The Sacramento Kings are almost sure to make a move–or multiple–before the NBA Trade Deadline on February 5th.
While Sacramento will look to relocate some of its veterans on the roster, the future of guard Keon Ellis has also come into question as trade season begins.
Ellis, who is the Kings’ best defender and a talented long-distance shooter (42% during his NBA career), has fallen victim to Sacramento’s current logjammed roster.
Veterans like Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, and Dennis Schroder are ahead of Ellis on the depth chart, meaning his minutes per game average has fallen from 24.4 during the 2024-25 campaign to 17.0 this season.
Since the Kings picked up Ellis’ $2.3 million team option for this year, the 25-year-old guard will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, giving him the right to sign with any team.
Sacramento has two choices for Ellis: keep him past the deadline and hope he signs an extension when he becomes eligible on February 9th, or trade him.
If the Sacramento Kings were to attempt to move Ellis, what kind of value could he bring back to Sacramento? According to ESPN’s Front Office Insider Bobby Marks, not as much as you’d think.
“Probably not,” Marks said when asked by The Drive Guys if Ellis could bring a first-round-pick-worthy return. “If it is a first, it would have to have some kind of a protection. I would say highly unlikely.”
DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 10: Keon Ellis #23 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles the ball against Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter at American Airlines Center on February 10, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
While Marks says he doesn’t expect Ellis to net a first-round pick return, he added that the Kings guard does have some value due to his contract and free agency status.
Whichever team trades for Ellis would acquire his Early Bird Rights, allowing them to exceed the salary cap to retain him in free agency. This means that Sacramento, as Marks puts it, has an advantage in some talks.
Marks laid out hypothetical trade returns for Ellis, including the New York Knicks, who currently own two picks they acquired from the Washington Wizards.
“Those almost equate to kind of a late first-round pick as far as where you see the Wizards are.”
Be sure to check out the entire interview with ESPN’s Bobby Marks on the Sacramento Kings’ current salary cap situation by scrolling up to the top of this article or on the Sactown Sports 1140 YouTube page.
Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
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More Sacramento Kings coverage on Sactown Sports
The Sacramento Kings may be the most undersized team in the NBA. They’re regularly forced to employ four guard lineups due to the roster’s limited frontcourt options. It’d be notably worse if they hadn’t signed free agent forward Precious Achiuwa eight games into their season.
At 6’8 with 7’2 wingspan and promising athleticism, he’s provided Kings head coach Doug Christie with at least some sense of optionality and switchability. Achiuwa started alongside Domantas Sabonis not long after joining the Kings, but that role has since changed.
With Sabonis sidelined for nearly four weeks now due to a partially torn meniscus in his left knee, and backup center Drew Eubanks sidelined for three weeks with an avulsion fracture in his left thumb, Achiuwa has been called upon to alternate center responsibilities with rookie Maxime Raynaud.
Dennis Schroder, who played with Achiuwa in Toronto, described the forward as “complete” following Tuesday’s team practice. “[Precious] can play the four, the five,” he said. “Can roll, put pressure on the rim.”
Achiuwa has recorded double-digit points in four of Saramento’s last six showings, doing most of his damage by rolling to the basket with force and purpose. He’s even gone 2/3 from three-point distance during that time.
Precious Achiuwa can only fix so much, but he’s shown his value with the Kings
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Thursday, December 18th – @ Portland Trail Blazers – 7:00 PM PT
Saturday, December 20th – vs. Portland Trail Blazers – 7:00 PM PT
Sunday, December 21st – vs. Houston Rockets – 7:00 PM PT
Tuesday, December 23rd vs. Detroit Pistons – 7:00 PM PT
Saturday, December 27th – vs. Dallas Mavericks – 2:00 PM PT
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