The Sacramento Kings are 1-10, and at this point the season already looks like a slog. The record is ugly, the results aren’t there, and the team hasn’t even managed to stay competitive enough to make the losses feel like close calls.
That kind of start naturally sends the conversation toward the trade market, especially when another Western Conference team is moving in the opposite direction. The Golden State Warriors have won seven straight and sit tied for third in the West, with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler powering a group that looks like it could use one more move to strengthen a real postseason push.
One bold idea floating around would send Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis and Will Richard to Sacramento.
For the Warriors, the hardest part of even considering that kind of deal is obvious. Green and Golden State have been linked for 15 seasons, and the partnership has produced four championships plus a long list of individual honors for Green. Still, from a pure basketball angle, the idea at least opens the door to a conversation, especially with Porzingis stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health.
Porzingis said his body hasn’t responded as anticipated while preparing for the season and that he will work with the Warriors to find a solution that makes sense.
Green’s numbers show how different this version of him looks. He’s averaging a career-low 2.8 points per game, just under his rookie-year 2.9, along with 7.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 37.0% from the field and 20% from three. His 26.8 minutes per game are also his fewest since his 2013-14 sophomore season.
The appeal for Golden State would be obvious if the return included Domantas Sabonis. He would bring a major boost in scoring and rebounding while still giving the Warriors the passing and screening Green has long provided. The tradeoff would be steep on defense, but the logic is that the offense could carry the load.
Sacramento’s angle is different. Taking back Porzingis’ money, or possibly not if a buyout or contract voiding comes into play, would allow the Kings to move on from Sabonis’ $48 million for next season and head into the offseason with a clean cap sheet. Green would also give them the mentor they’ve been searching for with Darius Acuff Jr.
Even if the wins and losses don’t change much this year, Green could matter in other ways. The idea is that he could help speed up Acuff’s development and provide a new voice in the locker room, one that demands accountability.
If Sabonis is out in the deal, Green would slide into that leadership role immediately. The fit could also help Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell as fellow bigs.
There’s also the smaller swing in the proposal: Will Richard. He’s averaging 5.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 47.5% from the field and 42.9% from three, and Sacramento could view him as a flyer to replace Nique Clifford.
It’s not the kind of move that feels likely, but the Kings are staring at a long season, and that’s exactly why every possible avenue has to be on the table. Even a controversial one like Draymond Green.
In Other News...
Kings Unexpected Center Move Raises A Bigger Sabonis Question
The Kings filled their roster spot with a familiar, steady hand, signing veteran center Mason Plumlee to a rest-of-season non-guaranteed contract after moving Nique Clifford. Entering his 14th NBA season, Plumlee gives Sacramento another experienced body in the middle, a practical addition for a team that needed to get back to the 14-player minimum while adding some insurance behind its frontcourt.
Plumlees deal is prorated and comes with a January 10 guarantee date, which gives the Kings a little flexibility but also a deadline to keep in mind. More than the paperwork, though, the move is another reminder of how much Sacramento still has to sort out around the center position and what it means for the bigger questions surrounding Domantas Sabonis as the roster continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Sabonis Rough Night Put Sacramentos Bigger Problem On Full Display
Domantas Sabonis had one of the roughest nights of his Sacramento tenure in the loss to Orlando, finishing without a point and with just two rebounds and five assists in more than 23 minutes. For a Kings team that has stumbled to a 1-10 start, the line was more than an off night for one of its best-known players. It was another reminder of how far the season has already drifted off course.
The larger issue is what the Kings do next with Sabonis, because the on-court struggles are running alongside a messy roster picture. Sacramento is reportedly trying to trade him, but his defensive limitations and expensive contract make that a difficult market to navigate, and Sabonis is also said to be unhappy with both the teams direction and the trade chatter around him. For a franchise already under pressure, the situation has become one of the clearest signs that this slow start is about more than just losses. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Are Learning Fast What LaVine Must Become Next
The Kings have spent the early stretch of this season sorting out who drives the offense, and the answer has shifted toward rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr. as the primary option. Zach LaVine, meanwhile, has settled into a secondary role without making it awkward, still producing efficiently and reminding everyone why his scoring punch remains such a useful piece of Sacramentos attack, including a recent 31-point outing.
For the Kings, the bigger question now is less about whether LaVine can score and more about what he has to become in this new setup. With the front office keeping the core intact despite trade chatter around LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento is trying to build around balance rather than constant speculation, and LaVines willingness to adapt may end up being one of the clearest signs of where this group is headed next. [Read more 🡒]