NBA trade news: Sacramento Kings 'buyers' rather than sellers in trade market

The Sacramento Kings could be looking for additional pieces in the trade market rather than unloading contracts and players to other teams.

According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Kings may actually be playing as “buyers” rather than “sellers” in the trading season by making Rudy Gay and Marco Belinelli.

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“While the Kings are very much open to making a change, there is a big caveat for Sacramento to actually make a deal: it has to return something of real value,” Kyler wrote. “They are willing to move a significant player if the return in the deal ensures they can move up in the standings and seriously compete for a playoff berth.”

The Kings are looking like a team that has a chance for a playoff run with Sacramento just trailing 2.5 games behind the Portland Trailblazers for the eighth spot in the West. However, it is evident that the Kings still need to bolster their lineup to be legitimate contenders in the postseason, making a trade ideal for Sactown.

As the trade deadline nears, plenty of names have been thrown in the rumour mill. For the Kings, Gay and Belinelli have been the most heard names in trade talks. While both players packaged together have a great chance of getting back big deals, Gay alone could give the Kings a valuable players in return.

According to ESPN’s Chris Broussard, the Los Angeles Clippers have interest in Gay as they look for a quality wingman who could complete their elite starting lineup. One trade scenario that succeeds in ESPN’s trade machine is trading Gay to the Clips for Jamal Crawford and Lance Stephenson, who have also been linked to trade rumours earlier this season.

Gay would instantly be a starter for the Clippers, giving them a solid defender and reliable scored at the small forward position. Crawford and Stephenson, on the other hand, offer the Kings players who can create their own shots and space the floor for Sacramento.

However, the only problem for a deal like this would be Gay’s contract and the Clippers’ cap flexibility for this summer’s free agency. Gay is owed $12.4 million (AU$17.6 million) this season and is expected to earn $13.3 million (AU$18.9 million) for the next season in his three-year $40 million (AU$20.2 million) contract with the Kings. Moreover, he also has a player option worth $14.2 million in 2017-2018, which could be a huge cap problem for the Clippers.

Nevertheless, adding Gay would get the Clippers closer to their title dream, while the Kings may have a better chance for the postseason by acquiring Crawford and Stephenson.