Does this trade make sense for the Sacramento Kings?
Whether or not the Kings make the playoffs, Sacramento will still have some big decisions to make about their roster in the offseason. They have De’Aaron Fox tied down for several years after signing him to a max-contract extension prior to the start of this season and Buddy Hield is under contract through 2023, but Richaun Holmes is set to be a free agent this offseason and Marvin Bagley III will be entering the final year of his contract next season.
These two guys are really the only frontcourt options for the Kings, which is why they will have to make a big decision of which player they are going to keep long-term. Hypothetically, they could keep both Holmes and Bagley, but this organization and front-office would be paying a lot of money to field a team that has not been to the playoffs since 2006.
That is not going to happen, which is why Marvin Bagley III is the most likely player on the Kings to be moved in the offseason. After not getting the offers they wanted for Bagley at the NBA trade deadline this year, they will enter the offseason still entertaining the idea of trading the young frontcourt player, but they may have to lower their standards and asking price.
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Teams are not going to want to invest a first-round pick or high-level talent for a player like Bagley not only because he is injury prone, but because he will be entering the final year of his rookie contract. As a result, a trade like this one could ultimately be the value the Kings are able to salvage for Marvin Bagley III.
If they sign Holmes to a long-term deal, like it seems like things are trending, then the Kings will not be able to keep Marvin Bagley III as well unless they are willing to pay a ton of money in luxury taxes over the next few years.
As a result, getting some kind of value for him now in second-round picks may not be a terrible decision, especially if they are going to let him walk at the conclusion of his contract anyways. Not to mention, the Kings would also create a fairly large trade exception equal to Bagley’s remaining contract if they executed this trade with the Spurs.
So not only would they end up with two second-round picks, but they would also have a $11.3M trade exception that they could use at the NBA trade deadline next season, along with the two second-round picks, to potentially add a talented player to help them make the playoffs.
Losing Marvin Bagley III probably is not something the Sacramento Kings want to do, but this is a move that will have to be made to potentially help ensure greater long-term success. Tying themselves down financially when they have not made the playoffs in ages is not a good move, which is why Bagley will likely be on the move in the offseason and will be a name to monitor in NBA trade rumors.
