What Does This Team Need Most?

Do you see a realstic path the Kings can get JJJ if Memphis doesn’t want to pay him? Maybe a 3 team deal of DeRozan/salary plus picks, DeRozan to 3rd team and prospects and picks to Mem?

I can see Memphis giving up on him. But I don't like his game though, I think he sucks as far as basketball IQ. He took horrible shots. He's not clutch. But if the Kings can trade Lavine or DeRozen for him, I am all for it because of size.

I think the Kings need to reshuffle their lineups, it's just not working. Either Lavine or DeRozen got to go. I would think that DeRozen is someone GS want giving Curry age and needing to win now. I would trade him for Kuminga. Kuminga was a force early in the year, but has dropped off near the end and out of rotation right now. You got to believe he still can get back to where he once were. Try to trade Lavine for Cam Johnson and maybe give up some draft capital. If Kings decided to reset, then trading Sabonis to Spurs for Castle+others isn't a bad idea. They really screwed up the Fox trade...should have gotten Castle.
 
I understand that the path we are most likely going to take is a retool but if we are being honest, starting from scratch and rebuilding is 100% the best way to approach this. Here is the list of the last 10 nba championships

1. Boston Celtics
2. Denver Nuggets
3. Golden State Warriors
4. Milwaukee Bucks
5. Los Angeles Lakers
6. Toronto Raptors
7. Golden State Warriors
8. Golden State Warriors
9. Cleveland Cavaliers
10. Golden State Warriors

What do they all have in common? A bonified star(s) leading the team with a bunch of good players built around them. Kings do not have that and the best way for a small market team like the Kings to do that is through the draft. We just aren’t made to land a superstar (if we go by our history).

Knowing this, the only 2 people we can ‘realistically’ build around with our current roster are Sabonis and Lavine. Start there and figure out the pieces you will have to find that compliment those 2.
 
JJJ would be perfect next to Sabonis. Stay out of the way on the 3 pt line on offense, play a little interior defense, and leave all the rebounding to Sabonis.

Problem is it would take Sabonis to get JJJ but I’m not a fan of MR. 4 rebounds

Also there more noise to trading Morant especially with Pippen breaking out they don’t miss a beat with Ja out as much if they lost JJJ. JJJ and Sabonis would be a good frontcourt with Eddy getting bench minutes while we get Morant. Perry said we are in need of a guard so that fits his plan as well
 
I can see Memphis giving up on him. But I don't like his game though, I think he sucks as far as basketball IQ. He took horrible shots. He's not clutch. But if the Kings can trade Lavine or DeRozen for him, I am all for it because of size.

I think the Kings need to reshuffle their lineups, it's just not working. Either Lavine or DeRozen got to go. I would think that DeRozen is someone GS want giving Curry age and needing to win now. I would trade him for Kuminga. Kuminga was a force early in the year, but has dropped off near the end and out of rotation right now. You got to believe he still can get back to where he once were. Try to trade Lavine for Cam Johnson and maybe give up some draft capital. If Kings decided to reset, then trading Sabonis to Spurs for Castle+others isn't a bad idea. They really screwed up the Fox trade...should have gotten Castle.

I hear you, especially with his basketball IQ. I’ve never been a big fan of his game, he’s absolutely flawed and will cost a lot, but in terms of fit he complements Sabonis nicely. And we go from an undersized team, to Sabonis/JJJ/Keegan upfront and one of the bigger frontcourts in the league. The length and rim protection from JJJ and Keegan at the forward spots would cover for Sabonis and LaVine nicely. So if the price is DeRozan + picks and the org wants to commit to Sabonis moving forward I think it’s something to consider.
 
Do you see a realstic path the Kings can get JJJ if Memphis doesn’t want to pay him? Maybe a 3 team deal of DeRozan/salary plus picks, DeRozan to 3rd team and prospects and picks to Mem?
I really don't have a clue what Memphis wants. Obviously DDR is a salary match for JJJ so there's no need to get super creative on the CBA side to make a deal like that happen.

I would point out that JJJ's shotblocking is in serious decline the past two years, so that's a concern. He seems to fit on paper but I wouldn't want to put too many eggs in a JJJ basket if he's not actually going to lock down the paint for us.
 
I really don't have a clue what Memphis wants. Obviously DDR is a salary match for JJJ so there's no need to get super creative on the CBA side to make a deal like that happen.

I would point out that JJJ's shotblocking is in serious decline the past two years, so that's a concern. He seems to fit on paper but I wouldn't want to put too many eggs in a JJJ basket if he's not actually going to lock down the paint for us.

Honestly what do you see us trading that would acquire this ideal player with limited caveats. The best chance for that kind of return was Fox and yet here we are.
 
We would do that in a heartbeat but doesn’t work for the Nets. I still think Miami is the most likely landing spot for Deebo but I think there will be a few options

Here you go.

We are assuming that the Kings will not rebuild. In fact, most of the information available says we won't, so let's get that out of the way. Let's assume that Perry can only take care of ONE THING this offseason. What is it? What will move the Kings from a play-in team to a playoff team in one (or maybe 1.5) moves?

What do we need? An alpha personality? A 30 ppg scorer? Anybody not named Zion? Back in the day, we saw what happened when JWill was flipped for Bibby (despite some consternation from the locals). One move can make a difference. What is the one, MOST REALISTIC move that can happen?
If ai could pick one thing we need most, I'd say "filler." We need a key trade that brings in guys who accentuate our existing strengths. Would moving DDR for Dalton Knecht (6'6") and Rui Hachimura (6'8") be a step towards accomplishing this?
 
If ai could pick one thing we need most, I'd say "filler." We need a key trade that brings in guys who accentuate our existing strengths. Would moving DDR for Dalton Knecht (6'6") and Rui Hachimura (6'8") be a step towards accomplishing this?

I’m assuming the Lakers will need those assets for a center, not having one really sank them in the playoffs. It’s going to be hard to find an ideal wing defender in a trade for Deebo because nearly every team needs them
 
If ai could pick one thing we need most, I'd say "filler." We need a key trade that brings in guys who accentuate our existing strengths. Would moving DDR for Dalton Knecht (6'6") and Rui Hachimura (6'8") be a step towards accomplishing this?

Lakers need size and defense not a non defender with no size , athleticism, and defense.
 
Here you go.

We are assuming that the Kings will not rebuild. In fact, most of the information available says we won't, so let's get that out of the way. Let's assume that Perry can only take care of ONE THING this offseason. What is it? What will move the Kings from a play-in team to a playoff team in one (or maybe 1.5) moves?

What do we need? An alpha personality? A 30 ppg scorer? Anybody not named Zion? Back in the day, we saw what happened when JWill was flipped for Bibby (despite some consternation from the locals). One move can make a difference. What is the one, MOST REALISTIC move that can happen?
To me, the top priority is taking a swing and trading for a star. My list of people I would consider, depending on the price for each, would be Ja, Trae, LaMelo, Zion, and Harden. I didn’t include KD and Giannis because they have the power to block a trade to Sacramento, I would assume, that the others I mentioned wouldn’t.

I think the most realistic of all these options is a trade for Trae Young. Atlanta has been stuck in purgatory with him and they haven’t been able to surround him with a secondary star to be a real threat in the East. It would make sense for Atlanta to start a rebuild and for Trae to look for a better situation to win now as he enters his prime. I would prioritize keeping Sabonis in a Trae trade and moving LaVine (Trae/LaVine backcourt defense would be awful).

Potential trade:

SAC: Trae Young

ATL: Zach LaVine, Devin Carter, 2026 SAC 1st, 2027 SAS 1st

Atlanta can move LaVine to a team for draft capital at the 2026 deadline or in the offseason, use Carter to kickstart the rebuild with Johnson/Daniels, and they get two firsts, as well. Trae Young has one season + a player option, so I would hope to get an indicator from his agent/team that he would be willing to stay long term. But this is another reason I think he is more gettable than the others.

Young/?
Ellis/Monk
Murray/?
?/LaRavia
Sabonis/Valanciunas

You can use DeRozan + other draft picks in one or more trades to fill the roster out for another 3/D wing (Wiggins, Collins, etc.). Also have the MLE.
 
To me, the top priority is taking a swing and trading for a star. My list of people I would consider, depending on the price for each, would be Ja, Trae, LaMelo, Zion, and Harden. I didn’t include KD and Giannis because they have the power to block a trade to Sacramento, I would assume, that the others I mentioned wouldn’t.

I think the most realistic of all these options is a trade for Trae Young. Atlanta has been stuck in purgatory with him and they haven’t been able to surround him with a secondary star to be a real threat in the East. It would make sense for Atlanta to start a rebuild and for Trae to look for a better situation to win now as he enters his prime. I would prioritize keeping Sabonis in a Trae trade and moving LaVine (Trae/LaVine backcourt defense would be awful).

Potential trade:

SAC: Trae Young

ATL: Zach LaVine, Devin Carter, 2026 SAC 1st, 2027 SAS 1st

Atlanta can move LaVine to a team for draft capital at the 2026 deadline or in the offseason, use Carter to kickstart the rebuild with Johnson/Daniels, and they get two firsts, as well. Trae Young has one season + a player option, so I would hope to get an indicator from his agent/team that he would be willing to stay long term. But this is another reason I think he is more gettable than the others.

Young/?
Ellis/Monk
Murray/?
?/LaRavia
Sabonis/Valanciunas

You can use DeRozan + other draft picks in one or more trades to fill the roster out for another 3/D wing (Wiggins, Collins, etc.). Also have the MLE.

I think this would be the best we could do and would help us a lot. Atlanta doesn’t need Sabonis so that’s a good thing they would for sure like the Daniel’s/Carter backcourt. I love the trade and Trae game translates to the playoffs.

Another Derozan trade that’s possible with the clippers losing is Derozan and Issac Jones for Derrick Jones and Bogi

Keegan would become our third option with the starters he has to be able to take the next step with more shots as well as less defensive pressure with Ellis and another 3D guy starting
 
To me, the top priority is taking a swing and trading for a star. My list of people I would consider, depending on the price for each, would be Ja, Trae, LaMelo, Zion, and Harden. I didn’t include KD and Giannis because they have the power to block a trade to Sacramento, I would assume, that the others I mentioned wouldn’t.

I think the most realistic of all these options is a trade for Trae Young. Atlanta has been stuck in purgatory with him and they haven’t been able to surround him with a secondary star to be a real threat in the East. It would make sense for Atlanta to start a rebuild and for Trae to look for a better situation to win now as he enters his prime. I would prioritize keeping Sabonis in a Trae trade and moving LaVine (Trae/LaVine backcourt defense would be awful).

Potential trade:

SAC: Trae Young

ATL: Zach LaVine, Devin Carter, 2026 SAC 1st, 2027 SAS 1st

Atlanta can move LaVine to a team for draft capital at the 2026 deadline or in the offseason, use Carter to kickstart the rebuild with Johnson/Daniels, and they get two firsts, as well. Trae Young has one season + a player option, so I would hope to get an indicator from his agent/team that he would be willing to stay long term. But this is another reason I think he is more gettable than the others.

Young/?
Ellis/Monk
Murray/?
?/LaRavia
Sabonis/Valanciunas

You can use DeRozan + other draft picks in one or more trades to fill the roster out for another 3/D wing (Wiggins, Collins, etc.). Also have the MLE.
So your solution is to get smaller and worse on defense?
 
So your solution is to get smaller and worse on defense?
Trae is bad on defense but so is LaVine. But Trae is a much better offensive player, more consistent, Playoff proven, much younger, and less injury prone. The trade would also balance our lineup and ironically make us better on defense simply by clearing up a starting spot for Keon. Ellis is arguably an elite NBA defender and could help cover up Trae’s shortcomings similar to Dyson Daniels.
 
Jaquez is the kind of player that could definitely help us and appears to be on the outs with the Heat. The problem with chasing Jaquez with DDR is that Jaime makes so little that we'd have to take back bad salary or design a bigger deal around, say Wiggins.

How about a DDR for Jaquez and Terry Rozier (provided he's cleared from gambling investigation). We get a full size defensive wing and a stop gap PG/SG until DC is ready to start.

Starting line up would be more balanced:

PF: Keegan /
SF: Jaquez / LaRavia (resigned)
C: Sabonis / JV
SG: LaVIne / Keon
PG: Rozier / Monk / DC
 
How about a DDR for Jaquez and Terry Rozier (provided he's cleared from gambling investigation). We get a full size defensive wing and a stop gap PG/SG until DC is ready to start.

Starting line up would be more balanced:

PF: Keegan /
SF: Jaquez / LaRavia (resigned)
C: Sabonis / JV
SG: LaVIne / Keon
PG: Rozier / Monk / DC

Rozier shot 39% from the field and 29% from three and got zero minutes from Miami in the playoffs if we trade for him it better be to match salary