Kings are ‘current favorites’ to trade for this star forward, but they have a backup plan
The Kings have been strongly linked to two of the top forwards on the market with less than three weeks to go before the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.
Sacramento is reportedly pursuing Brooklyn Nets small forward Cam Johnson and Utah Jazz power forward John Collins, two players the Kings have been connected to in the past.
Forbes NBA reporter Evan Sidery reported Saturday that Sacramento is currently considered the most likely landing spot for Johnson. The Kings are reportedly planning to go after Collins if they can’t get a deal done with Brooklyn.
“The Kings are viewed as the current favorites to acquire Cam Johnson before the trade deadline,” Sidery tweeted. “Sacramento has their Plan A and Plan B trade options locked in: Johnson + John Collins. If Brooklyn ends up accepting another offer, Sacramento is preparing to pivot to Collins.”
The Kings would likely have to include guard Kevin Huerter and forward Trey Lyles to match salaries in a deal for either player. They would also have to throw in some combination of draft compensation and/or promising young players such as Keon Ellis or Devin Carter.
The Kings (21-20) had won eight of their first 10 games under interim coach Doug Christie going into Sunday’s game against the Washington Wizards. General manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox are still working to improve the roster to solidify Sacramento as a real contender in the Western Conference playoff race.
Johnson, 28, is a 6-foot-8, 210-pound small forward who came out of North Carolina as the No. 11 pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He is averaging a career-high 19.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 49.9% from the field, 42.8% from 3-point range and 89.7% at the free-throw line.
Johnson is earning $22.5 million this season in the second year of a four-year, $94.5 million contract. He is owed $20.5 million next season and $22.5 million in 2026-27.
Collins, 27, is a 6-9, 226-pound power forward who came out of Wake Forest as the No. 19 pick in the 2017 draft. He is averaging 17.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 52.5% from the field, 43.8% from beyond the arc and 86.7% at the free-throw line.
Collins is in the fourth year of a five-year, $125 million contract. He is owed $26.6 million this year with a $26.6 million player option for next season.
Both players have dealt with injuries over the course of their careers. Johnson averaged 56.6 games over his first five seasons in the NBA. Collins averaged 61.7 games over his first seven seasons.
