The Sacramento Kings pulled off a big trade to conclude what has been an incredible 24 hours in the NBA, as they sent De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team deal that sees them land Zach LaVine.
LaVine replaces Fox as their new All-Star piece for their core, and while the two players don’t have similar profiles, he does add an interesting wrinkle to the Kings roster.
Starting Lineup
Starters: Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis
Zach LaVine will likely take up the point guard role, even though he is not a natural point guard. LaVine has been playing really well this season, averaging 24.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks while shooting 51.1% from the field, a career-best 44.6% from beyond the arc, and 79.7% from the free-throw line.
LaVine is used to having the ball in his hands, so playing makeshift point guard shouldn’t be too difficult an adjustment. He will share the backcourt with Malik Monk, who has proven to be a solid player in the shooting guard role.
The biggest help for LaVine will be him getting to reunite with DeMar DeRozan, whom he shared a team with for three years. After a few months apart, DeRozan and LaVine will not find it too difficult to regain their prior chemistry. As for Keegan Murray, his role is unlikely to change. Domantas Sabonis will continue to be the All-Star pick-and-roll threat he is but will need to develop a dynamic with LaVine.
Reserves
Jordan McLaughlin, Devin Carter, Keon Ellis, Colby Jones, Doug McDermott, Isaiah Crawford, Trey Lyles, Jae Crowder, Alex Len, Mason Jones (Two-Way), Isaac Jones (Two-Way)
A big boost to the Kings’ rotation is the fact that they now have a reliable backup point guard in Jordan McLaughlin. McLaughlin has shown in previous stints that he can be a trusted ball-handled player on the second unit. The Kings have adequate depth, with multiple players who can play at every position.
McLaughlin only adds to the guards they have at their disposal, as Devin Carter, Keon Ellis, and Colby Jones are versatile guards who can play the one or the two spot. This will help the Kings greatly as they try to help LaVine adjust to playing point guard, something he has never truly done on the Bulls or the Timberwolves.
Their reserve unit is not going to be much different after this trade, as McLaughlin is the only player who must be integrated into the rotation going forward. The Kings have some strong wing players like Trey Lyles, Dough McDermot, and Isaiah Crawford who can come in and make an impact. While Jae Crowder isn’t the player he once was, his experience makes him a valuable asset to the Kings bench.
The center spot will be a position the Kings will want to bolster, whether that be in the coming days or in free agency, as Alex Len, while reliable, is their only solid backup center option. Sabonis, for as great as he is, is not a natural center. And having Len as the only natural center on the roster along with Isaac Jones, who is a two-way player who rarely plays big minutes will be a concern.
Overall, the Kings’ bench is solid but is average compared to some of the heavy hitters in the NBA. The franchise could roll the dice on this squad, or remain active in the trade market to land a few more rotational upgrades. Much like before the trade, the Kings will be heavily reliant on their starting lineup.
With LaVine and Sabonis, the Kings have a strong guard-big combo which is essential to success in the NBA.
The jury is still out on them being the first two options on a competitive team. But given how LaVine has been playing, and his strong experience elevating bigs like Nikola Vucevic, the Kings will be hopeful that the two develop some strong chemistry and can contribute to winning basketball soon.
The Kings currently sit 10th in the Western Conference with a 24-24 record. This deal could help them improve their current position, and even allow them to make a push for some higher play-in tournament spots or a top-six seed, as they are currently only 3.5 games behind the sixth-seed L.A. Clippers. However, there are still a lot of questions about the fit of LaVine, no matter how talented the All-Star is.
Sacramento might have to make some more moves for their bench if they want to take a big leap this season. However, given the volatile nature of the NBA trade market right now, it’s hard to picture them being able to complete one more deal, let alone several others, with just days remaining before the NBA trade deadline.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
