Sacramento Kings Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Pacific Notes: Holmes, Looney, D. Jones, Clippers

March 20th, 2021 at 6:47pm CST by Arthur Hill

In case the Kings are thinking about moving impending free agent Richaun Holmes before Thursday’s trade deadline, Holmes is making sure the organization knows where his loyalties lie, writes James Ham of NBC Sports California. After posting 25 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in Friday’s win at Boston, Holmes spoke of his fondness for the team.

“I can’t say enough how much I love this city, love these fans, love my teammates, love stepping out there in Sacramento in my jersey representing this city,” he said. “It’s been some of the best times of my life.”

Holmes seemed like an under-the-radar signing when he joined the Kings in 2019, but he quickly became the team’s starting center. He’s averaging career highs in points (14.0), rebounds (8.7) and assists (1.3) this season and is leading the league in field goal percentage at 65.1%. He’s in line for a substantial raise this summer after making $5MM this year.

“The preparation has met the opportunity and hopefully I can keep getting better and keep making big plays for this team,” Holmes said.

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

Warriors center Kevon Looney has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols and won’t play in tonight’s game, according to Connor Letourneau of The San Francisco Chronicle. The team isn’t sure how long Looney will be out of action, but players in the protocols usually have to sit out seven days, which would cause him to miss four games. With James Wiseman and Eric Paschall already in the protocols and Marquese Chriss out for the rest of the season with a broken leg, Golden State won’t have a true center in its lineup.
The Lakers haven’t announced a decision yet on center Damian Jones, whose second 10-day contract expires today, tweets Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Players are limited to two 10-day deals with the same team in one season, so L.A. would have to sign Jones for the rest of the season to keep him on the roster. “No decision has been made on that,” coach Frank Vogel said, “but he’s played well and we’ll see where that goes.” Jones has started five of the seven games he has played for the Lakers and is averaging 5.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per night.
Ben Golliver of The Washington Post explains why the Clippers may be the contender most in need a significant move by the trade deadline.

McNair Has 'Final Say' On Personnel Moves

March 19th, 2021 at 7:52pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Kings GM Monte McNair has the final say in personnel moves as the trade deadline approaches, Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee reports. Ownership will be consulted, but McNair will be the one making roster decisions and related basketball moves, Anderson adds. However, it’s worth noting owner Vivek Ranadive has to sign off on any major deal, so the Kings organization may be trying hard to downplay Ranadive’s involvement in basketball operations.

Trade Rumors: Oladipo, Kings, Markkanen, McGee

March 19th, 2021 at 12:40pm CST by Luke Adams

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski expects Rockets guard Victor Oladipo to be “prominent” in trade discussions leading up to the March 25 deadline, he said in the latest episode of The Woj Pod. However, it’s not clear what sort of return Houston will want or if any teams will be willing to meet the asking price.

As RealGM relays, Wojnarowski and ESPN colleague Tim Bontemps believe teams will be reluctant to aggressively pursue Oladipo since he hasn’t recaptured his All-Star form in Houston (he’s shooting .399/.316/.772 since joining the Rockets) and will be seeking a huge new multiyear contract as a free agent this offseason.

Here are a few more trade rumors from around the NBA:

A number of power forwards are among the most intriguing players on the trade market, but teams like the Kings, Magic, and Bulls are sending signals that they won’t necessarily feel compelled to move players like Harrison Barnes, Aaron Gordon, and Thaddeus Young, writes ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (Insider link). According to Windhorst, teams that have called Sacramento have found the club willing to discuss Nemanja Bjelica and Jabari Parker, but more hesitant to talk about Barnes.
The Bulls appear more likely to consider moving Lauri Markkanen than Young, Windhorst adds in the same story.
According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, a number of strong playoff teams are interested in Cavaliers center JaVale McGee. However, those clubs are gauging the likelihood of a possible buyout for McGee before committing to giving up an asset for him.
Bobby Marks of ESPN closes the book on the trade that sent Torrey Craig to the Suns, tweeting that Phoenix sent $110K to the Bucks in the deal. That’s the minimum amount possible this season if a team trades cash.

Scotto’s Latest: Dinwiddie, A. Gordon, A. Holiday, Bjelica

March 19th, 2021 at 11:40am CST by Luke Adams

The asking price for Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie on the trade market is believed to be a role player who can contribute this season, plus a second-round pick, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim Bontemps suggested during the latest episode of The Woj Pod that Brooklyn would seek a solid wing defender in such a deal, as NetsDaily relays.

Dinwiddie will be a fascinating trade chip to monitor at the trade deadline, since his value is difficult to pin down. His partially torn ACL will likely prevent him from playing again this season and he’s expected to opt out of his contract at season’s end, as Scotto confirms.

Dinwiddie’s Bird rights have some value, especially to teams without projected 2021 cap room, but most of those clubs without cap space are playoff teams that seem unlikely to send Brooklyn win-now assets just to get a leg up on Dinwiddie’s free agency.

Here’s more from Scotto, with six days until the 2021 trade deadline:

The Magic are thought to be seeking a first-round pick and a good young player in exchange for forward Aaron Gordon, reports Scotto. Gordon, Evan Fournier, and other Orlando players could be available at the deadline, but the team remains reluctant to move Nikola Vucevic, Scotto notes.
Pacers guard Aaron Holiday would be available for a first-round pick, league sources tell Scotto. Indiana has always thought highly of Holiday, but a first-rounder may be an ambitious ask, given his reduced role and his underwhelming production (including a .377 FG%).
Several opposing executives believe the Kings will be able to get a second-round pick for Nemanja Bjelica, says Scotto. If Sacramento is willing to take on salary beyond this season, a stronger return could be in play, but the team would prefer not to do so, sources tell HoopsHype.

Pacific Notes: Oubre, Ranadive, Craig, Hill

March 18th, 2021 at 10:03pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

In previewing trade possibilities facing the Warriors during the final week before the March 25 deadline, Anthony Slater of The Athletic explains the appeal wing Kelly Oubre Jr. could hold for other teams around the league.

Slater notes that Oubre, a young, athletic wing with upside left at age 25, is currently earning $14MM in the last year of his contract, and could be used in a trade to acquire an interesting player along the lines of shooting guards Victor Oladipo and Evan Fournier (both also on expiring deals), small forward Aaron Gordon, or restricted free agent point guard Lonzo Ball.

There’s more out of the Pacific Division:

Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadive apparently is averse to surrendering to a full-on tank this season, and hopes to remain semi-competitive by retaining two of the team’s most trade-friendly players, Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield, Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated asserted on the podcast Locked On Kings. Dan Feldman of NBC Sports Bay Area contends that “staying competitive” is not really much of an option as, with a 16-24 record, Sacramento is currently well below the threshold to compete for even a top-10 record in the Western Conference, and thus an appearance in a play-in game.
Suns head coach Monty Williams expressed his excitement about the potential on-court fit of new reserve guard Torrey Craig, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic writes. “He’s a big, strong wing defender who can guard ones and twos and power forwards and can switch onto a bigger guy,” Williams raved. “We liked him when he was in Denver. Hated competing against him because he was such a good defender and a tough guy for sure.”
The Clippers appear in need of a point guard upgrade. Brian Windhorst of ESPN (video link) thinks that Thunder veteran George Hill could be a fit, but that a player at the level of Lou Williams may need to be sent back in a deal. “He’s a guy who played for [LA head coach Tyronn] Lue in Cleveland and could fit there, but it would probably take a trade of Lou Williams to get that to happen,” Windhorst said.

Bagley To Have Broken Hand Re-Evaluated In Four Weeks

March 18th, 2021 at 8:23pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

After fracturing the fourth metacarpal in his left hand on Monday against the Hornets, Kings big man Marvin Bagley III will not require surgery, per Jason Jones of The Athletic (via Twitter). Jones adds that Sacramento will reassess the malady and update Bagley’s recovery timeline in four weeks.

The No. 2 overall selection in the 2018 draft out of Duke, Bagley is averaging 13.9 PPG and 7.4 RPG this season across 25.7 MPG for the 16-24 Kings in a starting role, very much in line with his career stats of 14.5 PPG and 7.5 RPG in 25.5 MPG.

Various injuries have impeded the 22-year-old Bagley’s development for much of his NBA career thus far. He has appeared in just 112 of a possible 194 games over the course of his tenure in Sacramento. Bagley looked like a possible trade candidate this season, but his latest injury – combined with his overall lack of availability – will limit his value, and the Kings likely won’t be eager to sell low.

Nemanja Bjelica Remains Likely To Be Traded

March 17th, 2021 at 12:39pm CST by Luke Adams

Despite Marvin Bagley III‘s hand injury and Nemanja Bjelica‘s recent return to the Kings‘ rotation, Bjelica remains likely to be traded before next Thursday’s deadline, sources tell Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee.

Bagley's Injury Makes Future Even Fuzzier

March 16th, 2021 at 10:18pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Marvin Bagley III‘s latest injury makes his future with the Kings even cloudier, according to Jason Jones of The Athletic. Bagley is out indefinitely after suffering a fractured left hand on Monday. The career of the 2018 draft’s No. 2 overall pick has been sidetracked by injuries. He missed 20 games as a rookie with knee and back injuries and played just 13 games last season due to a broken right thumb and foot sprain. Bagley’s hand injury will hinder the Kings’ ability of evaluating how he fits long-term but his $11.3MM salary for next season may scare away some teams from dealing for the big man, Jones adds.

Bontemps’ Latest: Hawks, Bulls, Barnes, Pelicans, Fournier

March 16th, 2021 at 1:11pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Hawks are determined to make the playoffs and are expected to be buyers heading into next week’s trade deadline, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Atlanta has won five straight games since firing head coach Lloyd Pierce and has moved up to eighth in a crowded Eastern playoff race. With Kris Dunn and De’Andre Hunter possibly back soon from injuries, the Hawks are hoping to add more talent to break their three-year postseason drought.

Trade rumors continue to circulate around forward John Collins, who is on track to become a restricted free agent this summer. Although Collins has been a full-time starter the past three seasons, Atlanta wasn’t able to work out an extension with him during the offseason and is reportedly wary of giving him a max contract.

Apart from Collins, there are concerns that the Hawks don’t have enough assets to make a significant move, with an Eastern Conference executive telling Bontemps, “I think they’d like to buy, but not sure there’s a lot to buy or what they buy it with. (Kevin) Huerter and picks, I guess, is the package, but what is that buying you?”

Bontemps offers a few more items related to the trade deadline:

The Bulls‘ decision to take two recent lottery picks out of their starting lineup is considered a sign that they’re focused on the playoffs rather than the future. Veterans Tomas Satoransky and Thaddeus Young have replaced Coby White and Wendell Carter for a Chicago team that’s in ninth place at 17-20. The Bulls also face a decision on Lauri Markkanen, who is moving toward restricted free agency, where he might get an offer sheet that Chicago is unwilling to match. “I think they’d trade Markkanen if they get a good offer, but I don’t think they’re likely to trade him,” an East executive said. “I don’t think they do anything unless they get something they love.”
The Kings will consider offers for Harrison Barnes, whom Bontemps sees as a good fit for the Celtics or Heat. However, Barnes’ team-friendly contract, which declines over the next two seasons, could be a factor in convincing Sacramento to keep him.
The Pelicans would like to clear out their backcourt veterans to create more playing time for young guards Kira Lewis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. J.J. Redick and Eric Bledsoe will both be available, but they may be too expensive to bring much of a return. Redick, who underwent treatment for a sore heel last week, has a $13MM expiring contract and is being viewed as a buyout candidate, according to Bontemps. Bledsoe is under contract for another year at more than $18MM and didn’t perform well in the playoffs the past two seasons.
Rival executives are split on what the Magic will do with Aaron Gordon, but many expect Evan Fournier to be traded. “I think they’ll rent Fournier to someone, but that’s it,” an East executive said. “Nobody has given me any indication they’re going to move (Nikola) Vucevic, or even have a discussion for him, unless they get a huge return.”

Kings’ Bagley Suffers Fractured Left Hand

March 15th, 2021 at 8:55pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Kings big man Marvin Bagley III suffered a fracture of the fourth metacarpal in his left hand on Monday, James Ham of the NBC Sports California tweets.

Bagley’s injury occurred during the first half of Sacramento’s game at Charlotte. An X-ray taken at the Spectrum Center revealed the fracture, according to a team press release. He’ll undergo a further medical evaluation in the coming days and an update regarding the course of treatment will be provided by the team.

Bagley, the second pick of the 2018 draft, was averaging 13.9 PPG and 7.6 RPG entering the contest while starting 36 contests.

He’s been snakebit by injuries over the last two seasons. Bagley missed the restart last summer due to a right foot injury and was also sidelined earlier last season by left foot and thumb ailments, as he appeared in just 13 games. He missed training camp workouts this season due to a bout with COVID-19.

Bagley’s father caused some controversy in early January when he tweeted that the team should trade his son, a tweet the younger Bagley declined to discuss.

There has been some speculation that the Kings’ new front office might try to move on from Bagley but potential suitors are discouraged by his contract and an approximate $15MM qualifying offer in 2022.