Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry introduces former player Doug Christie as the permanent head coach of the organization. By David Caraccio
Frontcourt length and athleticism will be big focal points for the Kings this summer as general manager Scott Perry sets out to improve the roster through the NBA draft, trades and free agency.
Sacramento would prefer a power forward/center type who would allow Keegan Murray to move back to small forward, which would improve Sacramento’s size and length at both positions.
The Kings also need a point guard, but they don’t have a first-round draft pick Wednesday and probably won’t find immediate help with the 42nd overall pick in Round 2 on Thursday, so Perry will have to pursue trades and free agents.
Sacramento will be well over the projected $154.6 million salary cap. The Kings can pursue free agents using the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception and the $4.67 million biannual exception, but they will have to make a trade if they want a higher-priced player.
The Kings are expected to explore trades for DeMar DeRozan, a six-time All-Star who averaged 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season while shooting 47.7% from the field and 32.8% from 3-point range. DeRozan has two years and $50.5 million remaining on the three-year contract he signed with Sacramento last summer. He is owed $24.8 million next season and $25.7 million in 2026-27.
Sacramento could also test the market for Domantas Sabonis, who said after a tumultuous season: “I love it here,” but “I want to know what’s going to happen.”
Sabonis is a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection who averaged 19.1 points, a league-high 13.9 rebounds and 6.0 assists this season while shooting a career-high 41.7% from 3-point range. Sabonis has three years remaining on a four-year, $186 million contract. He is owed $43.6 million, $46.7 million and $49.9 million over the next three seasons.
Other players the Kings could move depending on trade targets and salary matching specifications include Zach LaVine ($47.5 million), Malik Monk ($18.8 million), Murray ($11.1 million), Jonas Valanciunas ($10.4 million), Devin Carter ($4.9 million) and Keon Ellis ($2.3 million).
Sacramento will likely seek frontcourt size, length and athleticism with some combination of shooting, defense and rim protection to complement a core featuring some combination of Monk, Ellis, LaVine, DeRozan, Murray and Sabonis.
Here are 10 players the Kings could pursue via trade or free agency who would address their needs and improve their playoff chances after losing in the play-in tournament each of the past two seasons.
Cam Johnson
6-8 | 210 | SF/PF | 29
The Kings have targeted Johnson in trade talks for some time. Sacramento explored the possibility of a trade for Johnson during the 2024 NBA draft and again leading up to February’s trade deadline.
Johnson averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Brooklyn Nets this season. He shot 47.5% from the field and 39% from 3-point range on 7.2 attempts per game.
Johnson is a solid defender with quick hands and a high deflection rate. He has two years and $43.5 million remaining on his contract. He will make $20.5 million next season and $22.5 million in 2026-27.
John Collins
6-9 | 226 | PF | 27
Collins is a player the Kings have been linked to in trade talks for years, most recently in the week’s leading up to February’s trade deadline.
He averaged 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals while shooting 39.9% from 3-point range for the Utah Jazz this season. He would be a good fit between Murray and Sabonis, adding size, length, rim protection and a lob threat with enough 3-point shooting to help with floor spacing.
Collins is a good rebounder and a decent defender who provides some rim protection, averaging 1.0 blocks per game for his career. He has a $26.6 million player option for 2025-26 as he enters the final year of a five-year, $125 million contract.
Herb Jones
6-7 | 206 | SF/PF | 26
New Orleans has shot down trade proposals for Jones in the past, but teams will come calling again as the Pelicans look to retool their roster.
The Pelicans might be more likely to trade Zion Williamson in order to rebuild around the likes of Trey Murphy III and Jones, but the Kings should inquire anyway. Jones averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.5 blocks this season. He shot just 43.6% from the field and 30.6% from 3-point range on 3.6 attempts, but he is an elite perimeter defender who could help Sacramento transform its defense.
Jones has two years and $28.8 million remaining on a four-year, $53.8 million deal. He is owed $13.9 million next season and $14.9 million in 2026-27.
Jerami Grant
6-7 | 210 | SF/PF | 31
Grant is another player the Kings have been linked to in the past. His scoring and efficiency declined this season as he was limited to 47 games due to injuries — and he hasn’t played more than 63 games since 2019-20 — but if healthy he could be a good fit for Sacramento.
Grant averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 block and 0.9 steals for the Portland Trail Blazers this season while shooting 37.3% from the field and 36.5% from 3-point range on 6.3 attempts. He logged 62% of his minutes at small forward this season, but over 11 NBA seasons he has spent 75% of his minutes at power forward, according to Basketball Reference.
Grant is going into the third year of a five-year, $160 million contract. He is owed $32 million next season with a $36.4 million player option in 2027-28.
Rui Hachimura
6-8 | 230 | PF | 27
The Los Angeles Lakers might look to sign Hachimura to an extension or trade him before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Hachimura isn’t considered a 1-on-1 stopper, but he is a solid team defender who could be a good fit with Murray and Sabonis. He averaged 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks this season while shooting 50.9% from the field and 41.3% from 3-point range on 4.2 attempts per game.
Hachimura is entering the final year of a three-year, $51 million contract. He is owed $18.3 million next season.
Obi Toppin
6-9 | 220 | PF | 27
The Indiana Pacers reportedly discussed the idea of trading Toppin prior to February’s NBA trade deadline. They might consider it again now after Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Perry was general manager of the New York Knicks when they selected Toppin with the No. 8 pick in the 2020 draft. Toppin isn’t a great defender, but he has good size, athleticism and versatility with a strong motor. He averaged 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks this season while shooting 52.9% from the field and 36.5% from 3-point range on 3.8 attempts per game.
Toppin has three years remaining on a four-year, $58 million deal. He will earn $14 million next season, $15 million in 2025-26 and $16 million in 2027-28.
Miles Bridges
6-7 | 225 | SF/PF | 27
Bridges has veto power over any trades, but he might be open to a change of scenery as the Charlotte Hornets look to rebuild. Would the Kings be willing to take on a player who pled no contest to a domestic violence charge in 2022?
Bridges has the size, length and athleticism to be a high-level defender, but his effort at that end of the floor has been described as inconsistent. He averaged 20.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks this season. He shot just 31.3% from 3-point range on 7.0 attempts, but he hit a respectable 34.9% in 2023-24.
Bridges is entering the second year of a three-year, $75 million contract. He is owed $25 million next season and $22.8 million in 2026-27.
PJ Washington
6-6 | 230 | PF | 26
Washington’s defense and versatility were key components in the Dallas Maverick’s run to the NBA Finals in 2024, but after winning the NBA draft lottery they might trade him to make way for projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.
Washington averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks this season. He shot 45.3% from the field and 38.1% from 3-point range on 4.2 attempts per game.
Washington is a solid and versatile defender who would fit nicely between Murray and Sabonis. He is going into the final year of a three-year, $46.5 million contract. He is owed $14.2 million next season.
Jaylin Williams
6-9 | 240 | PF/C | 22
Williams is a promising young player who is still on his rookie contract. Oklahoma City has exercised its $2.2 million club option for next season. A trade might be unlikely given his upside and cost, but he could be moved if the Thunder doesn’t extend him before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Williams averaged modest numbers in a backup role this season: 5.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.6 blocks and 0.5 steals in 16.7 minutes. He shot 39.9% from 3-point range on 3.3 attempts per game. Williams has started only 10 games over the past two seasons, but he might thrive in a larger role as a strong and versatile defender with impressive per-36 numbers.
Michael Porter Jr.
6-10 | 218 | SF/PF | 26
NBA great Paul Pierce suggested the Denver Nuggets should consider trading Porter for DeRozan in hopes of regaining their championship form after losing in the second round of the playoffs the past two seasons.
Porter might fit nicely in a frontcourt featuring Murray and Sabonis. He averaged 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists this season while shooting 50.4% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range.
Porter will make $38.3 million next season in the fourth year of a five-year, $179.3 million contract. The Kings would have to include additional players to match Porter’s salary, but they have the pieces to create the framework for a deal.