With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching, the Sacramento Kings find themselves in the thick of the rumor mill - and two names keep popping up: Keon Ellis and DeMar DeRozan.
Let’s start with DeRozan. The veteran forward has seen this movie before.
He’s been around the league long enough to know how the business works, and he’s not letting the noise get to him. When asked about the swirling trade chatter, DeRozan kept it steady: “It is what it is,” he said.
“You’ve got to be a professional and still go out there and compete and play the game.” That’s classic DeRozan - calm, focused, and locked in on what he can control.
And to be fair, he’s been doing just that this season. DeRozan is putting up 19.1 points per game while shooting a sharp 50.5% from the field. Add in 3.9 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals, and you’ve got a player who’s still impacting the game on both ends - even as questions about his future swirl around him.
But if DeRozan is the seasoned vet taking it all in stride, Keon Ellis is the young guard catching fire on the trade market. According to league reports, no fewer than 14 teams have reached out to Sacramento about Ellis. That’s not just interest - that’s a full-on bidding war brewing.
Ellis, for his part, is taking the attention in stride - and maybe even embracing it. “It’s always great to be wanted,” he said.
“That’s not always the case.” That’s a telling quote.
Ellis knows that being seen as a valuable piece - not just a trade chip - is a sign of respect in this league. And right now, plenty of front offices clearly see something in the 6-foot-3 guard.
He’s not lighting up the scoreboard - averaging 5.4 points and 1.1 steals per game - but Ellis brings a defensive presence and energy that teams covet, especially in playoff pushes. He’s got the kind of upside that makes GMs pick up the phone.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Ellis is currently viewed as the most likely player to be moved before the February 5 deadline. The Kings, aware of the demand, are reportedly seeking a first-round pick in return - a fair ask given the volume of interest. One source even described an Ellis trade as “an inevitability.”
So where does that leave Sacramento? In a position of leverage.
The front office has options, and that’s a powerful place to be. Whether they choose to flip Ellis for future assets or make a bigger move involving DeRozan, the Kings are clearly active - and listening.
As the deadline nears, it’s not a question of if Sacramento makes a move. It’s which move they make - and how it shapes the rest of their season.