The Sacramento Kings know all too well what the hamster wheel of mediocrity is. Their franchise has been running on it for the better part of the last 20 years, leaving an entire generation of their fans wallowing in misery. Melodramatic, sure. But that’s what one playoff appearance since 2006 is… miserable.
What’s really a shame is that it was just two years ago that there was genuine hope for the down-on-their-luck franchise. They clinched a playoff berth, posting a winning record for the first time in 17 years. Then the train lurched off the tracks, to the point they’re now being urged to blow the team up.
Mike Bibby Urges Kings To Blow Up Team Amid Trade Deadline Rumors
“I think so,” Mike Bibby answers when asked by fellow Straight Game Podcast co-host Ty Ellis whether it’s time for the Kings “to blow it up.”
“I told you before, I think that they were talking about keeping Keegan Murray and what’s his name, Nique Clifford,” he continues. “They said everybody else after that is tradeable. So, I mean, once you hear that, like maybe the organization gave up a little bit. I think once that’s said, you got to go ahead and do it.”
If anyone agrees with the former second overall pick, it might Kings general manager Scott Perry. Hired to replace Monte McNair after his disastrous missteps with De’Aaron Fox and Mike Brown, the 62-year-old has spoken about reconstructing the roster to build it into a true contender. Perry denies he told Kings owner Vivek Ranadive it would be a three to five year process, as The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back in Dec. 2025. “I would never put a timeline on this process,” he tells Sactown Sports 1140.
Mike Bibby’s Preaching To The Choir
Timeline aside, Perry may be willing to trade just about any of Sactown’s players. Even those who are seemingly in the eye of the storm, like Keegan Murray and Nique Clifford, could be available for the right price. That being said, four veterans —DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and Malik Monk –sound like their focus in trade negotiations. Beyond that quartet, Keon Ellis has one-third of the league on his trail.
Today, a rumor surfaced about the Cleveland Cavaliers talking about a deal with the Kings. One that would send De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento in exchange for Ellis, Dennis Schroder and Dario Saric (with Saric potentially re-routed to a third team).
When considering that Devin Carter‘s name has repeatedly been mentioned as well, the Kings may have made no less than half of their roster available ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. If that’s not blowing it up, what is?
Which Players Are The Most Likely To Be Traded?
The chance of Russell Westbrook being traded can’t be discounted. Though he nearly went unsigned last offseason, he’s a popular player among his peers and has had a number of standout games this season. Furthermore, he’s on a minimum salary contract. A contending team looking for a ball-handler, like the Minnesota Timberwolves, could be a landing spot for him.
Nevertheless, among the Kings’ stars, Sabonis has the greatest chance of being moved. There are concerns about his defense and playoff performances. However, he’s one of the more skilled big men in the league, both as a scorer and facilitator. He’s a beast on the boards, which is far from a guarantee with today’s bigs. He’s also typically durable and he’s on the right side of 30, helping to mitigate concerns about his long-term future.
Notably, the Toronto Raptors have often been mentioned as a landing spot for Sabonis. In that scenario, RJ Barrett would likely be part of their return. 25 years old, Barrett is relatively athletic wing with a downhill scoring mentality and playmaking upside.
All of that being said, Ellis has the highest odds of being traded by Sacramento. As previously mentioned, the demand is there. Similar to Westbrook, he’s on an affordable contract. Last but not least, he’s been in and out of the rotation for the past couple of seasons. With his contract set to expire this summer, 2025-26 will probably be his last season playing in purple and black.
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