A .500 record shy of 30 games into the season is not what the Sacramento Kings envisioned when they signed DeMar DeRozan over the summer. Injuries have played a role, yes. To this point, though, DeRozan and his All-Star teammates have yet to find their groove. At 13-13 and struggling to play consistent basketball, the team may look to shake up their roster with a move or two. Perhaps it’s what is needed to zap these Kings to life.
Kings Trade News: Team Makes Sharpshooter Available
The Kings Have Made Kevin Huerter Available in Trade Talks
NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line recently reported that Kings players Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles are available for trade talks in Sacramento. Huerter has struggled mightily this season, as most of his stats across the board have taken a major hit. Typically an efficient three-point shooter, Huerter is well below his career average of 37% this season, shooting just 31%. Long-distance shooting is Huerter’s bread and butter, but a look at his overall production shows that the toaster appears entirely unplugged.
His assists (2.0) and field goal percentage (43.1%) are all down compared to last season. On top of that, his points per game (9.9 to last year’s 10.2) are also down. It’s his three-point slippage that is his most glaring drop, though. Huerter is in his third season with the Kings. He has two years left on his contract, which carries $16.8 million for this season and $17.9 million next season. He was traded to Sacramento from the Atlanta Hawks because the Kings were looking to upgrade their shooting, and Huerter had made a name for himself in the ATL for exactly that. His current 31% from three is the lowest in his seven-year career. If the Kings do move him, his contract will likely not get in the way. A handful of teams should be willing to take him on in hopes that he can regain his shooting touch.
What Does Sacramento Need?
The initiation to move Huerter and Lyles, who is also available, is evidently due to the Kings poor start. While it’s not certain what Sacramento hopes to gain in exchange for either player, a solid 3-and-D player could come in use alongside DeRozan and De’Aaron Fox on the perimeter. The Kings rank in the top fifteen teams, allowing the most points per game by an opponent at 113.4. Although it’s not terrible, it’s not great. Shoring up their defense is a good idea if the Kings want to push themselves to be contenders this season.
Sacramento also needs their big three, DeRozan, Fox, and Domantas Sabonis, to figure things out. It’s been a struggle for the three All-Stars to find their footing as one unit. Each player has missed time here and there. However, overall, they’ve played enough to where their games should be complimenting each other. Surprisingly, all three are averaging 20-plus points per game. Yet, the Kings manage to be a .500 team only. So, maybe it’s the pieces around them as opposed to DeRozan, Fox, or Sabonis as a trio that the team needs to shake up. These Kings are way better than they look right now. If moving Huerter, a bonafide sharpshooter in this league, can result in more stability on the defensive end, then that’s a move the Kings have to make.
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