Early NBA trade rumors link Sacramento Kings to three of the top wings on the market
NBA trade talks are starting to heat up and the Kings are already rumored to be involved in discussions with multiple teams.
The Kings have been one of the most active teams in trade talks since general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox were hired in September 2020. For the past year or so, they have been searching for size, length and wing depth.
Those pursuits have not changed as the Kings look for rotational upgrades ahead of the February trade deadline. Evan Sidery, a national NBA reporter for Forbes, reported the Kings have inquired about three of the top wing options on the trade market: Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson and Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith.
The Kings have been linked to all three of those players in the past. They are believed to be shopping guard Kevin Huerter, who is making $16.8 million this season, and Trey Lyles, who has an $8 million expiring contract.
The Kings (13-14) made a long-awaited return to the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference in 2022-23, but they came up short last season, losing in the play-in tournament. They are looking to add to a core that already features De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis.
Kuzma, 29, is a 6-foot-9 small forward who is averaging 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He is shooting career lows of 42% from the field, 27.6% from 3-point range and 68.6% at the free-throw line.
Kuzma is in the second year of a four-year, $90 million deal with a team-friendly contract. He is owed $23.5 million this season, $21.5 million next season and $19.4 million in 2026-27.
Johnson, 28, is a 6-8 small forward. He is averaging 18.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 48.4% from the field and 43.1% from 3-point range on 7.5 attempts per game.
Johnson is in the second year of a four-year, $94.5 million contract. He is making $22.5 million this season, $20.5 million next season and $22.5 million in 2026-27.
Finney-Smith, 31, is a 6-7 power forward. He is averaging 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 47.6% from the field and 45% from 3-point range on 5.6 attempts per game.
Finney-Smith is in the third year of a four-year, $55.6 million contract. He is earning $14.9 million this season with a $15.4 million player option for next season.
This story was originally published December 17, 2024 at 1:41 PM.
