Sacramento Kings trying to acquire Brandon Knight via trade

The Sacramento Kings (13-17) are trying to acquire Phoenix Suns (8-21) point guard Brandon Knight via trade ahead of the February deadline, per fresh reports.

Knight's name has been doing the rounds in rumour well for most of the year -- especially after he lost his starting job at the start of the 2016-17 season. Last season, the former Kentucky standout averaged a career-high tally of 19.6 points, 5.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds but couldn't hold onto his starting spot upon the return of Eric Bledsoe, who missed 61 games after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

This season, the Suns are invested in the starting backcourt of Bledsoe and Devin Booker, who is averaging 19.1 points and 3.1 assists in his second season. Knight has been coming off the bench for 24.3 minutes per game, averaging 13.1 points and 2.9 assists. With promising rookie Tyler Ulis also on the roster, Knight's playing time could further diminish and Phoenix could be forced to trade him prior to the Feb. 23 deadline.

Sacramento Kings eyeing Brandon Knight

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, the Kings, who are trying to upgrade at the point guard position, have talking to the Suns about Knight since the offseason. "It's hard to read Sacramento. Sacramento talks a lot, but then never does anything, so Sacramento’s very frustrating to people," Windhorst said on the Zach Lowe podcast, via ESPN.

"I know that Sacramento has been talking to Phoenix about Brandon Knight since the summer. Will that ultimately get done? I don’t know, but it’s out there," added Windhorst, suggesting that the Kings will go all-out in the pursuit of Knight closer to the deadline.

Knight, who entered the league in 2011, is signed with the Suns through the 2019-20 season. Therefore, the team that trades for him will be assured of his services for another three full seasons. Also, Knight has a cap friendly contract; he is owed approximately US$56.5 million (AU$76.5 million) over the next three seasons.

As reported earlier, Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough told the Burns and Gambo radio show that the team had no intentions to trade Knight. "We’re certainly not looking to move Brandon, we haven’t been close to trading Brandon. I think he’d love to be starting, we understand that. He’s accepted the role very well. I think you guys will see him go on a run here."

Brandon Knight was drafted No. 8 overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2011. Since then, he's been traded to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns. Would the Sacramento Kings prove to be his fourth team?