How This Deal Impacts Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They are desperate to make a postseason push and snap their 15-year drought. However, the pieces they currently have are not working.
The Kings are three games out of the NBA Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference. If they are to make a run, they need to shake up the roster. This deal with the Knicks does just that.
Sacramento parts ways with their best player in De’Aaron Fox, but that clears the logjam in the backcourt. Tyrese Haliburton and Davion Mitchell are the backcourt of the future now with Fox on his way across the country.
Bringing in Julius Randle helps balance out their roster. They have a gaping hole at the power forward spot production-wise and he will help fill that. Despite the regression he has had this season, plenty of teams would sign up for their power forward averaging 18.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists with a PER of 20.7.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Sources: Knicks Showing Heavy Trade Interest In De’Aaron Fox
With their goal to remain competitive this season, the Kings get veterans Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier as well. Walker can provide some veteran leadership for the young guards on the team and some scoring punch. Before his recent drought, he was shooting the ball excellently from 3-point range.
Fournier provides more scoring on the wing as well. He has been an excellent 3-point shooter this season and has shown a little more effort and energy on the defensive side of the ball. If the Kings do not want to take on his contract, they could push to acquire Alec Burks instead, which would also keep Tristan Thompson in town.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Sources: Knicks Showing Heavy Trade Interest In De’Aaron Fox
The draft compensation helps the Kings improve down the road. The 2023 first-round pick is conveyed via the Dallas Mavericks, but for a potentially rebuilding team, any first-round pick has value.
A lineup of Haliburton, Mitchell, Harrison Barnes, Randle and Richaun Holmes could be enough to get the Kings back into the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
