With the Kings far away from playoff contention, the team could look much different after the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.
One player in particular, Keon Ellis, is gathering a lot of attention.
Ellis is a “strong contender” to be the most likely traded player ahead of the deadline, NBA insider Marc Stein reported Sunday.
“League sources say numerous teams are in pursuit of Ellis, with the Kings believed to [be] seeking a first-round pick given the widespread interest,” Stein wrote. “One source close to the process essentially describes an Ellis trade as an inevitability.”
Stein corroborates an earlier report from The Athletic’s Sam Amick, that about 10 NBA teams have been in pursuit of Ellis and that the Kings are asking for a first-round pick in return.
Ellis, 26, has oddly been in-and-out of coach Doug Christie’s rotation this season. He played 21 minutes in the Kings’ loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday after missing the previous 5 games.
Earlier this season, general manager Scott Perry emphasized that the organization thinks highly of Ellis despite his sparse playing time.
“There is no difference in opinion on Keon Ellis,” Perry said in an interview with “Sactown Sports” in December. “Doug has a great deal of respect for him. Actually, Doug knows Keon better than I do. He’s coached the kid for the last couple of years. I’m getting to know Keon with each practice, each game that moves forward.”
Ellis is averaging 5.5 points on 39.2 percent shooting from the field and 36.4 percent from 3-point range in 40 games played this season.
He is not the only Sacramento player to gather trade interest. Throughout the season, the Kings have been expected to make all their star players available before the deadline.
Recently, center Domantas Sabonis has been linked to the Toronto Raptors as a possible suitor for the star.
The Kings are appearing to head towards a rebuild, and Ellis could be the first domino to fall.
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