How This Trade Impacts Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings have been in the market for an All-Star caliber addition this offseason. They have also checked in with the Toronto Raptors about Pascal Siakam but found no traction on a deal.

So, in this scenario, they finally land that caliber of player in Ben Simmons. Now, doing so without including De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton seems unlikely, but this is the best that the Kings would have to offer based on the information that has circulated about the situation.

For the Sacramento Kings, this trade is a big win. They have been trying to move Buddy Hield for a while now and are finally able to in a package for Simmons. Marvin Bagley III needs a change of scenery as well, so using those two players in a package makes sense.

The two first-round picks are risky to surrender, especially without any protections, but they have to sacrifice something of value to get this deal completed. The team would be hoping that Simmons’ addition would be enough to push them into the playoff picture in the Western Conference.

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Simmons would greatly improve the team’s defense, something they desperately need. Sacramento not only finished last in the NBA in defensive rating last season, but it was the worst defensive rating in the history of the NBA.

Shoring things up on that end of the court will help the Sacramento Kings push for a playoff spot and end their 15-year postseason drought. They would have to figure some things out with their lineup, as Hield was their best shooter, but acquiring talent such as Simmons while retaining Fox and Haliburton is a win.