Kings Stay the Course at Trade Deadline, Emphasizing Patience and Long-Term Vision
The NBA trade deadline came and went without much noise from Sacramento, and that was by design. Kings general manager Scott Perry took the podium afterward with a clear message: this rebuild isn’t about quick fixes - it’s about building something sustainable, even if that means enduring some growing pains along the way.
From the jump, Perry hasn’t sugarcoated the challenge ahead. He’s been transparent that turning this franchise into a consistent winner is a long-haul project.
There’s no shortcut from the lottery to the playoffs, and certainly not to contention. It’s a climb, and the Kings are still in the early stages.
That said, Sacramento didn’t stand completely still at the deadline. The front office pulled off a modest but purposeful move, acquiring De’Andre Hunter in a deal that sent Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder, and Dario Saric elsewhere. It wasn’t a blockbuster, but it was a move that fits the Kings' timeline and identity - bringing in a wing with defensive chops and playoff experience.
That trade also opened the door for a key internal development: rookie big man Dylan Cardwell had his two-way contract converted into a full NBA deal. That’s a meaningful step for both Cardwell and the organization, signaling a belief in his potential and rewarding his performance so far. It’s the kind of incremental progress that defines this phase of a rebuild.
But Perry made it clear - trades like this are the exception, not the rule. The real foundation of this rebuild is going to come through the draft and internal development.
Last year, that meant selecting Maxime Raynaud and Nique Clifford, and taking a flier on the undrafted Cardwell. The Kings are already looking ahead to the 2026 NBA Draft as another opportunity to add young talent to the mix.
And that brings us back to the theme Perry kept circling back to: patience.
It’s not a flashy message, especially for a fan base that’s hungry for results. But it’s an honest one.
Perry emphasized that turning a struggling team into a winner doesn’t happen overnight - it takes time, continuity, and smart decision-making. That includes resisting the urge to make a move just for the sake of doing something.
That restraint was on full display at the deadline. Sacramento had options, but none that made sense long-term.
Perry opted to hold firm rather than force a deal that could set the team back. Especially when it comes to high-salary veterans like Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, moving those contracts isn’t easy - and doing so without a clear return would’ve been a step in the wrong direction.
Instead, the Kings are choosing to ride it out, develop their young core, and reassess when the offseason rolls around. It’s not the kind of strategy that grabs headlines, but it’s the kind that builds real, lasting progress.
The good news? There’s already a foundation in place.
The Kings have a solid group of young players, and recent additions like Hunter bring a defensive mindset that aligns with where the team wants to go. The rebuild isn’t just a plan anymore - it’s in motion.
The challenge now is to stay the course, even when the results don’t come right away.
For Kings fans, it might be frustrating at times. But Perry’s message is clear: the easy part is wanting change. The hard part is building it the right way - and having the patience to see it through.