What does a Sacramento Kings fire sale look like?

[ReggiesKnicks]

Here are some individual trades.

Sabonis, McDerrmott, Eubanks to Utah for Nurkic, Anderson, Hendricks, Williams, 2027 LAL 1st
Jazz would have a pretty interesting roster with some good young guards, Bailey, Lauri, Flip, and Sabonis. When Kessler comes back they can try big Houston style lineups with Walker/Sabonis.

Seems like a relatively buy-low for Utah but Sabonis/Lauri is a pretty mediocre 4/5 in terms of fit, though with Kessler there it is possible to work defensively, but again not ideal.

Sabonis to ATL for KP, Asa, Minimum salary + worst of the NOP/Milwaukee 2027 1st

I like Sabonis in Atlanta if they move on from Trae.

Sabonis to Memphis for KCP, Aldama, 2030 Orlando 1st

I like this for Memphis if they move on from Ja.

Monk to LAC for Bogdan + Kobe Brown

LAC is poised for cap space in 2026. They don't sacrifice that for Monk.

Demar + 2nd for Simons - Saves Boston 3 million this year from what I see getting below 1st apron, but costs them 10 next year. Unless they can re-trade him at the deadline.

Boston should have easier ways to shed cap than take on 10 Million next year.

Keon + 2nds for Peyton Watson + a 2031 Denver 1st lotto protected

Keon doesn't have this value. He is barely getting minutes on a bottom feeder.

[LightTheBeam]

Keon + 2nds for Peyton Watson + a 2031 Denver 1st lotto protected

Keon doesn't have this value. He is barely getting minutes on a bottom feeder.

Keon shouldn't get be viewed negatively because the incompetence of this org. He should be playing 30mpg on this team, and he would be our best player. Sadly this trash franchise would rather play 30-36 year olds with zero future.

If I thought we had a chance of keeping him, I would never sell him for a late 1st. But I'm confident with the way they've buried him he will leave at the first chance he gets. Only hope is we cut Russ, find a home for at least 1 of Monk/Demar, LaVine takes some games off, and hopefully Keon is developing with 30-35mpg.

[SNPA]

Only Sabonis has more value than a 2nd or two of that group.

I disagree with this, Lavine should grab a first maybe even two depending on the trade.

Lavine is a bad long term contract. Giving an asset for him seems like a mistake.

But he isn’t on a long term deal. He has a player option next season (he’ll exercise) making him an expiring. A huge expiring that has on court value, in the apron era. I suspect he could have some value by this offseason.

[SNPA]

Keon - Kings brass doesn't like him. The most valuable piece listed here. Every contender should be begging the Kings for Keon for a 1st. Minnesota, Denver, Milwaukee, NYK, Denver. This kid can absolutely play on both sides.

Keon is an UFA this summer. No one is giving up a first.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I disagree with this, Lavine should grab a first maybe even two depending on the trade.

Lavine is a bad long term contract. Giving an asset for him seems like a mistake.

But he isn’t on a long term deal. He has a player option next season (he’ll exercise) making him an expiring. A huge expiring that has on court value, in the apron era. I suspect he could have some value by this offseason.

This contract doesn't have value in a vacuum. It is more valuable than worse, longer-term salary of completely useless expiring salary totaling a similar amount as what LaVine's contract is for.

There is no definition of the word valuable which would describe Zach LaVine's contract.

[pipfan]

I don't love the idea, but could the Bulls do PWill/Vuc/Noa/Port pick/2026 Bulls' 1st for Sabonis?
He's a better, younger Vuc, right?

nevermind-bad idea

[SNPA]

Lavine is a bad long term contract. Giving an asset for him seems like a mistake.

But he isn’t on a long term deal. He has a player option next season (he’ll exercise) making him an expiring. A huge expiring that has on court value, in the apron era. I suspect he could have some value by this offseason.

This contract doesn't have value in a vacuum. It is more valuable than worse, longer-term salary of completely useless expiring salary totaling a similar amount as what LaVine's contract is for.

There is no definition of the word valuable which would describe Zach LaVine's contract.

Disagree. A 50m expiring deal could look attractive to teams in certain situations.

[ReggiesKnicks]

But he isn’t on a long term deal. He has a player option next season (he’ll exercise) making him an expiring. A huge expiring that has on court value, in the apron era. I suspect he could have some value by this offseason.

This contract doesn't have value in a vacuum. It is more valuable than worse, longer-term salary of completely useless expiring salary totaling a similar amount as what LaVine's contract is for.

There is no definition of the word valuable which would describe Zach LaVine's contract.

Disagree. A 50m expiring deal could look attractive to teams in certain situations.

And those situations, could you describe them?

I assume those situations all fall under the category of:

1) Long-Term Salary
2) Worse players on expiring salary

Can you provide an example of a team who would be attracted to Lavine's contract as a 50m expiring whose situation doesn't fall under those two categories?

[SNPA]

This contract doesn't have value in a vacuum. It is more valuable than worse, longer-term salary of completely useless expiring salary totaling a similar amount as what LaVine's contract is for.

There is no definition of the word valuable which would describe Zach LaVine's contract.

Disagree. A 50m expiring deal could look attractive to teams in certain situations.

And those situations, could you describe them?

I assume those situations all fall under the category of:

1) Long-Term Salary
2) Worse players on expiring salary

Can you provide an example of a team who would be attracted to Lavine's contract as a 50m expiring whose situation doesn't fall under those two categories?

A team looking to dump salary. Generally those are teams looking to do a rebuild or quick retool. There’s a handful every year. So yeah, at that amount there has to be some bad money coming back but the more the bad money the higher the price.

[LightTheBeam]

Lavine is a bad long term contract. Giving an asset for him seems like a mistake.

But he isn’t on a long term deal. He has a player option next season (he’ll exercise) making him an expiring. A huge expiring that has on court value, in the apron era. I suspect he could have some value by this offseason.

This contract doesn't have value in a vacuum. It is more valuable than worse, longer-term salary of completely useless expiring salary totaling a similar amount as what LaVine's contract is for.

There is no definition of the word valuable which would describe Zach LaVine's contract.

I agree with this. And most of the problem contracts were bought out this summer.

I'd say maybe Embiid/George are worse contracts at this point, but Philly is trending in the right direction with Edgecrombe/Maxey. Maybe theres a world where Philly attaches a 1st to George to get to LaVine, if they think they can be free agent players summer of 2027. But that wouldn't come into play until next deadline at earliest. And even then? Is a mid-1st worth the Kings taking on that additional 57 million George's last year?

Maybe you could trade LaVine to a desperate team with smaller bad contracts. Like Dallas could package Klay/Gafford/Hardy/Martin and equal LaVines deal. But I personally would rather just let LaVine expire next year than be on the hook for Gafford/Martin/Hardys additional years.

Really not seeing a lot out there even next year. We need to hope LaVine prioritizes his mental health, decides to opt out of his 50 million (LOL) and some team pulls a Raptors and gives 3/120 making it worth his while.

[shangrila]

The problem for Sabonis is you need to really lean into his strengths to get the most value from him, and most teams aren't built that way (and if they are, already have a guy on the roster that they've built that team for). I don't know a team that would fit, especially given his defensive issues and that he can't shoot or space the floor.

To be honest, I see the Kings going the other way. Making a play for Anthony Davis, for example. I just don't see them truly blowing it up as recent history suggest they aren't interested in that, and all the main players driving that thinking are still there (mainly Vivek).

[ReggiesKnicks]

Disagree. A 50m expiring deal could look attractive to teams in certain situations.

And those situations, could you describe them?

I assume those situations all fall under the category of:

1) Long-Term Salary
2) Worse players on expiring salary

Can you provide an example of a team who would be attracted to Lavine's contract as a 50m expiring whose situation doesn't fall under those two categories?

A team looking to dump salary. Generally those are teams looking to do a rebuild or quick retool. There’s a handful every year. So yeah, at that amount there has to be some bad money coming back but the more the bad money the higher the price.

Right. So you agree with me that in a vacuum no team would give value for LaVine but a team would trade worse salary/players for LaVine.

That's my point.

That is, by definition, meaning Zach LaVine has no value in a vacuum. There are players and contracts worse (less valuable) than Zach LaVine, but those players/contracts existing don't make Zach LaVine have positive value in a vacuum.

[SNPA]

And those situations, could you describe them?

I assume those situations all fall under the category of:

1) Long-Term Salary
2) Worse players on expiring salary

Can you provide an example of a team who would be attracted to Lavine's contract as a 50m expiring whose situation doesn't fall under those two categories?

A team looking to dump salary. Generally those are teams looking to do a rebuild or quick retool. There’s a handful every year. So yeah, at that amount there has to be some bad money coming back but the more the bad money the higher the price.

Right. So you agree with me that in a vacuum no team would give value for LaVine but a team would trade worse salary/players for LaVine.

That's my point.

Sure. But the point is the other team will have to pay for it otherwise Sac lets him expire and resets their own cap space.

[SNPA]

To be honest, I see the Kings going the other way. Making a play for Anthony Davis, for example. I just don't see them truly blowing it up as recent history suggest they aren't interested in that, and all the main players driving that thinking are still there (mainly Vivek).

This does seem more likely than a rebuild.

[SkyHook]

Keon - Kings brass doesn't like him. The most valuable piece listed here. Every contender should be begging the Kings for Keon for a 1st. Minnesota, Denver, Milwaukee, NYK, Denver. This kid can absolutely play on both sides.

Keon is an UFA this summer. No one is giving up a first.

This. I've thought about Ellis to the Jazz quite a bit. He'd instantly become their best guard, imo, though that's damning with faint praise considering the current roster. If he was an RFA I'd consider making an attractive offer, but I'd rather sign him outright as a UFA at this point. I do wonder with the Kings questionable minutes distribution if they're intentionally trying to depress his value on the FA market next summer.

[LightTheBeam]

Keon - Kings brass doesn't like him. The most valuable piece listed here. Every contender should be begging the Kings for Keon for a 1st. Minnesota, Denver, Milwaukee, NYK, Denver. This kid can absolutely play on both sides.

Keon is an UFA this summer. No one is giving up a first.

This. I've thought about Ellis to the Jazz quite a bit. He'd instantly become their best guard, imo, though that's damning with faint praise considering the current roster. If he was an RFA I'd consider making an attractive offer, but I'd rather sign him outright as a UFA at this point. I do wonder with the Kings questionable minutes distribution if they're intentionally trying to depress his value on the FA market next summer.

So I believe the Kings are able to lock him up after some February date where he becomes extension eligible. If a team trades for him, do they have that same ability? I assume the trade would come with a feb extension.

[SkyHook]

Keon is an UFA this summer. No one is giving up a first.

This. I've thought about Ellis to the Jazz quite a bit. He'd instantly become their best guard, imo, though that's damning with faint praise considering the current roster. If he was an RFA I'd consider making an attractive offer, but I'd rather sign him outright as a UFA at this point. I do wonder with the Kings questionable minutes distribution if they're intentionally trying to depress his value on the FA market next summer.

So I believe the Kings are able to lock him up after some February date where he becomes extension eligible. If a team trades for him, do they have that same ability? I assume the trade would come with a feb extension.

Interesting. I'd like to know the timing of that relative to the deadline. I don't know that he would be extension eligible post trade, but perhaps in conjunction with the trade.

[LightTheBeam]

The problem for Sabonis is you need to really lean into his strengths to get the most value from him, and most teams aren't built that way (and if they are, already have a guy on the roster that they've built that team for). I don't know a team that would fit, especially given his defensive issues and that he can't shoot or space the floor.

To be honest, I see the Kings going the other way. Making a play for Anthony Davis, for example. I just don't see them truly blowing it up as recent history suggest they aren't interested in that, and all the main players driving that thinking are still there (mainly Vivek).

Sac talking heads are finally starting to talk tank. Do they have inside sources? No idea. Last game Vivek was sitting courtside in disgust.

We've never truly tanked, but its hard to say why. We had Cousins who was probably a top 10 player, so it always felt if you put the right team around him they could win, but he was a headcase.
Soon after we traded Cousins we drafted Fox, and they tried to build around him and had some success.

Now its different. Who on this team is worth building around? its one thing to try and add to Fox with guys like Sabonis, Huerter, Keegan, Barnes, etc..
LaVine - You arent building around him, the GM doesn't like him and hes not that guy.
Sabonis - They tried this year, its not working

There's no young guy like Fox, Tyreek, Cousins who they think they hit on to start to build around. I truly think for the first time we might actually rebuild. Even this delusional trash owner can't convince himself there's anything remotely worth building around on this roster.

[SNPA]

This. I've thought about Ellis to the Jazz quite a bit. He'd instantly become their best guard, imo, though that's damning with faint praise considering the current roster. If he was an RFA I'd consider making an attractive offer, but I'd rather sign him outright as a UFA at this point. I do wonder with the Kings questionable minutes distribution if they're intentionally trying to depress his value on the FA market next summer.

So I believe the Kings are able to lock him up after some February date where he becomes extension eligible. If a team trades for him, do they have that same ability? I assume the trade would come with a feb extension.

Interesting. I'd like to know the timing of that relative to the deadline. I don't know that he would be extension eligible post trade, but perhaps in conjunction with the trade.

Kings media guy James Ham said Sac could sign him anytime. He said the Feb -5 thing is complicated but he thinks anytime is the actual answer. I don’t know if when signed he can be traded. Remember, Keon came off a two way so he isn’t playing by rookie extension rules.

[LightTheBeam]

This. I've thought about Ellis to the Jazz quite a bit. He'd instantly become their best guard, imo, though that's damning with faint praise considering the current roster. If he was an RFA I'd consider making an attractive offer, but I'd rather sign him outright as a UFA at this point. I do wonder with the Kings questionable minutes distribution if they're intentionally trying to depress his value on the FA market next summer.

So I believe the Kings are able to lock him up after some February date where he becomes extension eligible. If a team trades for him, do they have that same ability? I assume the trade would come with a feb extension.

Interesting. I'd like to know the timing of that relative to the deadline. I don't know that he would be extension eligible post trade, but perhaps in conjunction with the trade.

Google says this - Keon Ellis will become extension-eligible on February 9, 2026. The Sacramento Kings picked up his team option for the 2025-26 season, which prevents the team from signing an extension before that date.

Trade deadline is on Feb 6th. My thought is that the negotiating team would have an extension lined up for Keon before trading for him. That said, I have no idea if that extension eligibility carries over to the new team?