Featured Columnist IVJune 15, 2024
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The Sacramento Kings undoubtedly took a step back during the 2023-24 season.
After going 48-34 in the 2022-23 campaign and ending a 16-year playoff drought, the Kings won two fewer games and failed to advance past the play-in tournament this past season.
So changes are coming. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, NBA executives “expect Kevin Huerter to be available again on the trade market this summer along with forward Harrison Barnes as the Kings look to upgrade their roster in the vaunted Western Conference.”
Sacramento has a solid top three in De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and up-and-comer Keegan Murray, who is only 23. But getting the right roster balance behind that trio will be paramount this summer.
Malik Monk should be one of the most sought-after role players in free agency this summer, so retaining him may not come cheap for the Kings.
The Kings could look to dump either Huerter or Barnes into a team with cap space to free up room for both Monk and another role player in free agency or combine the two as salary matching ($34.8 million) in the pursuit of a star player on the trade market.
The duo averaged a combined 22.2 points per game last season for the Kings, both largely as starters, but a player like Keon Ellis looked like a better fit at the 2 last season over Huerter, especially defensively, and could take his place in the starting lineup.
The Kings could also use a rim-protecting center. So it wouldn’t be shocking to see Barnes and Huerter, or both, on different rosters next season.
