As the NBA offseason approaches, the Sacramento Kings are at a crossroads between free agency and trade season. What can Kings General Manager Monte McNair do to take this club to the next level? This week on Stiles & Watkins, hosts Allen Stiles and Chris Watkins discussed players who could be on Sacramento’s offseason wishlist. Today, let’s look at number five on Chris’ ‘Big Fish’ list: Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant.
Everyone recognises Kevin Durant. The 6’11, 14-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA player won two NBA championships and was named Finals MVP twice. The Suns had a rocky 2023-24 season, with injuries to all three of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal aggravating matters; while it appears that a coaching change is their preferred next step, you never know what can happen in an NBA summer.
From Sacramento’s standpoint, Durant fits well on the basketball court. Mike Brown’s Kings have an offence that is identical to Golden State’s from when Brown and Durant were in the Bay Area. He’s an excellent shooter, a clever cutter, one of the best shot makers in NBA history, and an underrated defender because of his height, length, and agility, all of which Sacramento lacks. Last season, Durant averaged 27.1 points (6th in NBA), 6.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.9 steals per game. Putting up those percentages with 52.3 percent from the field, 41.3 percent from three, and 85.6 percent from free throws is absurd. It’s also exactly what Kevin Durant does.
He appeared in 75 of Phoenix’s 82 games this season, up from 47 total games between the Nets and Suns the previous year, which is encouraging. Injuries are unpredictable, but a certain number of missed games can be expected when facing a 35-year-old Durant. This is when Keegan Murray comes into play. General manager Monte McNair and apparently every member of Sacramento’s staff are extremely optimistic about the former third-round pick’s long-term prospects. So, as the rookie forward matures, Durant may take on more responsibility before passing the baton.
It’s a comparable financial concept. Murray has two years left on his rookie contract, and his output much outweighs his financial cost. Durant has two years remaining on his $103 million contract. The Kings would have to be completely committed to the idea of a ‘Big Four’ of Fox, Sabonis, Durant, and (eventually) Murray being good enough. Good enough to compete for the Western Conference title and the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Perhaps it might be with the appropriate surrounding elements. If Malik Monk stayed and they used their mid-level and bi-annual exceptions this offseason, the blueprint may be there.
Their 2024 pick fell in the lottery and so did not convey to Atlanta, making their 2025 and 2026 first-round picks untradeable because they were still locked up in that transaction — though teams have previously been able to remove future restrictions. On draft night, they may select a prospect from another team with a handshake agreement in place—if Phoenix (or any team) prefers that. The Stepien rule, which prohibits teams from trading consecutive draft picks, might necessitate certain swaps. The all-in offer may include the (likely) 13th pick in 2024, two unprotected first-round picks (2028 and 2030), and first-round swaps in 2027 and 2029. Three firsts, two swaps, two middle-of-the-pack (or maybe lower) scorers, and a former 2021 lottery pick.
To equal Durant’s $48.9 million contract, Harrison Barnes ($18.0 million) and Kevin Huerter ($16.8 million) would have to be added. Following that, Davion Mitchell appears to be a candidate to sweeten the deal (given their lack of a typical point guard) along with a number of draft picks. With the 2024 pick (13th in lottery chances), the Kings have five first-round picks to work with. Additional moves would be difficult after obtaining Durant, considering the recent track record of NBA stars who have been traded. Assuming Murray is out of the picture in any deal, the Kings will most likely need to spend significant draft money to make the best possible offer.
But that deal could elevate this roster into instant contention for the Western Conference Finals. Of course, it’s up to McNair to decide if it’s worth the price.
When is the next Sacramento Kings offseason date of interest?
For the first time in two years, the Sacramento Kings will be crossing its fingers for luck during the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery.
The 2024 NBA Draft Lottery will be held on Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Chicago, where Sacramento will have the 13th-best odds of securing the top pick.
How the Lottery works: The 14 teams that missed out on the NBA playoffs are eligible for the Draft Lottery. The final odds were determined after the regular season, and tie breaks were settled between teams with identical regular season records.
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