Kings Linked to 4 Talented Wings on the Trade Market
The Sacramento Kings have been thrown around many trade rumors throughout the season, but with the February 8th trade deadline approaching, a move will likely be made soon. After being heavily linked to Toronto Raptors stars OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam, Anunoby got shipped to the New York Knicks and Siakam to the Indiana Pacers, as Sacramento struck out on both.
In hindsight, the package that the Raptors got in return for the star duo was more than Sacramento is expected to pay for any player, so it makes sense for the Kings to head in a different direction. The Kings do not need to acquire a star, per se, but an upgrade from starting forward Harrison Barnes is almost a necessity to take the team to the next level.
Action Networks' Matt Moore gave four names to which the Kings have been linked: Portland Trail Blazers' Jerami Grant, Detroit Pistons' Bojan Bogdanovic, New Orleans Pelicans' Herb Jones, and Philadelphia 76ers' Tobias Harris.
After missing out on OG Anunoby and then Pascal Siakam, the Kings will continue to look for a forward upgrade. Jerami Grant, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Herb Jones are among the names they're expected to explore options for. If the Sixers decide to get spicy and need a third team to move Tobias Harris to, the Kings could have interest.
All four of these guys would be significant upgrades over Barnes, and each could be the game-changer that Sacramento is looking for. The most enticing name on the list is Pelicans' Jones, one of the most talented young defenders in the league. The Pelicans currently sit fifth in the Western Conference with a 25-18 record, but the Kings are likely limited in assets that would entice New Orleans to give up Jones.
Portland's Grant is also an interesting name on the market, but his five-year/$160 million contract will likely sway Sacramento away from him.
Bogdanovic, 34, could be a fantastic offensive weapon in the frontcourt next to Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis, and the four-win Pistons have no significant reason to keep the veteran forward on the team. The Croatian wing averages 19.8 points per game, shooting nearly 41% from deep.
76ers' Harris is an unlikely option for Sacramento, but if Philadelphia is serious about trading him, the Kings must target him. The most significant concern around Harris is that the 31-year-old forward is in the final year of his contract and would likely have no reason to re-sign with the Kings in the off-season.
If all of these players are available for trade, the Kings should go all-in on acquiring Jones from New Orleans, who is in the first season of a team-friendly four-year/$53.8 million deal.
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