The Kings are interested in Domantas Sabonis and have recently ramped up their pursuit of the Pacers big man, a league source tells Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee.
According to Anderson, Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, who was considered off-limits when the team talked to the Sixers in the summer about Ben Simmons, has now been included in separate trade discussions involving Sabonis and Simmons.
Sam Amick of The Athletic, who reported earlier in the month that the Kings no longer view Fox as untouchable, stated during a radio appearance on Sports 1140 KHTK (hat tip to HoopsHype) that the team is eyeing both Sabonis and Simmons, and suggested that he wouldn’t be surprised if Sacramento makes a “big-time” trade in the coming days or weeks.
“There is a fair amount of pressure for this roster to look pretty different after the deadline,” Amick said.
Multiple reports, dating back to early December, have indicated that the Pacers are open to the idea of trading one of Sabonis or Myles Turner, but wouldn’t move both players. Turner had long been considered the most likely trade candidate of the two, but his left foot injury may diminish his value leading up to the deadline, opening the door for a Sabonis deal.
The Pacers would want an All-Star caliber player in return for Sabonis, according to Anderson, who hears that the team has received offers meeting that criteria. Fox hasn’t made an All-Star team, but Anderson suggests an offer that includes the 24-year-old and at least one draft pick could pique Indiana’s interest.
As for the Simmons scenario, Amick said this week on The Athletic NBA Show that he believes the Kings are “actually pondering” the idea of acquiring both Simmons and Tobias Harris from Philadelphia (hat tip to HoopsHype).
The 76ers have reportedly explored the idea of attaching Harris to a Simmons trade, which is viewed as complicated due to the duo’s $69MM cap hit in 2021/22, as well as the $190MM+ they’re owed beyond this season. However, Amick suggests that scenario isn’t off the table for Sacramento. Marc Stein also recently reported that there’s a sense around the league the Kings could be convinced to take on Harris’ oversized contract in a Simmons deal.
In addition to Fox, players like Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley III, Tristan Thompson, and – to a lesser extent – Harrison Barnes have been cited as potential trade candidates for Sacramento. Presumably, if the Kings were to make a play for Sabonis, they’d also be open to discussing current starting center Richaun Holmes.
Arvydas Sabonis son! He comes from great bloodlines.
Fox for Simmons makes a ton of sense for each team, but sounds like Philly is (unreasonably IMHO) holding out for more.
Simmons value is that he can defend 1-5 and can slash. His horrible outside and FT shooting make it problematic to facilitate the offense, though. So, in Sac, you play him at the 4 and make him a secondary facilitator to Haliburton …
In Philly, he is providing zero value, so although Fox has a pricy contract, he’s still young and a more capable offensive producer with high athleticism. He could bump Maxey and Curry to the 2 & 3 …
I think Tobias Harris still has value in Philly and has proven to be a solid two way player that fits that scheme well. The contract is undesirable, but the player himself, is not. It is a mistake to try and package him and Simmons together, both for seller and buyer. It waters down the return, detracts an asset, and for the acquiring team, ropes them into a contract they don’t want.
Neither Maxey or Curry can play the 3
Fox is also a terrible outside shooter and below average FT shooter, doesn’t fit what philly needs. I can see their hesitancy in acquiring another guard that is at their best when using speed to get to the basket. As jb said, neither curry or Maxey can play the 3. I question the Maxey and fox fit in the backcourt since they have similar styles.
The Kings are a poorly constructed team of very decent players that will have various results if dealt elsewhere. And by turning over half of those good players for a Simmons or Sabonis won’t make leaps and bounds. This is Fox’s team and if he is traded to a contender I don’t see him leading it, which will effect his production. Alternatively, I can see Hield flourish elsewhere, and to a lesser extent Bagley, if healthy. Haliburton is a good piece but not someone I would keep out of trade talks vs. the others.
It is well thought…but they wouldnt get Sabonis without butchering the whole roster leaving kings without anyone good left.
I think it would be wiser to get C.Wood and Jerami Grant, Kings have enough draft capital to pull that off.
C.Wood
J.Grant
H.Barnes
Halliburton
Fox
Thats a damm good starting 5
Kings might as well go all in like Chicago did. Sabonis,Simmons,Haliburton would be a nice core. they could finish the season tanking and add another guy from the draft
Wish the Bulls would go after Sabonis. They really need another inside presence. I wonder if Williams, White, Jones Jr, their 2025 1st and the Blazers protected 1st would be enough.
I know here’s no current all-star player in there, but both Williams and White are former recent top 5 picks. Williams started off the year well before he was injured and White’s been great since coming back.
There might even be a way to get the Blazers to remove the lottery restriction on their first rounder given that they can’t trade any first rounders through 2028 due to the Stepien Rule. Maybe the Bulls send them a 2nd just to get them to remove the lottery restriction.
Honestly think it’s odd the Pacers want a current all-star for their all-star to begin with. I mean, unless you have a specific need at one position and an overabundance at another, it’s hard to imagine any team having an actual all-star they’d want to give up plus whatever else it’d take just to get him, but I guess that’s life for a team that never wants to do a full rebuild.
#FreeBenSimmons