Senior NBA Writer for Anscaped and 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee, Marc Spears, joined The Matt & Kayla Show to make sense of what’s expected to be a busy trade deadline for Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry.
Perry is in his first season running the Kings, but has spent more than 2.5 decades in the NBA. Spears shared that their relationship goes all the way back to Perry being the head coach of Eastern Kentucky University from 1997-2000.
“One of my assignments was to write a story on this coach named Scott Perry, who had the saddest office I’ve ever seen in my life,” Spears shared. “Four white walls with nothing on it. Nothing said short timer more than this guy’s office, right? But now in his office he has this beautiful full painting that his wife got made for him, where it lists his six principles as to what he wants from the franchise.”
Those six key principles that Perry and head coach Doug Christie are building the next iteration of the Kings around are competitive, tough, team-oriented, disciplined, accountable, and professional. Both of them have echoed those values plenty throughout the season, even placing them in large lettering around the roof of their locker room in Golden 1 Center.
At just 12-33 this season, 14th in the Western Conference, most are expecting Perry to sell at the deadline using the contracts of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, Dennis Schroder, Malik Monk, and/or Keon Ellis to reshape the roster.
“I expect him to make some moves, try at least to make some moves during the trade deadline,” Spears said of Perry. “I think this is going to be a slow build, which I don’t know if Kings’ fans want to hear this, but in order to have a strong house, you have to have a strong foundation… I think Scott would rather build a foundation and try to build this into a championship contender, rather than somebody that just teases you from season to season.”
With one playofff appearance in the last 20 seasons, Perry’s vision for sustained success would be much welcomed in California’s capital. But that process doesn’t happen overnight.
“Start building yourself as Oklahoma City has done, and like Detroit has done, and like those are, those are the teams that I think that the Kings should pattern themselves after,” Spears said. “And I think that’s what Scott’s trying to do. So I’m really curious to see if there’s not just one, but maybe, maybe a couple interesting splashes by the kings, by the time the trade deadline hits.”
Sacramento has found itself involved in plenty of rumors, but as the saying goes, it takes two to tango. With plenty of reports about who they are willing to move, the most common name the Kings have been linked to acquiring in exchange is Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.
Since Jimmy Butler’s season came to an abrupt ending due to an ACL injury, Kuminga has been re-inserted into Golden State’s rotation. People have begun questioning if Butler’s injury could alter how the Warriors view Sacramento’s trade assets of Monk and/or DeRozan.
Even if it would require a third team getting involved, there’s an obvious value to the Kings adding an athletic 23-year-old with notable upside.
“Kuminga is a guy you want, because he’s also a guy that wants to be there,” Spears added. “When you’re rebuilding, it’s hard to find people, players that want to be in rebuilding situations. He wants to be there. Scott had met with him in Miami for like an hour and a half. I’m still kind of intrigued by the Warriors allowing that to happen. And they built a really interesting connection.”
Check out the full interview with Senior NBA Writer for Anscaped and 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee, Marc J. Spears, by scrolling to the top of the page or by clicking here.
Listen to The Matt & Kayla Show from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
More Sacramento Kings coverage on Sactown Sports
The Sacramento Kings are in a transitional period as they look forward to the future, meaning we will see more minutes from the team’s young core.
Kings head coach Doug Christie joined The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross on Thursday to further confirm that notion, as the former defensive standout relayed the franchise’s hope of developing young talent and helping this current crop of rookies grow into consistent contributors.
Sacramento has leaned on first-year players like wing Nique Clifford, center Maxime Raynaud, and big man Dylan Cardwell, with all three currently playing roles in Christie’s rotation.
This means that veterans like Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk, and Keon Ellis’ minutes have fluctuated (or, in Ellis’ case, been heavily reduced) to give the rookies an opportunity to find their footing at the NBA level.
Read More:
Doug Christie Interview: The Kings are prioritizing player development
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Friday, January 23rd – @ Cleveland Cavaliers – 4:30 PM PT
Sunday, January 25th – @ Detroit Pistons – 12:00 PM PT
Tuesday, January 27th – @ New York Knicks – 4:30 PM PT
Thursday, January 29th – @ Philadelphia 76ers – 4:00 PM PT
Friday, January 30th – @ Boston Celtics – 4:30 PM PT
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