On one of the craziest free agency days in NBA history the Sacramento Kings reportedly made a late move that will see Jason Thompson, Carl Landry and Nik Stauskas head to Philadelphia in what appears to be a salary dump.
Although no one’s sure exactly what the 76ers are giving up in the deal, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports tweeted some details.
Sacramento is trading Jason Thompson and Carl Landry as part of a salary dump to the Philadelphia 76ers, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2015
The Kings are sending Nik Stauskus to the 76ers as part of the deal too, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2015
Sacramento is clearing the space for a pursuit in free agency, league sources tell Yahoo. Stauskas had been pursued by several teams.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2015
Sources: 76ers sending the rights of oveseas players to Kings. Philly wanted Stauskas and will take on Thompson/Landry salaries.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2015
The Kings clearing the salary cap space to pursue free agents Rajon Rondo and Wes Matthews, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2015
Assuming the reports are true, this a deal that has Sam Hinkie’s fingerprints all over it, especially as it’s believed that Sacramento is also sending, among other things, a top ten protected pick Philadelphia’s way as a thank you for taking on so much unwanted salary.
Hinkie gets Nik Stauskas — the number eight overall pick in the 2014 draft — a protected pick and two role players that he can either keep or wipe moving forward, while Sacramento opens up approximately $25 million worth of cap space that it no doubt intends to use to add some players in the hope of convincing DeMarcus Cousins to stick around.
Just who Vlade Divac and Co. have in their sights at this stage remains to be seen, but Rajon Rondo has repeatedly been linked to the Kings, while Wesley Matthews and Monte Ellis could also end up becoming targets moving forward.
As for Thompson and Landry, both are said to have fully-guaranteed contracts valued at around the $6.5 million mark for 2015-16 season, while in 2016-17 Landry’s marginally larger second year is guaranteed but Thompson’s isn’t.
How long they remain in Philadelphia is anyone’s guess. Thompson, a Philadelphia-native who was taken twelfth overall by the Kings in 2008, could be a useful asset, capable of providing veteran minutes off the bench while assisting in the development of the 76ers’ crop of gifted young big men that currently features Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and the freshly-drafted Jahlil Okafor.
Nik Satuskas has the potential to be a good fit in Philadelphia too, as he’s a solid shooter who connected on .408 of his field goal attempts last year, .322 from deep, while averaging just 15.4 MPG.
