Latest NBA Trade Rumors on Russell Westbrook, LaVine, DeRozan amid Kings' Struggles

The 6-20 Sacramento Kings are "expected to explore making trades of [their] veteran players," per Marc J. Spears of ESPN and Andscape.

"The Kings are struggling with the likes of Murray and veterans Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook on their roster. Sources told Andscape that there is a disconnect between some veteran Kings players and Christie and his coaching staff.

"Sacramento is expected to explore making trades of its veteran players, a source told Andscape. At home games, Kings fans have recently booed their team's poor performances and chanted for owner Vivek Ranadive to sell the team. One fan was recently ejected from a game for heckling LaVine, a player the Kings acquired in the Fox deal."

This has been a disastrous year for Sacramento, and it's only getting worse with the team in the midst of a 1-7 skid.

The Kings aren't faring well on either end right now, with the team last out of 30 NBA teams in offensive efficiency and 27th in defensive efficiency, per Basketball-Reference.

Simply put, this current group isn't working out, so it's not a surprise that the Kings might look to deal some veteran players.

The questions are who the team would trade and to whom. Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the Milwaukee Bucks have "done due diligence" on LaVine. Amick also reported last November that the Los Angeles Clippers "have some interest" in DeMar DeRozan.

Three-time All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis is also the center of trade talk, but he may be harder to move, per Amick.

"Teams like Washington, the Phoenix Suns and Chicago have shown significant interest in the past and are still believed to be on his short list of possible suitors, but Sabonis is prepared to remain in a Kings jersey for the foreseeable future," Amick wrote.

LaVine has a $47.5 million salary for this season and a $49 million player option for next season. DeRozan is getting paid $24.6 million this year and $25.7 million next year before his contract expires. Sabonis' four-year, $186 million deal expires after 2027-28.

Ultimately, the Kings appear to be sellers as the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches. In the meantime, Sacramento is hoping to break out of its losing funk beginning Thursday when the team visits the Portland Trail Blazers.