The Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers could look to trade their picks in the 2023 NBA Draft.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Pacers “already explored trading for veteran talent before the February trade deadline.” He added the Kings are “another team to monitor, sources said, for first-round trade possibilities.”
The Pacers have the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft. They also have the 26th and 29th picks. Indiana could acquire a star this summer if the franchise packages those three picks.
Meanwhile, the Kings have the 24th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Sacramento made the playoffs this season for the first time since 2006. Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors beat the Kings in the first round in seven epic games, but Sacramento has a bright future.
NBA DRAFT NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Sacramento Kings & Indiana Pacers Updates
The Pacers are building around Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin, while the Kings are building around De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray. It’s unknown at this time which stars will be available on the trade market this summer, but it sounds like Indiana and Sacramento are big-game hunting.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley listed three targets for the Kings this offseason: Reggie Bullock, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. Meanwhile, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz is proposing that the Pacers trade for Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton.
“A year after signing Ayton to a record-high four-year, $132.9 million offer sheet, the Pacers finally get their newest franchise center,” Swartz wrote. “This deal would take some patience, as both sides would need to wait for the one-year trade restriction to expire on July 14. If the rookies originally selected by Indiana sign their contracts, this would extend the wait 30 days as well, meaning Ayton-to-Indiana would likely be completed by the end of July.”
NBA DRAFT NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Sacramento Kings & Indiana Pacers Updates
Ayton tried to leave the Suns last offseason by signing a four-year, $132.9 million offer sheet with the Pacers in restricted free agency. However, Phoenix matched Indiana’s offer sheet.
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