Keon Ellis On The Move?
Ellis may not be at the mercy of Christie’s whims much longer.
“League and team sources say the Kings continue to draw serious interest in veteran guard Keon Ellis, with approximately 10 teams in pursuit of the 26-year-old,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick reports. “A deal is almost certain to go down before the Feb. 5 deadline, if not much sooner.”
“…The Kings are seeking a late first-round pick in the deal, those sources said.”
Which Teams Could Be ‘In Pursuit?’
The identity of the teams trying to track down Ellis aren’t known publicly. At the same time, his age and skillset make it likely that several of those teams are contenders. Frankly, 3-and-D players are so desirable in today’s NBA, any team hoping to win a ring may want him though. Additionally, his $2.3 million salary is very appealing, though his contract situation could get tricky in the summer. To that point, Ellis is on an expiring deal and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
The only real clue about which teams the Kings could be negotiating with is that they’re attempting to acquire a late first-round pick. Eight of the teams currently projected to select between picks 20-30 in the 2026 NBA Draft are considered contenders (h/t Tankathon). Those teams are the Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks, currently projected to have the 17th and 18th overall picks respectively, could also be motivated to trade for Ellis.
