Sacramento Kings make multi-team deal at NBA trade deadline. Who’s coming and going?
The Kings made one more move to address their lack of depth at the forward position in the final minutes before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
A league source told The Sacramento Bee the Kings are trading Alex Len, Colby Jones and a second-round draft pick as part of a multi-team trade to acquire Jake LaRavia from the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies traded Marcus Smart and a 2025 first-round draft pick to the Washington Wizards as part of the deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Kings sent Alex Len, Colby Jones and a 2028 second-round pick to the Grizzlies. Memphis also received Marvin Bagley III, Johnny Davis and two-second round picks from Washington.
Kings general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox made a series of moves this week to reshape Sacramento’s roster. They traded De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in a deal that brought two-time All-Star Zach LaVine to Sacramento while sending Kevin Huerter to the Chicago Bulls. They also acquired Jonas Valanciunas in a trade that sent Sidy Cissoko and a second-round pick to the Wizards.
Shooting and scoring
LaVine, 29, is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who is having one of the best years of his career. LaVine is averaging 24.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting career highs of 51.1% from the field and 44.6% from 3-point range on 7.3 attempts per game.
LaVine has been plagued by injuries at times during his career. He only appeared in 25 games after undergoing season-ending surgery on his right foot last season, but he appeared 42 of 50 games for the Bulls this season.
LaVine is in the third year of a five-year, $215 million contract. He is owed $44.5 million this season and $47.5 million next season with a $49 million player option in 2026-27.
Size and muscle
Valanciunas, 32, is a 6-11, 265-pound center who will back up Lithuanian countryman Domantas Sabonis. He is averaging 11.5 points and 8.2 rebounds in his 13th NBA season. He has appeared in 49 games this season, serving primarily as a backup after starting 82 games for the New Orleans Pelicans last season.
Valanciunas is in the first year of a three-year, $30.3 million contract. He is owed $9.9 million this season, $10.4 million next season and $10 million nonguaranteed in 2026-27.
Defense and depth
LaRavia, 23, is a 6-8, 235-pound forward who came out of Wake Forest as the 19th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. He appeared in 117 games over three seasons with the Grizzlies, averaging 7.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 18.8 minutes per game.
LaRavia averaged a career-high 10.8 points per game last season. His averaged has dipped to 7.3 points per game this season, but he is shooting career bests of 49% from the field and 44.4% from 3-point range.
LaRavia doesn’t have great length or lateral quickness, but he is known as a dogged defender who plays hard and rebounds well. He can play the small forward and power forward positions, giving the Kings much-needed depth behind DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray and Trey Lyles.
LaRavia is in the final year of a four-year, $14.8 million contract.
This story was originally published February 6, 2025 at 12:41 PM.
