Another disappointing season is in the books for the Sacramento Kings, and an overhaul of the team’s roster is likely looming in the coming summer months. The direction of the franchise is up in the air, and odd trade deadline activity back in March did seemingly nothing to cut a clear path for the Kings back into contention. There are question marks all over the roster, and the list of players that general manager Monte McNair is targeting to add this summer is unknown.
But in taking a look at Sacramento’s contract situation, it becomes obvious which holes will need to be filled by opening night of next season. Furthermore, there is the possibility that the roster overhaul comes via trade (or a series of them). The names that could potentially be on the block are familiar ones; guys who were supposed to be a part of the core that would break the playoff-less streak but have likely fallen out of favor under the new regime.
The Sacramento Kings could be undergoing yet another overhaul of their roster this summer, and it could be through trades of some of the most recognizable names on the team.
So which big names could be moved by the Sacramento Kings this summer? Here is our list:
Sacramento Kings who could be traded: Buddy Hield
While most of the players on our list will be departing Sacramento due to expiring contracts, Buddy Hield could find himself in a different city because of an offseason trade.
The subject of trade rumors for well over a year now, Hield has made the cut on multiple occasions and remained on Sacramento’s roster. After a career year in 2018-19 that scored him a hefty contract extension, his numbers have been on a steady decline ever since. His scoring average has dropped by a full four points, and the 42.7 percent three-point average that made him such a valuable weapon is now down to 39.3 percent.
The drop-offs in numbers are not monumental, but for a player like Buddy Hield that is something of a one-trick pony, the lack of prowess from beyond the arc is concerning. This, along with the money he is owed over the next three years (roughly $61 million) and his age (roughly 28) makes him a likely candidate to be moved at some point during the offseason.
All signs point to Buddy Hield being dealt at some point during the coming summer, but all bets are off when it comes to front office decisions for the Kings. McNair doesn’t have a large sample size to work with, but he and his regime have been rather unpredictable thus far.
Chance of return: 20-25 percent