The Sacramento Kings suddenly have another layer to sort through after adding Ben Simmons, and it may make De'Andre Hunter even easier to move if they decide to go that route.
Hunter arrived at last year’s trade deadline when Scott Perry sent fan favorite Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 28-year-old wing. Now he’s entering the 2026-27 season on an expiring $24.9 million contract, and that alone keeps him squarely in the middle of Sacramento’s roster questions.
That’s the tricky part for the Kings. Hunter is exactly the kind of player they’ve been trying to land for years: a switchable wing who can defend, knock down threes, and fit either in the starting group or off the bench.
Players with that profile are tough to give up in today’s NBA. But they’re also the kind of players who can bring back real value when a team decides it needs to reshape the roster.
If Sacramento puts Hunter on the market, his contract would make him one of the easiest pieces Perry has had to deal since becoming general manager. An expiring deal gives teams flexibility, and right now, plenty of clubs are far more interested in avoiding future money than taking it on.
Perry has also stayed vague when asked about Hunter’s place with the team, which fits a season that already has a lot of moving parts. The Kings are leaning on seventh overall pick Darius Acuff Jr., while Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk all have uncertain futures. Simmons’ return to the league adds another wrinkle, especially with Sacramento needing someone to log real minutes at forward.
That’s where Hunter and Simmons intersect. The Kings still have to figure out whether Hunter is part of their long-term plan or just a bridge until they find a better fit next to Keegan Murray at starting wing. Simmons is not being framed as that answer, but his presence does make dealing Hunter less complicated.
Of course, none of this gets settled on paper. The performance on the floor will decide plenty.
If Hunter clearly beats out Simmons, the gap could be significant. But if Hunter is the better player, that only strengthens his trade value and pushes the same dilemma back onto Sacramento’s desk.
That’s the loop the Kings are stuck in: Hunter’s usefulness makes him hard to keep, and his trade value makes him hard to ignore. Add in the disappointing returns on LaVine and Sabonis so far, and moving Hunter could be one way to help balance out those underwhelming outcomes.
For now, the Kings at least have choices. After the Simmons signing, they have even more of them.
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For Sacramento, the timing is what makes the speculation worth following. DeAndre Hunter and Zach LaVine both have expiring contracts, which gives the Kings some flexibility if they want to clear room and reshape the roster around a star of Currys stature. Whether that path ever becomes real is still uncertain, but just having the conversation says plenty about how quickly the balance of power can change in the West. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Take Another Low-Risk Swing With A Lot Riding On The Fit
With one roster spot left to sort out before the season, Miami explored a few familiar guard names, including a return for Gabe Vincent, before moving on. Ben Simmons also came into the conversation, but the Heat passed, leaving the former All-Star to land with Sacramento on a one-year deal. It is another low-risk swing for a Kings team still looking for the right mix around its core.
Simmons arrives with plenty of intrigue because the talent has always been obvious, but the fit has to work in a very specific way for it to matter. For Sacramento, the appeal is clear: a short-term commitment with a chance to uncover real value if the role is right. The question now is not whether the Kings were willing to take the gamble, but how much they can get out of it if the pieces click. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Rookie Battle Could Reveal An Early Rotation Answer
Emanuel Sharp arrives in Sacramento as one of three rookies the Kings brought in to address clear roster needs, especially perimeter spacing and defense. After a productive college run at Houston, where he built a reputation as a shooter with real work ethic, Sharp enters camp with a straightforward path to playing time: make shots from deep and hold up defensively enough to stay on the floor.
For a Kings backcourt still sorting out its early rotation answers, that kind of profile matters. Sharp is expected to compete for minutes, and the way he handles those two jobs, spacing the floor and defending with consistency, could help determine whether he earns a real role or gets lost in a crowded rookie battle. [Read more 🡒]