NBA Exec Reveals Team Most Likely to Be Seller at 2026 Trade Deadline amid Rumors
The Sacramento Kings are the team "most widely painted as Trade Deadline Sellers" around the NBA, according to league insider Marc Stein.
Stein spoke to one executive who expects the Kings to be "active," though they declined to specify the nature of that possible business.
Stein added that Sacramento is "open to fielding trade calls on pretty much anyone on the roster outside of Keegan Murray and rookie Nique Clifford."
ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Dec. 10 that "teams around the league are keeping their eyes on veterans Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, as well as 25-year-old guard Keon Ellis."
Whatever reasons the Kings had for resisting a full rebuild are pretty much gone now. At 6-20, they're on pace to have the second-worst winning percentage (.231) in franchise history. Even if their fortunes start to improve, they've already lost so much ground in the Western Conference playoff race.
Not to mention, this is a roster with the NBA's sixth-highest payroll. The trio of Sabonis, LaVine and DeRozan combine to make more than $114.6 million, and the combined cost will climb in 2026-27.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported in November that general manager Scott Perry "realistically understands that he has to undertake a multiyear rebuild as opposed to trying to cobble together a plucky playoff-worthy squad from the ashes of Sacramento's Beam Team."
Still, dealing any one of the Kings' three stars is tricky when their trade values are so low. In the case of LaVine and Sabonis, their massive salaries limit the pool of suitors.
According to Stein, the front office doesn't want to give up draft picks in order to shed their big contracts or use Ellis, who's making just $2.3 million, as a trade sweetener. The fourth-year guard is averaging 5.3 points and 1.2 steals in a reserve role and shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc.
From Perry's perspective, the purpose of dumping salaries is undercut if Sacramento has to leverage a lot of draft capital. When the Kings are already on track to have a high pick in the 2026 NBA draft, maybe standing pat is the better call for now.
