Sacramento Kings: Trade targets who would guarantee a playoff appearance

If the Sacramento Kings manage to pull off a trade in the coming months, they’d be wise to target one of these players, who would essentially lock up a trip to the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

It’s been an agonizing last decade or so for the Sacramento Kings, who haven’t tasted the postseason since 2006. That’s a long drought, but one that could surprisingly come to an end in 2018-19 — if the Kings play their cards right.

At this moment, Sacramento is looking like a team worth taking seriously. They’re right on the cusp of contention, which isn’t something we’ve been able to say about this franchise for years. Unfortunately, in their current state, it may not be quite enough.

So how does Vlade Divac ensure that the Kings finally book a trip to the playoffs this season? He could stand pat and hope that his young core of playmakers develops enough in the coming months to squeeze out an eighth-place finish in the Western Conference. The more logical option, though, is making a trade to beef up his roster.

Now that Dec. 15 has come and gone, essentially every NBA player is up for grabs. All you need is a desire to make a deal and willingness to part with valuable pieces. Right now, that seems to be about where the Kings are — especially with the playoffs actually within reach.

So, for Vlade and the Kings’ sake, let’s ponder some potential trade targets who could give Sacramento the boost it needs to extend the season past early April. The likelihood of the Kings acquiring these players varies, but they’d be welcomed additions nonetheless.