Trade Season Starts December 15: What’s Realistic for the Kings

I think this deadline is going to be fascinating. That brings us to Yes. Yes. Yes. December 15th. Uh we It should be noted you have been allowed to make trades. December 15th doesn’t mean the trade season officially opens, but it’s kind of this checkpoint in trade season. 82 players that signed over the off season are able to be traded now. That means 90% of the league’s players can be traded. just not that guy in Golden State, Jonathan Kaminga. He’s got to wait until January 15th. So, does that mean at once it’s December 15th tomorrow in a couple hours, we’re going to get trades everywhere. Kings are selling D. Uh, maybe, but maybe not. The reality is it doesn’t happen often. Although, the last time it did, December 15th last year, is when Dennis Shruder was traded by the Warriors in a deal. But more times than not, it’s just kind of the start of things. I think the date that will be interesting to watch December 19th through December 22nd. It’s the GLeague winner showcase. It’s in Orlando, Florida. And all the teams executives go there. It that has now turned into like the place to be for execs because here’s what’s special about it. It’s not open to the public. Mm-m. We’ve done we’ve worked G-League showcases as broadcasters before and it’s fascinating because they’re not playing in front of fans. It’s all 31 GLeague teams are in Orlando and they’ve got it’s just a chance for uh exeacts and agents, scouts to watch all these players to see, oh, is this worth a 10day? Who’s this? You know, but it’s also a chance for them to hang out and there’s no media around. Yeah. I mean, there’s very little media very little. Yeah, it’s like partners or whatever, but that’s how that’s when the trade discussions really start popping out. You sit down, you’re in Orlando from home. Yeah. I mean, and you’re just in like the hub of Yes. of who you need to be talking to if you are an NBA team, if you’re part of the organization in the front office and like there’s so many different people that go and there’s so many people that are going too to evaluate talent and um seeing what else is out there at the G-League level because obviously, you know, that’s where these guys are developing, keeping their game going and everything. And so it’s just all right there in a bubble. So that’s when it seems like that stuff starts happening and then we’ll hear some rumors along the way from like some of the reporters that go out there, right? Yeah. And then it’s like the holidays and then and then it’s holidays. Are you making a trade on Christmas? Probably not. You know, we’ll see. So the G-League Showcase December 19th through the 22nd. The deadline itself, the NBA trade deadline is February 5th at noon Pacific time. What do we have that day? Nothing. You sure? No games. Oh, hell. No games. So, we’ll be live for that. Let’s get to some of the rumors that were put out after our last podcast. Sam Ach over at The Athletic report that teams like Washington, the Suns, and Chicago have shown significant interest in the past and are still believed to be on Sabonis’ short list of possible suitors, but Sabonis is prepared to remain in a King’s jersey for the foreseeable future. H it’s interesting thinking about it like Washington and Chicago. I get this as a Sabonis landing spot for do you get it from their their perspective because Washington is going to have a ton of cap space coming up here. Chicago. The same thing with Washington, how they’ve kind of they’re building this team, right? They’ve they’re super young. They’re not good. They’ve been competitive. Shout out to them. They won tonight. Beat Indiana. They almost beat the Cavs the other night. And like they’re in a fun spot because although they’re bad, it’s like some nights they’re competing. It’s their young guys doing some whatever. But they also have like these veterans on their team like Middleton, his contract comes up. If you think about them, they they’re having money to spend, but you don’t have to spend it in free agency and get saddled with like some monster contract. You could trade for Sabonis’ deal, which is two more years after this year, he’s still, you know, in his prime. And even though he’s got his weaknesses that we know, he does a lot of good things. And for a team that has length and size, you think about Sar Bulabali, right? Carrington’s long um George like they have some interesting talent. Yeah. No, it it’s again situational who you’re pairing Domas Sabonis with around him. Um can make or break an entire team as we’ve seen an identity of a team as well. So yeah. Yeah. you would be able to cover up some of his weaknesses, but also you’re not necessarily like you’re trying to build a winning culture. And you know, I saw a stat today that they started this the season 3 and 20 three seasons in a row. So, you know, next year it’s like it’s going to be Sar’s third year. Some of their guys a couple years in, they’re going to have a good draft pick again. You know, have a vet like Sabonis who can rebound well and then he’s got the length around him. You can do some more things offensively. What do the Kings get out of? Well, I mean, that’s a that’s an interesting discussion. Okay. I mean, it expire. You want an expiring contract and they have plenty to give away because they also have CJ McCollum’s contract. So, you want you basically Can you give me uh expiring some compensation, too? Okay. I want some picks. Okay. Man, I I’m not saying you’re you’re not going to get their freaking lottery. No. And that’s why that’s why I’m I’m more asking like what your goal would be for something like that. And I get that. And I guess for expiring and for cap space to you, that’s just to be like you’re getting contract. You’re an expensive team right now. And if you if you can move off an asset and get some picks in return and some cap relief as you’re trying to kind of rebuild, it’s not the worst thing. And Sabonis is still a good player. So, they’ve got they’ve got their picks here. They’ve got second round picks, too. I don’t I don’t know. You could there could be protections on it. I’m not going to like propose trade scenarios. I just think they have the pieces to get it done. And it does make sense. And it’s kind of the same kind of thing in Chicago. On the surface, you’re going, why on earth would the Bulls do that? They’re not ready. It’s the same thing. Like, they have cap space. Vousvich is going to be on his way out, right? You put Sabonis in there, still in his prime. It’s only a couple of years and you have them with a younger team and see what it looks like. Well, and that to me for Chicago could make even more sense because I think they have more players right now in a season right now where maybe they see all the dysfunction in the Eastern Conference for the most part where they’re just like, can we what kind of, you know, push can we make? Um especially since we’ve seen some losses, we need to make a change. The Sun’s one I don’t totally get. I’m like, “Okay, you went like and got all got Mark Williams, huh? Alen, I don’t know. We’ll see with that one.” But that that’s just a couple of the teams that Sam had mentioned that had interest in the past, significant interest in the past and are still believed to be interested. Uh, on Lavine, Sam says for starters, he could help several contending teams. to that point. League sources confirmed that Milwaukee has done recent due diligence on Lavine and they have shown interest in the past, but his salary 47.4 million this season, a player option next year make it nearly impossible to move him without attaching some sort of sweetener draft assets in return. If I’m the Kings non-starter, I am not attaching any picks to move off salary. I’d rather just eat the salary. Just wait and be patient. Yeah, I’m totally with you. Especially going into this year’s draft, you are not like I mean not even just this year’s draft. You just think about the future for the Kings and their assets and what they need. They need to keep their picks. Um especially for how they are in these transition years and it could be a lot of years and they are a small market and are going to have to they are going to need to build through the draft um if they don’t figure other things out. Yes. He also wrote that Perry, Scott Perry, has signaled a commitment to retaining the draft picks that he hopes will play a pivotal role in the rebuild. As Morgan just mentioned, if that stance remains, then there’s a very real chance that this veteran core, Lavine, Sabonis, D. Rose, and Malik could remain past the deadline. We shouldn’t laugh because I bet there’s a chance. You never know. There’s a huge You guys, that’s reality. It’s real. Let Hey, let reality kick in. I would say um does it hurt? I watching Demar I don’t feel like it’s been talked enough about because the Kings are just bad, right? But Dear is not going out there just jacking up shots. And I feel like ever since Keegan has gotten back, Dear has played like a total team style of basketball. There have been moments, you know, I think the last time they beat Minnesota, like he took over late in the game, he’s knocking down shots, but more times than not, you know, he’s taken like 13, 14 shots. He’s not scoring 20 the right shots, though, too. He’s sacrificing his numbers for what he believes is a greater good at times. Like, he could definitely, if he wanted to, he could be getting a lot more shots and score a lot more. 100%. But I ultimately think if he did if he did in any way, shape, or form want out of Sacramento, which I’m going to assume like yes, like as a player that’s on your way out of your career, you’d rather be part of a contending team. Um, you know, making the money is great, but like how can you be a part of a contending team? And I think for him, maybe this is also trying to showcase too like I can adjust my game and be that teammate. And that is so hard for players like a Demar De Rozan with that resume, with that career to do and for him to make that shift. It’s huge. It’s It shows what type of player he is, how he respects the game. And I love even seeing I know it’s not something you should be uh praising, but like even the effort that you are seeing on the defensive end because we know what he lacks and we know what he can’t do, but you’re seeing so much more of a fight in a different feel and just relying on his defensive IQ than his actual like ability to move laterally. And I think he even tonight against Minnesota like scoring on McDaniels like he’s proven he could still get buckets in this league and you you could see a contending team or a team trying to make a bit of a push go. Yeah, dude. We need a guy that can go get us a bucket and we have the pieces around us that could cover up some of the defensive weaknesses he does have which just like you just mentioned like the lateral quickness. So I don’t know. Um and his contract only 10 million guaranteed next year. So, it’s a great look. Yeah. Uh, the last note, he talked about Keon, so of course teams are interested. Uh, he also notes that it remains possible that Ellis and the Kings find a win-win proposition on the extension front. He’s eligible as of February 9th, so a few days after the deadline, he’s eligible for an extension. I I mean, if I’m him, I’m feeling so frustrated, pissed off, like why would I trust this organization? I’m being like kicked to the curb. And I’m sure here’s the if there is something we do know about Doug Chrissy and he’s vocalized it too with the with the media is that he’s having these guys in his office and communicating eding.

Deuce and Mo break down December 15, the unofficial start of NBA trade season, and what it could mean for the Kings. They discuss Sam Amick’s report on Sabonis, Zach LaVine, realistic expectations for Sacramento, and why DeMar DeRozan could fit on a contending team.
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