Sacramento Kings
After coming up just short of making the playoffs in the NBA Bubble last season, the Sacramento Kings looked like a team that could potentially contend for a playoff spot once again this season, but they have been very underwhelming to this point in the season.
They currently reside 13th in the Western Conference and while they are a Top-10 offensive team in the league based on points per game (114.8 PPG), they are the league’s worst defensive team. It seems like any team in this league can score 120+ points against the Kings on any given night and given their struggles as of late, rumors have been circulating about various players on their roster.
The Kings have made plenty of their players available in trade talks over the last week and the list includes: Hassan Whiteside, Jabari Parker, Nemanja Bjelica, Marvin Bagley III and Harrison Barnes.
Marvin Bagley III is in his third season in the league and while he has been putting together a very solid season, ranking 4th on the team in scoring and 2nd in rebounding, he has received very minimal interest around the league. Now, with Bagley being out with a broken hand, expect him to remain with the Kings through the deadline.
Harrison Barnes on the other hand has received a ton of interest from the Boston Celtics and he is very much in play to be moved by the Kings at this year’s NBA trade deadline. The 28-year old forward is in the second-year of his four-year, $85M contract, but is a player who can make a huge difference for a championship-caliber roster like the Celtics.
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Both Hassan Whiteside and Nemanja Bjelica are two veteran frontcourt players that multiple playoff teams have been interested in over the last month. There are plenty of playoff-caliber teams looking for frontcourt depth, which both of these players can provide at a small price and a small contract value.
The Kings are close to figuring out their playoff woes, but it seems like this team is still a year or two away and a few solid young players away from being a real threat in the Western Conference.
