How This Trade Impacts The Sacramento Kings
There is a lot of pressure on the Sacramento Kings to perform this season. Ownership wants to see things turned around, as they have missed the postseason, an NBA-record tying, 15 straight seasons.
Everyone is feeling the pressure as owner Vivek Ranadive has a quick trigger. Head coach Luke Walton and general manager Monte McNair could both easily be on the hot seat if there aren’t substantial improvements for the Kings this season.
While Ben Simmons has his flaws, his acquisition would likely buy some people some time. Simmons is a 25-year old multi-time All-Star that would help turn things around in Sacramento.
His presence defensively would be key for the team. The Kings had the worst defensive rating in NBA history last season, so adding arguably the most versatile defensive player in the league to their roster would help immensely. Simmons can defend every position on the court, providing Walton with a lot of flexibility when it comes to lineup configurations.
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Convincing Simmons to play more off-ball would enable the Kings’ offense to open up as well. Imagine a De’Aaron Fox-Simmons pick-and-roll? It would be devastating, as teams would struggle to contain the athleticism of Simmons rolling and attacking the rim.
It looked to be more of a confidence thing for him during the postseason. Going to the Kings, where he could be the No. 1 option he wants to be, could help get him back on track.
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The package the Kings are parting with, in this deal, shouldn’t deter them from making the trade. They are retaining Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, making this a no-brainer for them. Attaching a non-protected first-rounder is risky, but you have to take some chances when acquiring talent such as Simmons.
Now, let’s take a look at how the 76ers feel about this deal.
