Does this trade make sense for the Sacramento Kings?

The only way this trade makes sense for the Kings is if a) they strike out on making a deal for Ben Simmons involving Buddy Hield and b) if they want to find a way to move on from Hield’s salary. For a team that has not made the playoffs in 15 seasons, the Kings are close to the tax line for this season and they will be as well next year since De’Aaron Fox makes more money from his contract per year. 

This is definitely alarming for Sacramento and they need to be smarter with their salaries, which is why dumping Hield now for Aminu, Hutchison and Walker could make a lot of sense. This trade would free up nearly $20M in cap space for the Kings entering next offseason, giving them the ability to either re-sign Lonnie Walker long-term or go after an entirely different player. 

Aminu and Hutchison hold no value and would be nothing more than role players during the 2021-22 season, should the Kings keep them and not waive them, and Walker could actually fit in nicely next to an athletic counterpart in De’Aaron Fox. 

Sacramento is not in a position to contend for a playoff spot right now and since they are rebuilding, they could use all the cap room they can get. The Kings are not a team many big name players want to play with, but if they can free up cap space and prove they have a decent young core, they may be able to land one or two key talents in free agency next season. 

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This move is all about preparing for the future, something the Kings have not given much thought to as of late since they are getting dangerously close to having to pay luxury taxes for a team that is about to miss the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season.