Kings Stand Pat at Deadline, Add De’Andre Hunter but Miss Out on Kuminga
After weeks of swirling trade rumors and mounting pressure to shake up a struggling roster, the Sacramento Kings made just one move before the NBA trade deadline-and it wasn’t the blockbuster many fans were hoping for.
Sacramento landed forward De’Andre Hunter in a three-team deal that sent Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Dario Saric heading to the Chicago Bulls. It’s a move that adds some much-needed wing depth and helps untangle a crowded backcourt, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s a modest step for a team mired in one of the roughest stretches in franchise history.
The Kings, who dropped their 10th straight game in a 129-125 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, currently hold the NBA’s worst record. The losing streak is the longest active skid in the league, and it's emblematic of a season that’s gone completely off the rails.
General manager Scott Perry had been working the phones, trying to reshape a roster that’s both aging and imbalanced. But despite efforts to move veterans like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis, no additional deals materialized before the deadline passed on Thursday.
The Kings had been linked to Jonathan Kuminga for months, dating back to when he hit restricted free agency last summer. Sacramento made multiple attempts to land the athletic forward, but the Warriors ultimately sent Kuminga-and sharpshooter Buddy Hield-to Atlanta in a separate deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Golden State. That move closed the door on what could have been a significant addition for Sacramento.
Instead, the Kings will move forward with Hunter as their key midseason pickup. The 26-year-old brings size and versatility on the wing, and he should slot in nicely alongside the team’s younger core. Still, it’s hard to ignore the bigger picture: this roster needs more than just a rotation wing to turn things around.
Perry now heads into the offseason with plenty on his plate. Cap space is tight, and the contracts of his top veterans could become a focal point in the summer.
LaVine has a $49 million player option for next season-the final year of a five-year, $215.2 million deal. Sabonis is still owed $94 million over the next two years.
DeRozan’s contract, meanwhile, includes just $10 million guaranteed for next season despite a $25.7 million price tag.
The Kings have some flexibility but not much breathing room. Clearing cap space, acquiring young talent, and stockpiling draft assets will be top priorities in the coming months. This deadline may have come and gone quietly, but the real work for Sacramento’s front office is only just beginning.
And with the Western Conference only getting tougher-especially after stars like Trae Young and Anthony Davis were dealt to the Wizards, James Harden landed in Cleveland, and Jaren Jackson Jr. joined the Jazz-the Kings will need more than incremental change to climb out of the basement.