This weekend, many Sacramento Kings fans experienced a bit of disappointment. After it was reported that the Kings were a frontrunner to acquire All-Star forward Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors, details were soon revealed that they were pulling out of those trade talks. Considering Sacramento already lost out on OG Anunoby, this news was a letdown for the Kings’ faithful.
However, hopes of bringing in an impact player before the trade deadline should not die out for fans yet. The Kings still have some good contract players to give in a trade, and they control most of their first-round picks. With that being the case, Sacramento could still be able to make a noteworthy trade.
So, while the Kings probably won’t come away with a Raptors’ forward this trade season, they are still in prime position to bring a high-quality player to their roster. Here are a few players who should be premiere Kings’ trade targets this season.
3 Players the Kings Should Pursue if Siakam Is Out of the Picture
Lauri Markkanen
If the Kings are still willing to make an all-in type of move this season, Lauri Markkanen should be number one on the trade target list. Markkanen was acquired by the rebuilding Utah Jazz during the 2022 offseason. He quickly surpassed many fans’ expectations when he had a phenomenal breakout year. Last season, he averaged 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game on 50/39/88 shooting splits. The forward also made his first All-Star appearance and won the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award. He has continued to play well this season, averaging 23.6 points and 8.4 rebounds on 49/39/85 shooting splits in 27 games.
Utah is now in year two of their rebuild, and there has been some buzz about potentially trading Markkanen. The 26-year-old is in his prime but likely won’t be on a contending team in Salt Lake City for some time. With Markkanen becoming a free agent in 2025, the Jazz could be interested in maximizing his trade value by moving him by this season’s trade deadline.
Getting a player like Markkanen could greatly boost this Kings team. Not only can he fit well into the Kings’ style of offense, but he also offers some incredible size and defense at the forward position. He is also only making $17.3 million this season. This would make matching salaries in a potential trade very manageable for Sacramento. While acquiring him will likely take multiple first-round picks and a good young player or two, the Kings should look into pursuing Markkanen if they aim to be legitimate title contenders this season.
Alex Caruso
If the Kings plan to play it more conservatively this trade season, a player like Alex Caruso could be the perfect trade target. Caruso finds himself in an interesting situation with the Chicago Bulls. While he is undoubtedly an impactful player on the court with championship experience, the Bulls do not have a winning formula as currently constructed. Therefore, they are likely better off trading away some of their premier players to obtain some good assets and rebuilding blocks.
As for Caruso’s impact on the court, it is exceptional, particularly on defense. Caruso has built a reputation in the league as one of the best perimeter defenders. Last year, he made the NBA All-Defensive First Team and was in the top 20 in steals per game (1.5). He also held his opponents to some of their lowest shooting efficiencies during the season. While his offensive game is not as notable as his defensive prowess, it is still quite efficient. This season, Caruso is shooting 51% from the field and an impressive 42.6% from three on 3.8 attempts per game. While perhaps not his forte, he can still stretch the floor and facilitate an offense when needed.
His perimeter presence alongside De’Aaron Fox could be an excellent balance of offense and defense for the Kings. Also, with their no-middle scheme defense, smaller players are often left as some of the last lines of defense for the Kings. Caruso can help ensure that style of defense is mitigated. If they view Caruso as a two-way upgrade and fit on the roster, he should be high on the Kings’ trade target list.
Kyle Kuzma
If the Kings look to make a move that fits somewhere in the middle between the aforementioned trade targets, Kyle Kuzma is an intriguing player to strongly consider. The Washington Wizards currently sit 14th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 6-29 record. Their plan to work around Kuzma and Jordan Poole has not worked out as well as hoped. For that reason, the Wizards seem interested in moving forward by maximizing the trade value of Kuzma.
Kuzma has played well for the Wizards since arriving in Washington in 2021. Last year, he had the best season of his career, averaging 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He has continued that level of play this season, averaging 22.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 35 games.
Reports have come out saying that the Wizards are seeking “multiple first-round picks” for Kuzma. While it may take some hefty draft compensation, the Kings can benefit significantly by bringing on Kuzma. He offers good size, three-level scoring, and championship experience. A pairing of him and Keegan Murray sounds incredible. He also fits well alongside the Kings age timeline, being 28 years old. Kuzma is under contract until 2027, so the Kings must be committed to him being a part of their core. However, if they feel he can bring a spark and upgrade at the forward position, he could be just the trade target for Sacramento to pursue.
