State of the Franchise
Projected Cap Space (before luxury tax): $22.3 million
Background: Unfortunately for them, Sacramento has a bit of a reputation as a team that is willing to overpay or to take chances on bad contracts or declining players. Every time there is a player reportedly on the trade block, Sacramento seems interested. They have been involved in countless rumors these past couple of years, such as interest in Rondo and his expiring deal without any commitment from him to resign, interest in aging and declining PG Deron Williams from Brooklyn, interest in Detroit's PF Josh Smith who was having a really bad season and whose departure led to a Pistons win streak, to list a few. Year after year, they seem to be stuck in the middle of the pack, not good enough to win the title and not bad enough to win the lottery. As a result, there hasn't been much of a chance to improve through the draft, and with a lot of money tied up in role player such as PFs Jason Thompson and Carl Landry, they haven't had much cap flexibility to make major moves in free agency. With superstar C DeMarcus Cousins looking like he's having a career year this year and SF Rudy Gay stepping up his game as well, Sacramento looks like they just might turn things around. With a couple more moves, they should be on their way to a long sought championship.
Current Financial State: Sacramento currently has a lot of money tied up with multiple players. Starting SF Rudy Gay is earning $13 million annually and Cousins is earning $15 million, both of whom are under contract through the 2017-18 season. Aforementioned PFs Thompson and Landry, along with newly added starting PG Darren Collison, are being paid a combined $18 million over the next three years. Their only piece of financial flexibility is PF Derrick Williams' $7 million expiring contract. With all this money owed in long term contracts, the Kings will have to look to the trade market, rather than to free agency, to find the missing piece, or pieces, for their championship team.
Targets: The main goal for the Kings this trade deadline and offseason is to acquire a proven, talented PF while unloading some bad long term contracts in the process. The best name that comes up for PFs that are on the trade block is probably Minnesota's Thaddeus Young. He has proven himself before and can fill in the hole at PF for Sacramento, but doesn't fit in well with Minnesota's young rebuilding team. Getting him from Minnesota shouldn't be much of a problem because they have the young prospects and cap filling contracts to get the deal. A package that comes up a lot in talks of a Sacramento trade is the expiring contract of PF Derrick Williams and rookie SG Nik Stauskas. With SG Ben McLemore stepping up his game after a disappointing rookie season, Sacramento has little need anymore for Stauskas and would prefer to use him in a trade for a PF. This trade works for both teams because Minnesota gets rid of Young and in return gets cap relief and a young prospect. Both teams should be willing to do the trade and as a result, don't be surprised if it really goes through.
The Fit: Thaddeus Young fits in well with Sacramento's team. Unlike the Timberwolves, Sacramento is a potential playoff team and would make much better use of Young's abilities. Young can provide low-post scoring as well as low-post defense for Sacramento. He complements star C DeMarcus Cousins, as together they will be quite a defensive pair and a dominant force on offense and on the glass as well. Young is a really talented player and will be given a chance to really prove himself after being on the horrible 76ers and the rebuilding Timberwolves. Young could very well be the player they need to push the Kings into the playoffs in a tough Western Conference.
Projected Cap Space (before luxury tax): $22.3 million
Background: Unfortunately for them, Sacramento has a bit of a reputation as a team that is willing to overpay or to take chances on bad contracts or declining players. Every time there is a player reportedly on the trade block, Sacramento seems interested. They have been involved in countless rumors these past couple of years, such as interest in Rondo and his expiring deal without any commitment from him to resign, interest in aging and declining PG Deron Williams from Brooklyn, interest in Detroit's PF Josh Smith who was having a really bad season and whose departure led to a Pistons win streak, to list a few. Year after year, they seem to be stuck in the middle of the pack, not good enough to win the title and not bad enough to win the lottery. As a result, there hasn't been much of a chance to improve through the draft, and with a lot of money tied up in role player such as PFs Jason Thompson and Carl Landry, they haven't had much cap flexibility to make major moves in free agency. With superstar C DeMarcus Cousins looking like he's having a career year this year and SF Rudy Gay stepping up his game as well, Sacramento looks like they just might turn things around. With a couple more moves, they should be on their way to a long sought championship.
Current Financial State: Sacramento currently has a lot of money tied up with multiple players. Starting SF Rudy Gay is earning $13 million annually and Cousins is earning $15 million, both of whom are under contract through the 2017-18 season. Aforementioned PFs Thompson and Landry, along with newly added starting PG Darren Collison, are being paid a combined $18 million over the next three years. Their only piece of financial flexibility is PF Derrick Williams' $7 million expiring contract. With all this money owed in long term contracts, the Kings will have to look to the trade market, rather than to free agency, to find the missing piece, or pieces, for their championship team.
Targets: The main goal for the Kings this trade deadline and offseason is to acquire a proven, talented PF while unloading some bad long term contracts in the process. The best name that comes up for PFs that are on the trade block is probably Minnesota's Thaddeus Young. He has proven himself before and can fill in the hole at PF for Sacramento, but doesn't fit in well with Minnesota's young rebuilding team. Getting him from Minnesota shouldn't be much of a problem because they have the young prospects and cap filling contracts to get the deal. A package that comes up a lot in talks of a Sacramento trade is the expiring contract of PF Derrick Williams and rookie SG Nik Stauskas. With SG Ben McLemore stepping up his game after a disappointing rookie season, Sacramento has little need anymore for Stauskas and would prefer to use him in a trade for a PF. This trade works for both teams because Minnesota gets rid of Young and in return gets cap relief and a young prospect. Both teams should be willing to do the trade and as a result, don't be surprised if it really goes through.
The Fit: Thaddeus Young fits in well with Sacramento's team. Unlike the Timberwolves, Sacramento is a potential playoff team and would make much better use of Young's abilities. Young can provide low-post scoring as well as low-post defense for Sacramento. He complements star C DeMarcus Cousins, as together they will be quite a defensive pair and a dominant force on offense and on the glass as well. Young is a really talented player and will be given a chance to really prove himself after being on the horrible 76ers and the rebuilding Timberwolves. Young could very well be the player they need to push the Kings into the playoffs in a tough Western Conference.