I agree with you that trading Bagley in a rush would be ill advised. The only way I move Bagley to better position ourselves for a run this year is for a Vucevic or Randle type player.
However I am totally on board with just making the playoffs. 14 straight years of the lottery, I don’t think we need to worry about messing up our shot at a championship.
One or two more draft pieces, a defensive role player free agent and continued development of Fox and Ty and we have a competitive team for years to come
To be clear: for the Kings, the value of making the playoffs isn't just about ending that drought and moral victories. It's about being attractive to free agents. Sacramento will never be able to compete w/LA, NY, and a few others as destination cities for players who weigh the opportunities those places offer heavily. But it could offer a team where a young all-star-caliber free agent can see himself as the last major piece to a perennial playoff team and maybe more.
Fox is shaping up as at least a strong #2 on a championship team. Haliburton is a very legit ROTY contender, pass-first, clutch-gene kid who will only get better. They are 23 and 20, seem like fantastic teammates, and guaranteed to be in Sacramento for several more years. Add HB and/or Holmes - AND MAKE THE PLAYOFFS - and maybe, just maybe, prospective future teammates start giving the Kings a serious look.