The Sacramento Kings are in a major decline right now following a series of moves that changed their entire identity. With six games left to play this season, the Kings are 10th in the West (36-40), and the latest intel suggests they could opt to trade their current veteran core in favor of a clean slate.
“You have DeMar, who I think is going to be similar to Sabonis,” reported NBA insider Sam Amick. “There’s going to be some tough conversations in the summer where guys decide they feel like they want to be a part of this.”
The Sacramento Kings were trending up before experiencing their most recent struggles. Under head coach Mike Brown, the Kings became a respectable team in the West and were considered a threat in the postseason.
In the 2022-23 campaign, the Kings finished third in the West at 48-34. With De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings were a young and competitive team that appeared to be on the rise. Ever since that season, however, the Kings have been a major disappointment.
They fell to ninth in the West last season and were bounced in the play-in tournament. In this campaign, the Kings are 10th at 36-40 with no hope of a turnaround. Now that De'Aaron Fox has been traded away, it's a brand new era in Sacramento, but things may continue to get worse before they get any better.
As one of the newest members of the Kings' veteran core, DeMar DeRozan was hoping to find new opportunities in Sac-Town. Instead, his efforts have been in vain for a squad with minimal chemistry. At 35 years old, with another three years and $72 million on his contract, trading DeMar will be easier said than done, but there's got to be a package out there worth taking for the Kings.
In the case of Domantas Sabonis, his waning loyalty did not happen overnight. After being traded to the Kings and joining Fox in 2022, he embraced the challenge right away and vowed to deliver on expectations.
With averages of 19.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game this season, Sabonis is still playing elite-level basketball, and he deserves to spend his prime in a situation better suited for his talents.
The question now is, which teams will step up on the trade market this summer? With a high-quality draft class and list of free agents, teams will have no shortage of choices to fill out their rosters, and one of them will surely consider a move for the Kings' veteran stars.
As it stands, the only player who is likely safe from the chopping block is Zach LaVine, who has only played 26 games for the Kings this season. With averages of 20.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, he's been a leading scorer for the team, but it just hasn't been enough to make a dent in their place in the West.
For a team with such good vibes two seasons ago, things have spiraled fast for the Kings, and they've lost all momentum. The franchise has been struggling for years to build a contender, and now the cycle is set to continue as they lean in toward another rebuild.
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