Keon Ellis might not be a household name just yet, but around NBA front offices, his name is buzzing - and for good reason.
The Sacramento Kings guard is drawing serious interest from a number of teams ahead of the trade deadline, with the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, and Toronto Raptors all reportedly kicking the tires on a potential deal. That’s not a coincidence - it’s a reflection of how valuable Ellis’ skill set is in today’s league, especially for teams eyeing a postseason run.
Let’s talk about what’s making Ellis such a hot commodity.
While his counting stats this season - 5.5 points per game on 36.4% shooting from deep - don’t jump off the page, they don’t tell the full story. Ellis has been in and out of the Kings’ rotation, averaging 17.4 minutes per game and logging 30+ minutes just four times. But even in limited action, he’s shown flashes of the kind of role-player consistency that playoff teams covet.
The real appeal? His shooting.
Ellis has quietly been one of the more reliable three-point threats in the league over the past few seasons. He’s hit over 35% from deep in each of his four NBA seasons, including a scorching 43.3% last year.
That kind of consistency - especially from a player who can defend on the perimeter - is exactly what contenders look for when shoring up their rotations.
At 26, Ellis is still young enough to grow, but experienced enough to step into a playoff rotation without missing a beat. He’s not just a shooter either - he brings energy on defense, plays within his role, and doesn’t need the ball to be effective. That’s a plug-and-play skill set that fits on just about any roster.
The Kings, for their part, aren’t looking to give him away. Sacramento is reportedly seeking a first-round pick in return - a steep price for a player who, while promising, has yet to lock down a consistent role.
But that price tag reflects both his upside and the leverage the Kings hold. Ellis will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, so any team trading for him now is taking a bit of a gamble - if he performs well, his market value could spike, and retaining him could get expensive.
Still, for a team in win-now mode, that may be a risk worth taking.
Ellis entered the league undrafted in 2022, signing a two-way deal with Sacramento. Since then, he’s carved out a reputation as a hard worker and a reliable rotation piece when given the opportunity. Through his NBA career, he’s averaged 6.3 points, 1.2 assists, and shot 41.5% from three - numbers that suggest there’s more to tap into if he lands in the right system.
He’s been in trade rumors dating back to last offseason, but with the deadline approaching and multiple contenders circling, this might finally be the moment a deal gets done.
For now, Ellis remains in Sacramento - but don’t be surprised if he’s suiting up in a different jersey by the time the playoff picture starts to take shape.