Potential Free Agent/Trade/Sign Tracker, '25-'26 Season

[twslam07]

Not sure where you get the cap space to add this hypothetical Star PG without trading one of LaVine or Domas. Both Keegan and Keon will some cost more and the Kings will be cap constrained.

No, not "cap space." I'm referring to the space below the 2nd apron.

We're not going to sign a max player in free agency. I'm talking about trading for someone who is on a max contract and how it works with our current contracts in place.

As for Murray & Ellis, I addressed that as well in the previous posts, but I'll show my work again. As I stated previously, I am assuming that Murray's extension will be on par with Trey Murphy's contract and Ellis' extension will be on par with Herb Jones' contract. Below is how the numbers shake out...



As you can see, we have $88.6 mil in space before hitting the 2nd apron in 2025-26, and we have $89.7 mil in space before hitting the 2nd apron in 2026-27. The max contracts range between $38.7-$59.5 mil (depending on how long that player has been in the league and depending on which year). That means if we added a max player/contract to LaVine, Sabonis, Murray, Ellis, & Carter, we'd still have $30.2-$49.9 mil in space before hitting the 2nd apron (depending on how long that player has been in the league and depending on which year).

In order to trade for such a player w/ a max salary, we'd be leveraging a combination of DeRozan, Monk, and/or Valanciunas, or if we trade a combination of those guys for Jrue Holiday (for example), we'd use Holiday's contract to make such a trade.

Lastly, that $38.7-$59.5 mil of space before hitting the 2nd apron definitely opens up after LaVine's max contract expires. For example, let's say we give LaVine an extension worth $25 mil per year. This is how that table would look...



That leaves us with $128.3 mil in space before hitting the 2nd apron, and assuming we have another max contract added to that core, we'd still have $62.8-$81.5 mil in space before hitting the 2nd apron (depending on how long that player has been in the league).

 

[Tetsujin]

No, not "cap space." I'm referring to the space below the 2nd apron.

We're not going to sign a max player in free agency. I'm talking about trading for someone who is on a max contract and how it works with our current contracts in place.

As for Murray & Ellis, I addressed that as well in the previous posts, but I'll show my work again. As I stated previously, I am assuming that Murray's extension will be on par with Trey Murphy's contract and Ellis' extension will be on par with Herb Jones' contract. Below is how the numbers shake out...

View attachment 13573

As you can see, we have $88.6 mil in space before hitting the 2nd apron in 2025-26, and we have $89.7 mil in space before hitting the 2nd apron in 2026-27. The max contracts range between $38.7-$59.5 mil (depending on how long that player has been in the league and depending on which year). That means if we added a max player/contract to LaVine, Sabonis, Murray, Ellis, & Carter, we'd still have $30.2-$49.9 mil in space before hitting the 2nd apron (depending on how long that player has been in the league and depending on which year).

In order to trade for such a player w/ a max salary, we'd be leveraging a combination of DeRozan, Monk, and/or Valanciunas, or if we trade a combination of those guys for Jrue Holiday (for example), we'd use Holiday's contract to make such a trade.

Lastly, that $38.7-$59.5 mil of space before hitting the 2nd apron definitely opens up after LaVine's max contract expires. For example, let's say we give LaVine an extension worth $25 mil per year. This is how that table would look...

View attachment 13574

That leaves us with $128.3 mil in space before hitting the 2nd apron, and assuming we have another max contract added to that core, we'd still have $62.8-$81.5 mil in space before hitting the 2nd apron (depending on how long that player has been in the league).

Things will have to have either gone horrifically wrong or spectacularly right for us to hit that second apron this season which won’t stop people on here from acting like it’s a certainty that the Kings are in salary cap hell for the next decade.

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

Things will have to have either gone horrifically wrong or spectacularly right for us to hit that second apron this season which won’t stop people on here from acting like it’s a certainty that the Kings are in salary cap hell for the next decade.

It truly wouldn't be KingsFans.com if that don't happen...

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1932133813439926499

Please let that trade value drop a bit more before making an offer lol

 

[Kingster]

Carter ?????

Yeah, he's a combo guard, but he probably would benefit from Chris Paul coaching.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

I would disagree that you “have to” move LaVine if you’re building around Sabonis. Ideally, Sabonis is surrounded by good defenders, of course, but I’m not going to say that a team with LaVine & Sabonis has no ability to be a playoff team. Although, if LaVine & Sabonis are your two best players on that team…well my answer changes then.

And you may have tested the market on RealGM to see what he’d return in a trade this offseason, but I’d also say he doesn’t need to be traded this offseason. He’ll be a large expiring salary for us next offseason that could be attractive to a team looking to move off their star while getting immediate cap relief.

But even if we don’t trade LaVine, financially, we can add a max contract next to Sabonis, LaVine, Murray (new deal), Ellis (new deal), & Carter while still having $36-$41 mil to work with before hitting the 2nd apron. Perry could add a star next to those 2 which would likely boost the ceiling of this team to be a serious playoff team (assuming the fit of that star and the fit of the rest of the roster is good).



I reject the premise that once Sabonis is 30 we now have no window to win. He’s still going to be at his peak for a few more years (barring any injuries). It’s not like we’d begin building a team from scratch when he is 30. We can be in the process of building that team around him right now. And there even pieces on this roster today that work with Sabonis long term.

Lets just walk through a hypothetical to show how our window wouldn’t be gone after LaVine is moved…

Let’s say we do my proposed trade that has us sending out DeMar DeRozan & Malik Monk and getting back Zach Collins, PJ Washington, & Lonzo Ball. And play the season out with LaVine on the roster. Then the following offseason, let’s say we trade LaVine + assets for an upgrade and get a star PG. We’d have the following “core” roster going into the 2026-27 season (Sabonis would be 30)…

PG - Star PG / Ball
SG - Ellis / Carter
SF - Murray
PF - Washington
C - Sabonis / Valanciunas

Assuming we’ve upgraded from LaVine, that team doesn’t appear to have no window but yet it is after LaVine is gone.



I’ve stated multiple times that I think they should rebuild, but that I don’t think Vivek will allow it. But even then, I don’t think you’re limited to just those two options. As I laid out above, there is a path to winning now without LaVine on this roster.

If we’re getting a star pg without giving up Sabonis than it’s gonna take Carter and multiple firsts. Lamelo and Young are probably the two that would work if Morant is traded I’m sure they’d want Sabonis and not Carter.

The defense around Young would be good in your scenario with ellis, PJ, and Keegan would need Keegan to take a leap offensively which is hope he could not having to defend the top two scores every night

 

[TheMobb]

Yeah, he's a combo guard, but he probably would benefit from Chris Paul coaching.

All of Monk, Carter, Keon, Keegan would benefit. Even a guy like Sabonis as a guy who’s running the offense could learn from CP3.

 

[twslam07]

If we’re getting a star pg without giving up Sabonis than it’s gonna take Carter and multiple firsts. Lamelo and Young are probably the two that would work if Morant is traded I’m sure they’d want Sabonis and not Carter.

The defense around Young would be good in your scenario with ellis, PJ, and Keegan would need Keegan to take a leap offensively which is hope he could not having to defend the top two scores every night

Just to be clear, it doesn’t have to be a star PG. It could be a star forward as well.

Having said that, if the plan is to keep LaVine & Sabonis and try and add another star/max player next to them, that player needs to be a good defender. I don’t see our ceiling being very high if we’re playing 3 poor/below average defenders 34+ minutes a night.

So with that in mind, guys like Trae Young and LaMelo Ball wouldn’t be wise targets. Now if the goal is to “upgrade” LaVine with a better star, you could probably get away with a star who is a below average defender (assuming you have good defenders everywhere else). However, it’s one thing to bring in a below average defender. It’s another thing to bring in one of the worst defenders in the league like Trae Young. Trae would still be a hard “no” from me in the “upgrade LaVine” scenario.

Lastly, I don’t agree that the trade will require Carter to be included in the trade. Next offseason, we have the ability to trade a max of 6 1st round picks…

2026 SAC 1st (technically traded on/after draft night to avoid Stepien rule)
2027 SAC 1st or 2027 SAS 1st
2028 SAC 1st
2030 SAC 1st
2031 SAC/SAS 1st or 2031 MIN 1st
2032 SAC 1st

That a TON of value. I don’t see how Carter will be some sticking point with this type of draft capital to leverage in a trade. Now that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t include him in a trade (and keep more of our draft capital), but I think it’s false to insinuate that Carter will be a deal breaker in a trade for a star if he’s not included.

 

[jiimbob]

Just reading a Sports Illustrated article ranking the top ten proposed trades for the Kings so far this offseason. Number 1 is Monk, a 2027 first, and this year’s second round pick for Herb Jones.

I wouldn’t mind seeing a Keon Herb reunion, and im sure he would be a nice addition as a defensive first forward, but seems like a lot to give up.

 

[dude12]

Just reading a Sports Illustrated article ranking the top ten proposed trades for the Kings so far this offseason. Number 1 is Monk, a 2027 first, and this year’s second round pick for Herb Jones.

I wouldn’t mind seeing a Keon Herb reunion, and im sure he would be a nice addition as a defensive first forward, but seems like a lot to give up.

Monk and Herb are equal talents, just different

 

[KayDee55]

Monk and Herb are equal talents, just different

Herb is one of the best defenders of the league while having a respectable 3 point shot

Monk is in no "one of the best" categories, while not even having a respectable defense

Monks value stems from his combination of "offensive spark"-game (only works when he is off the bench though) and his playmaking while having a team friendly contract.

Talent wise, while having different ones, Herb is higher up the ladder in his court.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1932446359828754616

Lavine, Carter, 2027 spurs first, 2028 first, and Timberwolves 2031 first

For

Young


Follow that up with derozan and a second for Andrew Wiggins

Young/Monk
Ellis/
Wiggins/Laravia
Keegan/jones
Sabonis/Jonas


Teams can attack Sabonis and young on defense like they did KAT/Brunson but Sabonis is tiers better than KAT showing on picks. Keegan would get a chance to take a leap offensively with ellis and Wiggins doing the heavy work on defense. Motivated wiggins is an elite defender

 

[Padrino]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1932446359828754616

Lavine, Carter, 2027 spurs first, 2028 first, and Timberwolves 2031 first

For

Young


Follow that up with derozan and a second for Andrew Wiggins

Young/Monk
Ellis/
Wiggins/Laravia
Keegan/jones
Sabonis/Jonas

That is a massive overpay for a guy who is not, in my estimation, a top-20 player in the NBA.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1932461181102690752

 

[jiimbob]

Monk is p

Herb is one of the best defenders of the league while having a respectable 3 point shot

Monk is in no "one of the best" categories, while not even having a respectable defense

Monks value stems from his combination of "offensive spark"-game (only works when he is off the bench though) and his playmaking while having a team friendly contract.

Talent wise, while having different ones, Herb is higher up the ladder in his court.

Monk is probably the last player Id want to trade but if Herb makes more sense to balance out this team than okay. I’m mostly questioning throwing in a 2027 fist, perhaps Herb is more effective than I would think.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

That is a massive overpay for a guy who is not, in my estimation, a top-20 player in the NBA.

You don’t think he’s top 20? He’s up there with Brunson he shows up in the playoffs it’s an overpay because Orlando and Miami will be all over him as well

 

[KayDee55]

Monk is p

Monk is probably the last player Id want to trade but if Herb makes more sense to balance out this team than okay. I’m mostly questioning throwing in a 2027 fist, perhaps Herb is more effective than I would think.

I would like him a lot here, as i think he would be more valuable for us than monk, but i would try it without giving away one of our own firsts. Maybe try it with the Spurs first, which will be somewhere at the end of the first round anyways

 

[Padrino]

You don’t think he’s top 20? He’s up there with Brunson he shows up in the playoffs it’s an overpay because Orlando and Miami will be all over him as well

No. I'm not even sure if I'd rank him in the top-30, but I'd have to work up a proper list. He's a miserably awful defender and he's a high-volume three-point shooter who routinely shoots below league-average from outside. He's never won more than 43 games in the lesser conference. I don't think he's a winner. I actually value Darius Garland more than Trae Young. I think Garland's poised to break out, while Young doesn't have much room left to evolve. He also hates playing off-ball, so I'm not sure what good it would be to stick a guy like that next to Domas.

Personally, I don't like Young enough to trade for him, but in your proposal, I'd need you to drop either Carter or two of those first rounders for me to even consider it. There's likely not much market for Young this offseason, and the Kings shouldn't be in the business of competing against themselves by tossing so many future assets at Atlanta.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

No. I'm not even sure if I'd rank him in the top-30, but I'd have to work up a proper list. He's a miserably awful defender and he's a high-volume three-point shooter who routinely shoots below league-average from outside. He's never won more than 43 games in the lesser conference. I don't think he's a winner. I actually value Darius Garland more than Trae Young. I think Garland's poised to break out, while Young doesn't have much room left to evolve. He also hates playing off-ball, so I'm not sure what good it would be to stick a guy like that next to Domas.

Personally, I don't like Young enough to trade for him, but in your proposal, I'd need you to drop either Carter or two of those first rounders for me to even consider it. There's likely not much market for Young this offseason, and the Kings shouldn't be in the business of competing against themselves by tossing so many future assets at Atlanta.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1932469888670658691

The team agrees with you they allegedly prefer garland, what would a trade even look like they wouldn’t want Sabonis unless they send Allen out in a three team trade

 

[KayDee55]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1932469888670658691

The team agrees with you they allegedly prefer garland, what would a trade even look like they wouldn’t want Sabonis unless they send Allen out in a three team trade

Why not get Allen AND Garland I mean, we can try

Monk and Sabonis for Garland, Allen and Okoro works salary wise.
Question is, how many picks do they want with it

 

[twslam07]

Monk and Herb are equal talents, just different

Herb is more impactful according to a lot of the best advanced impact stats out there…

Malik Monk
VPM = 232nd
DPM = 203rd
LEBRON = 120th
2Y RAPM = 453rd
eRAPTOR = 161st
MAMBA = 80th
Overall Avg Rank = 208th

Herb Jones
VPM = 32nd
DPM = 71st
LEBRON = 518th
2Y RAPM = 14th
eRAPTOR = 145th
MAMBA = 134th
Overall Avg Rank = 152nd

And there is also the positional, skillset scarcity that tips in favor of Herb from a value standpoint.

Monk & a 1st seems like fair value to me since I think Monk is worth a 1st and I think Herb is worth 2 1sts.

I’m not really sure why NOP would want Monk though. If they’re going to keep Zion, Herb seems like a great piece to put around him. Also, I would be trying to leverage one of Murphy or Herb in an attempt to get a C who can space the floor and protect the rim. That’s really the only true way to unlock a team led by Zion.

Would MEM be interested in doing a Jaren Jackson Jr. for Murphy or Herb + other value swap? That helps MEM avoid being capped out while still having a young, 3&D forward on a more affordable deal (allowing MEM to round out the rest of the roster). For NOP, they trot out a frontline of JJJ, Zion, and Murphy or Herb and then focus on building out their guard rotation to finalize the roster.

 

[twslam07]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1932469888670658691

The team agrees with you they allegedly prefer garland, what would a trade even look like they wouldn’t want Sabonis unless they send Allen out in a three team trade

Advanced impact stats like Garland wayyyy more than Young…

Darius Garland
VPM = 65th
DPM = 38th
LEBRON = 21st
2Y RAPM = 249th
eRAPTOR = 37th
MAMBA = 23rd
Overall Avg Rank = 72nd

Trae Young
VPM = 167th
DPM = 74th
LEBRON = 62nd
2Y RAPM = 436th
eRAPTOR = 182nd
MAMBA = 96th
Overall Avg Rank = 170th

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Advanced impact stats like Garland wayyyy more than Young…

Darius Garland
VPM = 65th
DPM = 38th
LEBRON = 21st
2Y RAPM = 249th
eRAPTOR = 37th
MAMBA = 23rd
Overall Avg Rank = 72nd

Trae Young
VPM = 167th
DPM = 74th
LEBRON = 62nd
2Y RAPM = 436th
eRAPTOR = 182nd
MAMBA = 96th
Overall Avg Rank = 170th

His contact is a lot better as well and he can play off ball I also don’t think he’s as bad defensively as young and brunson

Why not get Allen AND Garland I mean, we can try

Monk and Sabonis for Garland, Allen and Okoro works salary wise.
Question is, how many picks do they want with it

Two or three first but we’d keep Carter and can still trade Derozan for Wiggins or Robinson/Jamiez

 

[The_Jamal]

That is a massive overpay for a guy who is not, in my estimation, a top-20 player in the NBA.

Hmm, I'm not sure on this one. I think Young is a bit like Fox in terms of impact; if he found the right situation and the right "1B", I think he'd be right in that conversation again as an All-NBA candidate type guy.

I'd be very into especially if it were closer to a "buy-low" type scenario. Where all we're giving up is LaVine and picks. Trae in a 2-man game is a vast improvement over LaVine simply because Trae is one of the better passers in the league and still gives you that 3-level scoring that LaVine provides. Only 26 too.

Garland would be a better bet though because we haven't truly seen his ceiling away from Mitchell yet. His season absolutely suggests that if you got him away from Mitchell, he's someone that could pretty easily be 25+ PPG on elite efficiency. And his price should be somewhat reduced with his surgery and him potentially not being ready for game 1 next season.

Garland/Trae-Keon-Keegan-Domas is a really nice 4 to build around. If you found a way to steal Herb, that, on paper, would absolutely be a team competing for a top 6 spot.

 

[KayDee55]

His contact is a lot better as well and he can play off ball I also don’t think he’s as bad defensively as young and brunson

not exactly a plus defender, but not completely useless, like Trae and Brunson. Much easier to hide, even with the personal we already have.

Garland/Trae-Keon-Keegan-Domas

Getting Garland without giving up Domas is really hard as they are over the 2nd apron. But even value wise, i dont see a road to Garland without giving up Domas. If we manage to get Allen along with Garland, it should be worth it though.

 

[Padrino]

Hmm, I'm not sure on this one. I think Young is a bit like Fox in terms of impact; if he found the right situation and the right "1B", I think he'd be right in that conversation again as an All-NBA candidate type guy.

I'd be very into especially if it were closer to a "buy-low" type scenario. Where all we're giving up is LaVine and picks. Trae in a 2-man game is a vast improvement over LaVine simply because Trae is one of the better passers in the league and still gives you that 3-level scoring that LaVine provides. Only 26 too.

Garland would be a better bet though because we haven't truly seen his ceiling away from Mitchell yet. His season absolutely suggests that if you got him away from Mitchell, he's someone that could pretty easily be 25+ PPG on elite efficiency. And his price should be somewhat reduced with his surgery and him potentially not being ready for game 1 next season.

Garland/Trae-Keon-Keegan-Domas is a really nice 4 to build around. If you found a way to steal Herb, that, on paper, would absolutely be a team competing for a top 6 spot.

Between the two, Garland is absolutely the bet I'd take. To me, his impact stats scream that he's ready to break out if given an opportunity away from Mitchell. It may be hard to swing a trade for him without including Domas, but if the Kings could pull that off, I like a Garland/Sabonis pairing significantly more than a Young/Sabonis pairing.

As for Young himself, I can certainly see him being a "1B" in the right situation, but I don't think his best fit is necessarily alongside a center who's known primarily as one of the league's best playmaking bigs. Young has been very resistant to playing off-ball throughout his career, and it would take a maturation leap to optimize his usage alongside Domas'. I certainly think they'd run the 2-man game effectively, a la Monk/Sabonis, but I also think you'd be blunting Domas' impact by removing him as the central hub of action in the Kings' offense.

Garland is a more optimal pairing with Domas than Young (or Fox, for that matter) because he's an excellent outside shooter and has learned how to move really well off the ball (a useful byproduct of sharing a backcourt with Mitchell).

 

[The_Jamal]

Between the two, Garland is absolutely the bet I'd take. To me, his impact stats scream that he's ready to break out if given an opportunity away from Mitchell. It may be hard to swing a trade for him without including Domas, but if the Kings could pull that off, I like a Garland/Sabonis pairing significantly more than a Young/Sabonis pairing.

As for Young himself, I can certainly see him being a "1B" in the right situation, but I don't think his best fit is necessarily alongside a center who's known primarily as one of the league's best playmaking bigs. Young has been very resistant to playing off-ball throughout his career, and it would take a maturation leap to optimize his usage alongside Domas'. I certainly think they'd run the 2-man game effectively, a la Monk/Sabonis, but I also think you'd be blunting Domas' impact by removing him as the central hub of action in the Kings' offense.

Garland is a more optimal pairing with Domas than Young (or Fox, for that matter) because he's an excellent outside shooter and has learned how to move really well off the ball (a useful byproduct of sharing a backcourt with Mitchell).

Just actually looked up the Trae and Garland contracts and yeah, Garland is the bet. Trae is essentially on a 1 year deal with a PO after next season.... so nope. Unless the price is literally like LaVine and a 1st.

The Garland tag probably is something like LaVine+Carter+2-3 1sts. So essentially what we got for Fox+Carter.

 

[Tetsujin]

Just actually looked up the Trae and Garland contracts and yeah, Garland is the bet. Trae is essentially on a 1 year deal with a PO after next season.... so nope. Unless the price is literally like LaVine and a 1st.

The Garland tag probably is something like LaVine+Carter+2-3 1sts. So essentially what we got for Fox+Carter.

Garland is also a Klutch guy to go along with our one Klutch guy (Lavine), our other Klutch free agent (Trey Lyles), and our Klutch head coach (Doug Christie)!

 

[Joshyjosh31]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1932459822534004876

You’re obviously not doing the Keegan proposal
Monk, Val, and Carter is a good proposal it would probably take two firsts and not one though

 

[KayDee55]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1932459822534004876

You’re obviously not doing the Keegan proposal
Monk, Val, and Carter is a good proposal it would probably take two firsts and not one though

Monk and Sabonis for Garland, Allen and Okoro works salary wise.
We just need to attach picks. I wouldnt do more than three though. And one of those has to be the Spurs one.