Report: Kings Discussed Otto Porter Jr. Trade Before Deal for Harrison Barnes
March 26, 2019
Harrison Barnes wasn't the only veteran player the Sacramento Kings inquired about before the Feb. 7 NBA trade deadline.
ESPN.com's Zach Lowe reported Tuesday that the Kings talked with the Washington Wizards regarding Otto Porter Jr. However, Washington traded Porter to the Chicago Bulls, and Sacramento acquired Barnes from the Dallas Mavericks.
The Wizards landed Jabari Parker, Bobby Portis and a protected 2023 second-round pick for Porter. Meanwhile, Barnes cost the Kings 2017 first-rounder Justin Jackson and veteran Zach Randolph.
Lowe notes Sacramento coveted a tweener, as the team looked to supplement an up-and-coming roster.
Barnes is averaging 14.9 points on 47.2 percent shooting while adding 6.2 rebounds per game in 19 appearances since the trade. Porter, on the other hand, has put up 17.5 points on 48.8 percent three-point shooting in 15 games for the Bulls. He has missed the team's last three contests due to "a lot of little nagging injuries," as Bulls executive John Paxson told reporters, and could be shut down for the season with Chicago headed toward the lottery.
The Kings are 8-11 since they acquired Barnes and are 6.5 games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference at 36-37.
Whether Sacramento could have hung in the playoff race any better with Porter is unknown, especially since the 25-year-old is sidelined. What is known, though, Barnes does not appear to be enough to snap a 12-year playoff drought.
