The Sacramento Kings are reportedly shopping shooting guard Kevin Huerter and power forward Trey Lyles, making the pair available for a potential trade, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Kings Trade Rumors: Sacramento Can Offer Kevin Huerter, Trey Lyles, And Future First-Round Draft Picks
Both of Sacramento’s role players remain out with injuries.
Huerter, 26, has been sidelined and is listed as day-to-day after suffering a shoulder injury in last Thursday’s 111-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Meanwhile, Lyles has been sidelined since Nov. 25 with a Grade 1 calf strain suffered in the second quarter of the Kings’ 130-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Sacramento, meanwhile, is routinely described as one of the league’s more aggressive teams in search of an upgrade, with the contracts of Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles (even though only Lyles’ $8 million salary is an expiring deal) widely known to be available from the Kings,” Stein wrote.
Stein’s latest column also confirms HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto’s report from last week.
“[The Kings] made a big splash to get DeMar DeRozan in the offseason, but they’re on the fringe of the play-in tournament. That’s not where they want to be. So look for Kevin Huerter, Trey Lyles, those two contracts combined, along with their future first-round picks to be dangled.”
Huerter Has Averaged 9.9 Points Per Game On 43.1% Shooting From The Field, A Career-Low 31.1% From 3-Point Territory
Through 23 games (15 starts) this season, Huerter has averaged 9.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 25.6 minutes per contest while shooting 43.1% from the field and career lows of 31.1% from 3-point range and 70.6% at the free throw line.
Per Spotrac, Huerter is currently in the third season of a four-year, $65 million contract. The seven-year veteran is making $16.83 million this season and is slated to earn $17.99 million in 2025-26.
In 18 games (two starts) so far this season, Lyles has averaged 5.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 19.6 minutes per contest while shooting 36.3% from the floor, 33.3% from deep, and 71.4% at the foul line.
According to Spotrac, the 29-year-old signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Kings in 2023, making his $8 million expiring deal easier to move. His contract also includes $2.4 million is total incentives.
The two former first-round picks could become part of a trade package in exchange for a veteran to improve roster depth alongside All-Stars De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis.
Kings Mulling A Keon Ellis Trade?
In addition to moveable assets like Huerter, Lyles, and first-round picks, the Kings could consider trading young standout guard Keon Ellis. It’s a logical suggestion considering Sacramento’s commitment to Keegan Murray.
Ellis is averaging 6.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.2 steals on 46.7% shooting from the field and 42.1% from beyond the arc. The third-year guard leads all Sacramento rotational players with a +9.6 on/off net rating.
When Ellis plays, the Kings have a +9.8 net rating, compared to +0.2 when he sits. However, sources close to Sacramento are speculating that Ellis is off limits. If true, this means both Murray and Ellis will stay put.
After 24 games, the Kings are 12-12 and sit 12th in the Western Conference standings. They trail the Los Angeles Lakers (13-12) and San Antonio Spurs (13-12) by half a game.
The NBA trade deadline is February 6, 2025, at 3 p.m. ET.
