Grade the Trade: Kings add perfect Sabonis partner in proposed deal with Pistons
The NBA offseason gives teams a chance to reconstruct their rosters in stable condition into the future. Whether it's retooling for teams stuck in 'pretending' status, rebuilding for teams stuck in mediocrity, selling for the league's worst teams in hopes of tanking for the future, or buying for the league's best with the hopes of contending both in the present and future. For the two teams involved in this proposed trade, they are in completely different states of their franchise's trajectories.
The Sacramento Kings spent their 2023 offseason bringing back pieces to a breakout 2022-23 season. They traded their first-round pick with Richaun Holmes to get additional cap space for a Domantas Sabonis contract extension. Additionally, the Kings re-signed Trey Lyles, signed Sasha Vezenkov, and traded for Chris Duarte. However, the Kings failed to improve enough to maintain their status as one of the best teams in the Western Conference, dropping to ninth in Western Conference.
Sacramento was decimated by injuries this year, and it was evident they lacked depth, consistent forward play, and at times, shooting. Kevin Huerter's numbers dropped significantly from 2022-23 to 2023-24, as did Harrison Barnes. Keegan Murray took an expected leap in year two of his NBA career, but not a large enough one to make up for the roster deficiencies.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons were the worst team in the entire NBA, again. Yet, the Pistons failed to strike NBA lottery luck, again, finishing with the fifth pick in this year's edition of the NBA draft lottery. As a team that's struggled to enter their next phase of rebuilding, Detroit has several holes in their roster to address.
With new front office personnel, the trajectory of the Pistons depends on the moves they make this offseason, both via the draft and via trades. Will the Pistons finally turn the trajectory of their franchise upwards, or will they continue to be amongst the 'laughingstock' of the entire league?