According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Sacramento Kings have an interest in acquiring Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday.
"New general manager Scott Perry, remember, immediately highlighted the Kings' need for improved playmaking during his introductory press conference, and sources have duly linked Sacramento to various guards known to be available this summer. That list includes Holiday in Boston," reports Fischer.
The rumblings of the Kings' interest in Holiday are nothing new. However, there's a fly in the ointment. Sacramento would have to convince the Celtics to take back DeMar DeRozan or find another suitor for him.
That seems unlikely. DeRozan, who turns 36 in August, is under contract for $24.8 million for the 2025-26 campaign. However, that's not the issue. The problem is he's on the books for $25.7 million for the following season.
If the six-time All-Star was on an expiring deal, perhaps Boston would overlook that his lack of three-point shooting makes him a poor system fit. After all, he'd still add more offensive firepower to a team facing the prospect of a season without Jayson Tatum.
However, having multiple years left on his contract signals Sacramento will likely have to look elsewhere to construct a deal that brings Holiday to California's capital.
DeRozan averaged 22.2 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds last season. He's still productive. However, his contract, age, and playing style make it difficult to move him under this less forgiving collective bargaining agreement.
It helps that Boston's primary interest would likely be the financial relief of shedding Holiday's contract. Removing his $32.4 million salary for the upcoming campaign would go a long way toward getting under the second apron.
That's likely the franchise's primary goal this summer. The consequences for remaining over that threshold are too severe, and the Celtics should look to gain more long-term flexibility.
What that opens the door to is the possibility the Kings want Holiday badly enough to surrender the necessary draft capital to a third party in exchange for absorbing DeRozan's contract.
Sacramento, who does not have a first-round pick in this year's draft, has less costly alternatives, though. The franchise will likely have to look elsewhere for a veteran guard.
Kings showing interest in a pair of former Celtics guards
According to Fischer, Sacramento's search for an experienced playmaker to bolster its backcourt isn't limited to a current Celtic.
He cites Washington Wizards guard Marcus Smart as a potential target and says the Kings' list "stretches to more affordable free agent ballhandlers like Malcolm Brogdon."
After a deal at the trade deadline rerouted Smart from the Memphis Grizzlies to the nation's capital, he produced 9.3 points, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals while logging 18.7 minutes per contest across 15 games. The former Defensive Player of the Year is on an expiring $21.6 million contract.
As for Brogdon, who reunited with Smart in Washington, he averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds last season. However, due to injury, he only appeared in 24 tilts. The former Sixth Man of the Year is on an expiring pact worth $22.5 million.
Smart and Brogdon seem like more realistic targets for the Kings than acquiring Holiday from the Celtics.