The Sacramento Kings have long been craving some sort of stability within their franchise. One year after another has passed with the Kings fading out of postseason contention and the same beat goes on. It's a franchise that hasn't made the playoffs since the 2005-06 season. That's almost unfathomable to imagine but it's the reality for the Kings.
There's reason for hope at present time, as De'Aaron Fox has emerged as a very dynamic point guard and the Kings appear to have struck gold with their Tyrese Haliburton draft selection in 2020.
Still, if they want to get back to the postseason, they will need to be aggressive in the offseason in putting pieces around Fox. Here are the two best trades the Kings can make in the offseason to get De'Aaron Fox more help.
Kings receive: Myles Turner // Pacers receive: Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley, Kings 2021 and 2023 second round picks
In this deal, the Kings get a coveted center that will certainly be popping up in trade discussions this offseason.
Myles Turner has emerged as one of the better defensive centers in the NBA and he has a knack for holding down the fort in the paint. He's good on offense but not reliable by any stretch. His shooting, especially from the perimeter, could use some room to grow.
With Richaun Holmes and Hassan Whiteside set to hit free agency in the summer, the Kings will be in the market for a big. Myles Turner wold fill that void and then some.
While Turner missed the end of the season for the Pacers while dealing with a foot injury, he's expected to be ready for next season.
In return for Turner, the Pacers get the sharpshooting Buddy Hield, who's been in trade rumor talks for about two years now. They also acquire Marvin Bagley, who has been a huge bust but is still young enough for a team like Indiana to take a flyer on and see if they can't help turn his career around. To add some filler for Turner, the Kings throw in two of their future second-round picks as well.
It's good compensation for Turner but the biggest hurdle the Kings could run into is that if Turner is traded this offseason, there figures to be plenty of suitors interested in the two-time NBA blocks leader. If Sacramento gets in a bidding war, the cost will likely continue to rise.
Kings receive: Mitchell Robinson, Frank Ntilikina, Kevin Knox // Knicks receive: Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley, Kings 2022 first-round pick (top 10 protected)
Again, the Kings will need to add some help at center in the offseason assuming Holmes and Whiteside go elsewhere. It's never safe to assume they will return and in this case, the Kings get a center and a point guard from New York.
Mitchell Robinson has been an athletic freak when he's been healthy for the Knicks. This year he dealt with both a broken hand and a broken foot at different junctures of the season, limiting his availability. But when he's on the floor he is a massive difference maker on both ends.
Frank Ntilikina never quite got into Tom Thibodeau's rotation but, the former lottery pick is still super young and brings a lot to the table defensively.
Kevin Knox also fell out of favor in Thibodeau's rotation but he's still really young and when he did see playing time, he showed confidence shooting the ball from three-point range. He's a player that could still make the back end of a rotation for a lot of teams.
In this deal, the Kings again bid adieu to Hield and Bagley and add in a top 10 protected first-round pick. This may ruffle some feathers for Kings fans, but the upside in Mitchell Robinson is well worth it. Keep in mind Hield's stock has dropped and Bagley has been a complete flop in the NBA. The idea here is that the Knicks take Bagley along believing they can tap into his potential while the Kings do the same with Ntilikina and Knox.
The prized pieces are of course Hield and Robinson with the Kings getting their long term answer at center while the Knicks add a perimeter threat who again, has been brought up in trade talks for awhile now.
There's reason for optimism in Sacramento as the Kings have two bright young and emerging guards in De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton. It's a fan base starving for a taste of the playoffs, something they haven't seen in well over a decade. These trades wouldn't fully get the Kings over the hump, in all likelihood, but they would be a heck of a start to the offseason and move them in the right direction.
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