The Sacramento Kings arrive at the 2025-26 offseason standing at a critical crossroads. Domantas Sabonis remains a dominant force in the paint, Zach LaVine brings instant offense, but there’s a logjam behind him, and Keegan Murray is blossoming into a two-way wing asset.
Yet despite the promise, the Kings risk being bound by middle-tier status unless they land a transformative piece, whether a young cornerstone, a lockdown wing, or a savvy veteran floor-general.
That’s why we’ve honed in on six bold trade targets who could genuinely pivot this team’s direction. Think of Jonathan Kuminga as the explosive young cornerstone, a player who has been linked to the franchise all summer.
Behind him come some steady players at the point, and a rugged two-way wing to complement Murray’s budding upside. These are strategic, realistic options grounded in Sacramento’s roster flexibility, draft capital, and league-wide rumors. Let’s dive into the six key targets for the Kings in the upcoming season.
1. Jonathan Kuminga
Proposed Trade Details
Sacramento Kings Receive: Jonathan Kuminga (Sign-and-Trade)
Golden State Warriors Receive: Malik Monk, Devin Carter, 2028 first-round pick (SAC), 2029 first-round pick (SAC)
Sacramento has the chance to pivot this franchise by trading for Jonathan Kuminga, a high-upside 22-year-old who averaged 15.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 2.2 APG in 47 games during the 2024-25 season despite a mid-season ankle injury. Well-rounded and explosive, Kuminga posted nearly 20 PPG (19.6) in the 10 games Stephen Curry sat out, showing he can shoulder an offensive load when needed.
Kuminga reportedly prefers to be in Sacramento, and after rejecting the Warriors’ offer, it seems more than likely his time is coming to an end. That scoring burst, combined with elite athleticism, gives Sacramento a young cornerstone who can both stretch the floor and guard multiple positions. This proposed sign-and-trade (Kings send Malik Monk, Devin Carter, plus 2028 and 2029 first-round picks) is bold, and it should be.
The Warriors probably wouldn’t mind a capable point guard in Devin Carter backing up Curry, while Malik Monk posted 17.2 PPG last season and is instant offense off the bench. It also helps that two first-round picks are heading their way. But the major winners might be the Kings.
Sacramento needs a high-ceiling asset who can grow into their next foundational star alongside Murray. Kuminga’s age and upside align with the Kings’ timeline, and getting him now lets the team avoid a lengthy bidding war.
2. Derrick White
Proposed Trade Details
Sacramento Kings Receive: Derrick White
Boston Celtics Receive: Dennis Schroder, 2028 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick (SAC), 2027 second-round pick
Derrick White would bring polished stability to Sacramento’s backcourt. In the 2024-25 regular season, he averaged 16.4 PPG, 4.8 APG, and 4.5 RPG over 76 games, while shooting 44.2% from the field and anchoring Boston’s defense to an elite perimeter level. He even dropped a career-high 41 points in a single game and earned back-to-back All-Defensive team honors, demonstrating he can flex as both creator and sniper when needed.
The Boston Celtics would bring back a capable floor general in Schroder, add two first-round picks along with a second, and also shed some more salary as they aim to retool around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. This isn’t the worst deal for the Celtics in this case.
The fit here is surgical: Sacramento would receive Derrick White in exchange for Dennis Schroder, a 2028 first-round pick, and a 2027 second-rounder. That gives the Kings a fiery, championship-tested playmaker who commands respect in the locker room.
White would stabilize the point guard spot night in, night out, offer top-tier defense, and complement Sabonis’s interior dominance while helping take pressure off LaVine when the offense bogs down. Pure value at this stage of being a perennial playoff side.
3. CJ McCollum
Proposed Trade Details
Sacramento Kings Receive: CJ McCollum
Washington Wizards Receive: Malik Monk, Dennis Schroder
When veteran scoring matters, few deliver quite like C.J. McCollum. In 56 games during the 2024-25 season, he averaged 21.1 PPG, 4.1 APG, and 3.8 RPG while shooting 44.4% from the field and 37.3% from deep.
That marks his 10th straight year averaging over 20 points, a testament to his reliable offensive engine even on a floundering Pelicans team. He also dropped a career-high 50-point game and set a franchise record for most three-pointers made en route to showcasing he still has high-level scoring gear.
Sacramento could flip Malik Monk and Dennis Schroder for McCollum and gain an immediate bucket-getter to alleviate pressure on LaVine and Sabonis. This move would add a seasoned shot-maker who can create off the dribble, hit clutch triples, and mentor younger scorers.
His contract is expiring, which aligns with Sacramento’s flexibility goals, plus, a buyout could open cap space if needed. Yes, he’s toward the back end of his prime, but his scoring craft and pick-and-pop IQ would slot seamlessly into the Kings’ offense while giving them playoff-tested poise they’ve lacked.
4. Jrue Holiday
Proposed Trade Details
Sacramento Kings Receive: Jrue Holiday
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Malik Monk, Dennis Schroder
Jrue Holiday still brings elite two-way IQ, but his production slipped in 2024-25, down to 11.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 3.9 APG, with three-point attempts dwindling to just 1.7 per game. While he missed 20 games and didn’t make an All-Defensive team for the first time since 2020, he remains a veteran of championship seasons whose leadership and clutch DNA remain intact.
His massive salary, $32 million in 2025-26, makes him a candidate that Portland is motivated to move, as the rebuilding franchise seeks payroll relief and draft flexibility around the returning Damian Lillard next year. Sacramento landing Holiday (for Monk and Schroder) gives the Kings a seasoned floor-general who can steady the ship in tight playoff games and mentor younger wings.
His perimeter defense, rotation savvy, and playoff pedigree would instantly upgrade the Kings’ backbone. Yes, the contract is heavy and his best years may be behind him, but pairing Holiday’s fundamentals with Sabonis and Murray’s athleticism gives Sacramento a seasoned cornerstone anchor to rally around.
5. Nic Claxton
Proposed Trade Details
Sacramento Kings Receive: Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Nets Receive: DeMar DeRozan, 2027 first-round pick (CHO), 2027 second-round pick (CHO)
At 26, Nic Claxton is a rising defensive anchor in Brooklyn, posting 10.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.2 APG, while shooting 56.3% from the field across 70 games in 2024-25. He averages 1.4 blocks per game, plays 26.9 MPG, and serves as one of the league’s top rim-protectors by percentage, not flashy, but efficient and impactful.
With those numbers, he’d fill Sacramento’s biggest hole: an athletic, mobile center capable of switching in space and protecting the paint without clogging the offense. Trading DeMar DeRozan and Charlotte’s 2027 picks for Claxton gives the Kings defensive relief at the rim and a rebounding upgrade next to Sabonis.
He’d close the floor every night, cutting off layups and anchoring switching schemes, allowing Murray to roam the perimeter with more freedom. Unlike more offense-centric big men, Claxton fits Sacramento’s pace-and-space style and makes the defense respectable without sacrificing floor balance.
6. Jerami Grant
Proposed Trade Details
Sacramento Kings Receive: Jerami Grant
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: DeMar DeRozan, Doug McDermott
Jerami Grant’s numbers dipped sharply in 2024-25, with just 14.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and a ghastly 37.3% FG overall, marking a career-worst shooting season. Once a consistent 20+ point scorer with Detroit and Portland, his efficiency cratered this past year: volumes up, results down.
Still, past seasons show he can be a deadly stretch forward, shooting above 40% from three while averaging near 21 PPG, so his ceiling remains promising if he reasserts it. That potential is worth the gamble for Sacramento.
Swapping DeMar DeRozan and Doug McDermott could net a huge bounce-back candidate who spaces the floor and brings defensive versatility in crunch time. Grant’s ability to play both forward spots complements Murray and Sabonis while adding wing scoring depth.
If he rediscovers his old stroke, the upgrade from sniping off the bench to legitimate top-six talent would be dramatic, and the Kings have the infrastructure to help him turn the corner.
7. Russell Westbrook
Free Agency
At 36, Russell Westbrook remains one of the most scrutinized players in basketball, but make no mistake: the triple-double machine is still capable of causing chaos. In the 2024-25 season with Denver, he averaged 13.3 PPG, 6.1 APG, 4.9 RPG, and 1.4 SPG across 75 games despite playing through hand fractures that required surgery afterward.
Notably, he declined his $3.47 million player option in June and entered free agency, making him one of the most talked-about veterans on the market. Westbrook’s ability to still light it up occasionally and generate explosive pace-of-play energy keeps him on teams’ radars, especially those seeking veteran point-guard talent on a minimum salary.
If the Kings were to sign Westbrook, he slots seamlessly next to Zach LaVine and Keegan Murray, offering dynamic shot creation, endless motor, and late-game punch. Sacramento reportedly is “heavily linked” to him and may even be looking to trade two guards to clear roster space for his veteran minimum deal.
