Kings Report – 2/5

After losing all six games on their most recent road trip, the Sacramento Kings are now riding a nine-game losing streak. With just 12 wins on the season, they’ve officially passed the New Orleans Pelicans to become the worst team in the league.

Their latest loss was a close one against the also-terrible Washington Wizards. With both Russell Westbrook and Domantas Sabonis out of the lineup, we got a look at some unfamiliar faces logging serious minutes. Two-way contract players Daeqwon Plowden and Isaiah Stevens, who were both playing for the G-League Stockton Kings just the night before, logged 24 and 19 minutes, respectively. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much to show for it: Stevens posted two points, and Plowden had zero, and they were both back with the Stockton Kings two days later. Zach LaVine, 35 points in 35 minutes, and DeMar DeRozan, 32 points in 32 minutes, did everything they could, but it wasn’t enough. And honestly? Losing like this to a Wizards roster full of no-name players was a little embarrassing.

I know you’ve all been waiting with bated breath to see what roster moves the Kings would make. By the time you read this, the February 5 trade deadline (3 PM ET) will have passed, but as of Wednesday morning, the Kings had made just one move, and for me, it was a painful one. The Kings traded fan favorite Keon Ellis, along with Dennis Schröder, to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for De’Andre Hunter. The deal also sent Dario Šarić and two future second-round picks to the Chicago Bulls. Hunter is a 6’7” forward with six years of NBA experience. I mostly know him from his time with the Atlanta Hawks, where he was known as a solid two-way player; he’s a good defender who’s averaged around 14 points per game over his career. I’ll be honest: I wasn’t thrilled. I love Ellis, and I haven’t watched much of Hunter lately. But then I saw a clip of Charles Barkley roasting the Cavaliers for trading away “one of their better players,” calling Hunter one of the better bench players in the NBA. So… I guess I’ll try to give new general manager Scott Perry the benefit of the doubt as he begins whatever rebuild this is supposed to be.

There hasn’t been any trade talk around DeRozan, LaVine, or Westbrook, but rumor has it that the Toronto Raptors are very interested in Sabonis. Reports say the holdup is Toronto’s offer: 6’6” forward RJ Barrett and a package of second-round picks, while the Kings are holding firm for first-rounders. I, for one, am happy the Kings are driving a hard bargain and can’t wait to report the results to you next week.

Until then, the Kings have a three-game home-stand, and will probably have lost to the 19-29 Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, February 4, before getting destroyed by the 23-26 Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, February 6, and then getting completely dismantled by the 30-21 Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, February 7. It will be a battle for last place when the Kings go to New Orleans to play the 13-39 Pelicans on Monday, February 9, and then they will finish up the week on Wednesday, February 11, in Utah against the 16-35 Jazz. In all seriousness, they have to win one of these games…right? I still want to light the beam, go Kings!