The Sacramento Kings have already clinched a league-worst 16 straight losing seasons towards the tail-end of their 2021-22 campaign. Currently, they are holding a 29-49 record for the 12th spot in the Western Conference. The Kings previously engaged in a blockbuster deal that gave them an All-Star caliber player in Domantas Sabonis and other assets in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson.
Despite making a big move at the trade deadline, the Kings have yet to see a significant improvement in terms of their on-court performances in previous months. With that said, they should continue to tweak their roster and seek trades that will put them in the best position to compete and finally put an end to their decades-long playoff drought.
Let's take a look at the player that the Kings can trade in the 2022 offseason.
Kings 2022 NBA Offseason Trade That Needs to Happen
Richaun Holmes has always been a vital piece of the team's frontcourt rotation since landing in Sacramento in the 2019-20 season. This year, he continues to have valuable contributions as he is currently tallying 10.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 45 appearances.
However, for the past few months, there have already been talks about Holmes being traded at some point in the 2021-22 season. Despite the buzz, those rumors didn't come to fruition as the big man remains to be part of the Kings' roster up to this day.
In contrast to the talks surrounding Holmes, the front office even brought in a more talented big man in Sabonis at the trade deadline. The acquisition has greatly affected the number of opportunities that are being given to the six-year veteran as of late. In fact, Holmes has not seen any action since March 17 against the Milwaukee Bucks where he only tallied six points in 13 minutes.
Given his current role in the team, there is a realistic chance that Holmes might get traded in the upcoming offseason — just a year after signing a multi-year contract with the Kings. Even though he won't get to stay in Sacramento for long, there are still a number of teams that are sure to have a place for a talent like Holmes.
In fact, squads like the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder are all in need of a serviceable big man. To add, Holmes is just about to enter the prime years of his career at the age of 28. Even though his contract is at a $46 million price tag, the teams will surely get a player that can be part of their core in the years to come.
From the Kings' end, it also makes sense for them to trade the Illinois native since his contract is expected to have an $11.2 million cap hit for the 2022-23 season. Having him on a long-term deal also gives them a good chance of landing significant assets in return. These can be in the form of role players who can come off the bench or multiple draft assets which they can use to stockpile talents that can emerge as future franchise cornerstones for them moving forward.
Given how long the Kings have been struggling, the front office must be more aggressive in making changes to their roster, especially upon heading to free agency and the draft in the 2022 offseason. Trading away Richaun Holmes will not completely solve all their problems but it might just put them in a better position to form a more competent team moving forward.
Follow Us
Subscribe