Sacramento Kings: Possible Candidates To Move At Trade Deadline

With the trade deadline looming, the Sacramento Kings have a few candidates that could be on the move.

Just when you think the Sacramento Kings have turned a corner, they come crashing back down to earth and suffer a string of losses. This latest ill-timed skid dropped them from eighth place to tenth in the Western Conference. The Kings went from being a game up on the Utah Jazz and Portland Trailblazers to being one and two games back respectively.

Their current four game losing streak opens the possibility of changes to the roster and the first change would most likely come in the form of the Kings unloading some of their higher-salaried players.

With the Kings not possessing any draft picks in the near future due to trades with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers (if you’re interested in those predicaments, you can look at that here,) the only thing they can offer playoff teams are veterans.

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So who’d be available if the Kings continue to plummet as the trade deadline approaches?

Rudy Gay

Gay has been plagued by a string of injuries lately. But when healthy, Gay has been playing at a great level for the Kings. His true shooting percentage (TS%) with the Kings is the highest of his career — .546. And this season, his field goal percentage is the second highest it’s ever been, .469. He’s also having a decent defensive year for Kings’ standards, with a 107 DRtg on the year, according to Basketball Reference.

But, Gay has been the focus of many reports stating that the Kings are making the 29-year-old forward available. He’d more than likely be the player that brings the most value back to the Kings — aside from DeMarcus Cousins who more than likely won’t be going anywhere any time soon. Gay still has two years left on his deal after signing a three-year, $40 million extension with the Kings in 2014. The deal is pretty cheap for a scorer like Gay since the salary cap has risen and is expected to go up again at season’s end.

The problem for Sacramento is that aside from Gay and Cousins, the Kings don’t really have any other offensive playmakers. Aside from that, Sacramento’s defensive woes are the most important issue that the team has this season and the Kings would certainly look to pull in a top-tier defender in an exchange for Gay.

Gay’s friendship with Kings’ guard Rajon Rondo could play a part in him remaining with the Kings however, since Rondo is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and if it becomes a distraction with the team as the trade deadline quickly approaches.

Marco Belinelli

Belinelli has struggled since joining the Kings this season. Signing a three-year, $19 million deal, Belinelli was brought in to serve as an offensive spark off the bench and be the sort of deep threat the Kings painfully needed.

However, this hasn’t been the case as Belinelli has struggled mightily through the first half of the season. He’s shooting a career low .384 from the floor and his PER is the second lowest of his career at 9.9, according to Basketball Reference — only his rookie season was lower.

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Belinelli has shot 31 percent from the three-point line this year, which is much lower than his 38% career average. While his shooting has been an issue, the Kings’ offense has definitely been no help to him. Belinelli has not been used to the best of his abilities as the Kings have primarily used him off of pick and rolls and while in motion. But he hasn’t been able to get many open looks from an isolated position.

While Belinelli hasn’t been much help on the offensive side, he’s also been a problem on defense as well, posting a 112 DRtg on the year.

Belinelli could definitely get back on track but it’s going to take a better offensive plan for him to find his rhythm in the opinion of many. However, the Kings may want to look at sending him to another team if they’re not going to use him correctly.

Caron Butler

Butler has asked for a trade out of Sacramento, according to reports. To fans though, he’s been nothing but professional as he’s waited for the Kings to find a deal they like in exchange for the veteran. He hasn’t played much — getting into only nine games so far this season — but wants to see more minutes so he can up his value on the trade market.

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While the Kings have a young talented roster, don’t expect to see them being willing to part with someone such as Ben McLemore who hasn’t come close to reaching his potential over his few years in the league. Don’t be surprised if Vlade Divac makes a big splash, however. He’s remained quiet when it comes to what’s going on in his head and it looks like he’s going to keep it that way.

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