, but I wanted to see how realistic it was to keep tabs on him.

Think you will find people here value Keon a whole lot more than the franchise does TBH.
I am still of the opinion, and I know there are some that agree and some that disagree, they are keeping Keon's minutes lower than they should be to try and get him on a longer term contract this summer, like the one you have suggested.

Ok. You got me going on Keon so I will add another post below.

[OxAndFox]

He (Keon) should be the teams' starting 2 without question and with Keon being 25 and a starting calibre guard I wouldn't be surprised if he asks to be moved on this off season as it doesn't look like the team will be ridding themselves of Lavine or DDR, and even if they do and then get a true PG, Monk probably slots back in. So for Keon's career he honestly needs to take control of his situation this summer. The Kings have mismanaged him terribly and it's just lucky Doug has allowed him to play and also go into his bag a little bit on offense.
IMO he would be a 10ppg, shooting over 40% from deep and locking up the oppo best guards, starting 2 on a championship quality team. Think KCP for Denver.

Look back over the recent past championship winners and they all have defensive 2s, almost. Well they're either defenders or superstars.

24 - Derrick White - Keon not on his level offensively.
23 - KCP - Keon is every bit the player he is.
22 - Klay - Klay is Klay, but he wasn't as good defensively during that last championship.
21 - Middleton - Not a defensive player
20 - KCP - See above
19 - Danny Green - defender
18 - Klay - Star Klay
17 - Klay - was a 15ppg on 38% from 3. Still very good, just not star Klay
16 - JR Smith 13ppg on 43% from deep. Good defender at the time. Smoked a lot of bongs.
15 - Klay - Star Klay
14 - Danny Green - see above
13 - Wade - Superstar
12 - Wade - See Above
11 - Deshawn Stevenson - defender

[ecuhus1981]

Yes, KCP is the comp that comes to mind for me too with Keon. Thank you for the insight.