The Sacramento Kings have been one of the surprise teams in the NBA this season. Currently 27-25, they're the ninth seed in the Western Conference but only a game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the eighth seed. Simultaneously, while they can sniff the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, the Kings need to stand pat at the NBA trade deadline.

The idea of passing up on an upgrade initially seems unwise considering how the Kings are on the rise and in the playoff hunt. With that said, it's essential for them to not lose sight of what should be the priority: the continued development of their young core. It's a group that features Buddy Hield (26), De'Aaron Fox (21), Willie Cauley-Stein (25), Bogdan Bogdanovic (26), and Marvin Bagley III (19).

Hield has established himself as one of the best two-way wings in the NBA. Currently averaging a career-high 20.5 points per game while shooting 46.0 percent from beyond the arc (another career high), he has been a focal point of the Kings' offensive attack. Whether it be playing in isolation, hitting outside jump shots, or playing lockdown defense, Hield is capable of making a profound impact.

Fox has continued to be an electric playmaker for head coach David Joerger's offense. Averaging 17.5 points and 7.2 assists per game, he has been a productive stud on the offensive end. The speedy point guard pushes pace superbly and is adept at getting to the rim to score for himself or making plays for others, making him one of the most compelling young guards in the NBA.

De'Aaron Fox

Cauley-Stein has come into his own as a physical specimen who can impact a game in multiple ways. The 25-year-old defends the rim, finishes relentlessly in the paint, hits the boards, and is an underrated passing big man. He's currently averaging 13.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.

Bogdanovic is the most intriguing development of the Kings' core. After an encouraging rookie season offensively, he has been even more productive in the 2018-19 season. Averaging 15.1 points per game, Bogdanovic has been a vital source of offense for the Kings and is a leading candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Bagley has endured an up-and-down rookie season given his inconsistent role in the team's rotation. At the same time, he's still averaging 12.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game off the bench. Bagley's athleticism and scoring prowess is reason for the Kings to believe he can be relied on to man a bigger role in the near future.

The Kings also have Iman Shumpert, Justin Jackson, Harry Giles, and Nemanja Bjelica giving them production when called upon. All in all, the Kings have a deep rotation that has taken a huge leap from last season (the Kings finished 27-55 in the 2017-18 season).

Now, the Kings are not a flawless team. In fact, they went into Sunday 25th in opponent points per game (114.9) and 22nd in opponent field goal percentage (46.6). For a young team, those defensive struggles shouldn't be surprising, and that's partially why the Kings would, in theory, want to add some proven defenders and/or accomplished two-way players. Their problem is that the players who teams will ask for in trades are ones the Kings shouldn't be looking to ship off.

Hield, Fox, Cauley-Stein, Bogdanovic, and Bagley should be off the table in any trade talks the Kings partake in before the trade deadline. And while taking such action would make it difficult for the Kings to acquire any premier players via trade, it's the appropriate course of action for general manager Vlade Divac.

The Kings have a blossoming young core. They have three or four players in place who could potentially be fixtures in their starting lineup for the next five years. It would be a mistake for them to force their young players to adapt to playing alongside a star, or someone who needs the ball in their hands to flourish midseason. Plus, what position do the Kings truly need to upgrade at?

Hield, Fox, and Cauley-Stein are shoo-ins to start for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Bagley will likely be in the starting rotation, or embark on a sixth-man role where he plays starting minutes in the coming years. The Kings also have a surplus of guards and wings who could be inserted into the starting five such as Bogdanovic, Jackson, and Yogi Ferrell, among others.

Buddy Hield

The Kings have been linked to big names and proven commodities via trade such as Harrison Barnes, Marc Gasol, and Otto Porter Jr. Now, could those three, or any other high-profile individual help the Kings' chances of making a playoff push? Yes, but trading away a young player and/or first-round picks (which is what opposing teams will ask for and understandably so) would be an immense mistake by a team that's trending in the right direction.

The Kings have the chance to lure a big-name free agent to Sacramento this summer. They have one of the best young cores in the NBA and a boatload of cap space to throw at free agents. Depriving themselves of one, or both, of those assets for a short-term upgrade, or significant player, would be making a transaction for the sake of doing so and could even affect the development of one of their franchise players. Why in the world would the Kings want to stunt the growth of their young core?

If the Kings are offered a trade that improves their roster and doesn't involve them giving up more than an expiring contract and second-round pick, they should be all ears. But any substantial trade that's going to either alter their rotation, or force management to surrender assets, should be avoided at all costs. When the Kings reach the point where they're legitimate conference threats, going forward with a blockbuster trade would make sense. Right now, they're not in that situation.

The future is bright for the Kings, but the real rewards aren't coming this season. There's no need to rush a rebuild that's reaching its final stages.