Another new NBA season means the Sacramento Kings will get another shot at ending their lengthy playoff drought.
While there has not been much for Kings fans to smile about in recent memory, the franchise looks to be heading in the right direction. They have their franchise cornerstone in De’Aaron Fox locked up for the foreseeable future, and he seems destined for big things. They re-signed their energetic big man Richaun Holmes in the offseason to a solid deal and also appear to have a pair of solid young guards alongside Fox in Tyrese Haliburton and Davion Mitchell. Only time will tell if the Kings have enough to make a legitimate run at the postseason, but they might not be content with their roster as it currently stands.
This team has been mentioned in trade rumors consistently over the past year or so, and they could be looking to make some moves behind the scenes. That is just pure speculation, but with that being said, here are three Kings that could potentially be traded during the 2021-22 season.
Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III could surface in trade talks during 2021-22 NBA season
After being selected by the Kings with the second pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Marvin Bagley III has not exactly lived up to expectations. Of course, being selected ahead of both Luka Doncic and Trae Young, two rising stars in today’s NBA, has ramped up that criticism. Bagley has shown signs of potential during his first three NBA seasons, but he has never managed to stay healthy enough to show it consistently, having played 118 games in that span.
While Bagley still has potential if he can stay healthy, it appears that the Kings were already willing to part ways with him last season. Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports reported that the Kings offered a deal centered around Bagley to the Detroit Pistons for Saddiq Bey, but the Pistons declined it. Sacramento’s front office made it clear that they were willing to deal the big man with the offer to Detroit, and they could certainly be ready to move him again if possible.
The biggest question is which teams would want Bagley. At 22-years-old, there is still much room for him to grow, but his injury issues and defensive limitations might make opposing teams rather hesitant to make a move. Bagley is on the books financially for $11.3 million this season, meaning he is not the cheapest target, but one that could be interesting for a young team looking for some depth and the chance to rejuvenate his career. Despite previous rumors, Bagley seems focused on proving his place in Sacramento, but with a payday looming after the season, the Kings might be inclined to move him before then.
Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes could surface in trade talks during 2021-22 NBA season
Harrison Barnes has quietly been mentioned in trade rumors over the past two seasons with the Kings. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick (subscription required), the Boston Celtics had some heavy interest in acquiring Barnes last season, but nothing ever materialized. ESPN’s Zach Lowe also reported that the Milwaukee Bucks showed an interest in the forward as they explored ways to acquire him alongside Bogdan Bogdanovic during the 2020 offseason.
The interest in Barnes from opposing contenders is understandable. The 29-year-old has put up some of the best numbers of his career with the Kings, having averaged 15.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists across 158 games. Numbers like that would make Barnes a quality starting four on several teams across the league, but the only question is how much the Kings value him and if he is in their future plans. For a team that is looking to make a run at the postseason, one would think he has a place on this roster, but nothing is ever concrete.
Barnes will make $20.3 million this coming season, making him far from the most affordable trade target for most teams. Yet, if the Kings plan on making moves during the season, that big salary would likely come in handy. The most obvious hypothetical trade involving Barnes would include sending him to Philadelphia, which will be discussed with the final name on this list.
Sacramento Kings: Buddy Hield could surface in trade talks during 2021-22 NBA season
The trade rumors surrounding Buddy Hield have been brewing for quite some time, and it seems like the guard was almost moved this past offseason. The Athletic’s Bill Oram, Shams Charania, and Sam Amick (subscription required) reported that Hield was very close to being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers before they acquired Russell Westbrook. Although that move did not happen, Hield is still a player to watch in trade rumors, as several teams would love to have him.
While Hield has his issues on the defensive end, there is no questioning his electric offensive capabilities. The guard is among the best 3-point shooters in the league, becoming the fastest player ever to knock down 1,000 triples, which he did in his first 350 games. Players like that do not come around often, obviously. For a player that has averaged 16 points per game while hitting 40.6 percent of his 3-pointers on 7.4 attempts for his career, there is bound to be some interest if he is made available by the Sacramento Kings.
One such team that could look to acquire Hield is the Philadelphia 76ers, who have also been in the news lately due to trade rumors. Philly’s Ben Simmons has made it clear that he would like a trade from the 76ers, and Sacramento has been a team briefly mentioned to have an interest in making a move. The Athletic’s Sam Amick (subscription required) wrote how discussions occurred between the 76ers and Kings, but Sacramento is “determined” to see how their roster plays together in the regular season. That might be the case at the moment, but if the Kings reignite their interest in Simmons down the road, Hield will likely be the name mainly brought up in any potential trade scenario.