Free Agency: What’s next for the Kings with $35 million cap space?

How the Sacramento Kings could use $35 million in cap space to improve the team and renegotiate and extend Domantas Sabonis.

The Sacramento Kings are heading into the offseason looking to build off their successful 2022-23 campaign. They entered last night’s draft with the 24th overall selection, which they could’ve used to add another building block toward their future. Instead, they traded the pick and Richaun Holmes to the Dallas Mavericks for nothing. While the deal may look bad from a value proposition, the Kings clearly prioritized getting off Holmes and the remaining two years, $26.7 million left on his deal.

This trade also accomplished another thing: they’re now a cap space team. They project to have $33-36 million in cap space, which should be more than enough to acquire an impact player or two while potentially renegotiating and extending the expiring contract of Domantas Sabonis.

2023 Aggregate NBA Mock Draft: Scoot Henderson leaps Brandon Miller at No. 2; Free Agency News

NBA Mock Draft: Scoot Henderson moves ahead of Brandon Miller for the No. 2 pick. Dereck Lively drawing lottery pick consideration. Plus, free agency reporting from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With the NBA Draft hours away, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel around the league and projected where the top prospects currently stand by compiling 10 mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Yahoo, SB Nation, and USA TODAY’s For The Win.

HoopsHype gathered thoughts from multiple NBA executives and scouts for their insight on the projected first-round picks for the final edition of the aggregate mock draft.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking. 

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report. 

NBA rumors: Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Khris Middleton, Nikola Vucevic, Rockets, Warriors, Mavs

The latest reporting on free agents Fred VanVleet, Khris Middleton, Nikola Vucevic, Harrison Barnes, Donte DiVincenzo, Grant Williams, and trade talks surrounding OG Anunoby and Jonathan Kuminga from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With the NBA draft less than a week away, several teams have an eye toward free agency days later.

Below is a look at the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on Raptors starters Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby, Bucks swingman Khris Middleton, Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, Warriors players Donte DiVincenzo and Jonathan Kuminga, Harrison Barnes, and Grant Williams.

2023 Aggregate NBA Mock Draft: Trade Talks; Dereck Lively, Bilal Coulibaly, Brandin Podziemski rise

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports on which teams could trade their picks in a new NBA mock draft. Plus, which players are rising on boards.

Following the NBA draft’s early entry deadline, mock draft boards have shifted, with several players rising, including Dereck Lively, Bilal Coulibaly, and Brandin Podziemski, making major first-round leaps. Julian Phillips, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Ben Sheppard, Jordan Walsh, Emoni Bates, Seth Lundy, and others rose in the second round.

To better project where the top prospects currently stand, we compiled 10 mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Yahoo, SB Nation, and USA TODAY’s For The Win.

Then, HoopsHype gathered thoughts from multiple NBA executives and scouts for their insight on the projected first-round picks for the sixth edition of the aggregate mock draft to find the answer.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking. 

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report. 

2023 Aggregate NBA Mock Draft: Brandon Miller climbs to No. 2; Taylor Hendricks rising

HoopsHype’s aggregate NBA mock draft reports which teams may trade their picks and lists rising players, including Brandon Miller, Taylor Hendricks, and more.

Following the NBA Draft Combine, mock draft boards have shifted with the lottery results unveiled and several players rising, including Brandon Miller, Taylor Hendricks, Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Ben Sheppard.

To better project where the top prospects currently stand, we compiled 10 mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Yahoo, SB Nation, and USA TODAY’s For The Win.

Then, HoopsHype gathered thoughts from multiple NBA executives and scouts for their insight on the projected first-round picks for the sixth edition of the aggregate mock draft to find the answer.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking. 

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report. 

Kings offseason primer: Trade opportunities, Domantas Sabonis extension, Harrison Barnes free agency, more

The Sacramento Kings have the assets and flexibility to make a significant upgrade to the roster and build off their successful season.

After 16 long years in the lottery, the Sacramento Kings finally ended their record-breaking playoff drought. Not only did they exceed expectations by placing third in the West but they also managed to steal three games from the defending champions. The Kings finally have a legitimate core led by De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis and they have the means to significantly improve the roster around them.

Here is a preview of the 2023 offseason for the Sacramento Kings.

NBA Twitter reacts to Kings’ Game 1 thriller win over Warriors: ‘De’Aaron Fox is a four-time All-Star if he was drafted by Lakers or Celtics’

The Sacramento Kings seized a 1-0 lead over the Golden State Warriors with a 126-123 win for their first NBA playoff triumph in 17 years. De’Aaron Fox had the second-highest-scoring playoff debut of all time with 38 points. Malik Monk added 32 …

The Sacramento Kings seized a 1-0 lead over the Golden State Warriors with a 126-123 win for their first NBA playoff triumph in 17 years.

De’Aaron Fox had the second-highest-scoring playoff debut of all time with 38 points. Malik Monk added 32 points and became the second player in NBA history to drop 30-plus off the bench in a playoff debut.

Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted after Fox and Kings owner Vivek Ranadive hit the big purple button to turn on the beam.

De’Aaron Fox: “There were times when you wondered would you still be here?”

Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox explains how he was almost traded to earning All-NBA and Clutch Player award consideration this season.

A year after being mentioned in trade rumors and an uncertain future in Sacramento, De’Aaron Fox became a first-time All-Star, with more accolades potentially coming and the Kings on the verge of ending their 16-year playoff drought.

“I think, especially when you’re a lottery pick, most of the time, it takes time,” Fox told HoopsHype with the end of the playoff drought nearing. “I was patient. I’ve been through general manager changes and a couple of coaching changes, but I stayed patient and stayed the course. I continued to work on my game even though we weren’t winning. I continued to try and get better. They put a great team around myself and Domantas (Sabonis). It’s paying dividends right now.”

In six seasons with the Kings, Fox has played for four head coaches (Dave Joerger, Luke Walton, Alvin Gentry, and Mike Brown) and two general managers (Vlade Divac and Monte McNair). With consistently swift changes over the years to his coaches and executives above him, Fox questioned his long-term future.

“There were times when you wondered would you still be here?” Fox told HoopsHype. “You could end up being traded as well. I always thought, at some point, the roster would fit together, and everyone would click on all cylinders. My mindset had never been, would this ever work? It was more so when would this work?”

Sarah Stier-Getty Images

Last year before the trade deadline, Fox was mentioned in trade discussions with the 76ers for Ben Simmons and in talks with the Pacers for current teammate Domantas Sabonis. Instead, Simmons was traded to the Nets for James Harden and other assets, and rising star Tyrese Haliburton headlined Sacramento’s blockbuster package to land Sabonis.

“It shocked everybody,” Fox told HoopsHype regarding Haliburton’s departure. “Not only fans and media. It shocked the team as well. Seeing the player we were getting back is obviously big. Someone who’s that big, skilled – a very unique skillset – I felt like he was going to make us better.”

Trading Haliburton and acquiring Sabonis gave Fox the keys to the team and a frontcourt star he never played with before, which has resulted in career seasons for Sacramento’s All-Star duo.

Fox is one of 11 NBA players averaging 25 or more points while shooting 50 percent or better from the field this season. For context, the list also includes Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Lauri Markkanen, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Zion Williamson.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

One reason Fox and Sabonis have clicked well together was thanks partly to their first conversation together.

“With both of us being left-handed, one of us had to go left, and the other had to go right,” Fox explained to HoopsHype. “I told him I’ll go right because when we were scouting against them (Pacers), we would always send their ball handler to the right so he couldn’t roll left. Now, you can’t send him and me to the right.”

According to coach Brown, there’s even more potential for the Fox and Sabonis duo looking ahead.

“The growth they’ve experienced this year has been tremendous,” Brown said. “The room that they have to still continue to grow is what excites me. If they were at their ceilings, this journey so far wouldn’t be as much fun because you can see light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t know where that light is yet, and that’s the exciting part about it. Those guys are leading the charge and have embraced everything we’ve asked or suggested of them to do. That’s what’s made us as good as we are.”

Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

While Sabonis establishes himself early in games, Fox has become Sacramento’s closer. Fox leads the NBA in clutch points scored with 185 and counting while shooting 53.9 percent in such situations with a 22-14 record.

“The crazy part about Fox is he’s barely scratching his potential,” Brown said. “I’m telling you, he’s got a lot of room to grow. I’ve been pleasantly surprised being around him because his ceiling is so high. He’s doing it at the right times. He could literally go out there at the beginning of the games and think about himself and probably average 40. He’s that good. He’s picking the right spots to do it. He’s trying to learn what it means to lead this team not only during games but practices and shootarounds away from the court.”

Brown has also been Fox’s biggest advocate campaigning for him to be considered for All-NBA honors during press conferences with the media.

Fox ranks 10th in usage percentage (29.9), 13th in points per game (25.5), and tied for 17th in assists per game (6.2). Among point guards, Fox ranks fourth in usage percentage, sixth in scoring average, and is tied for 13th in assists average.

When asked if he agreed with Brown’s All-NBA assertion, Fox responded, “I definitely think I should be. I feel like my game speaks for itself, and our team is winning.”

Other keys to Sacramento’s winning success included Fox’s free-agent recruitment of Malik Monk, the team’s acquisition of Kevin Huerter, and the selection of Keegan Murray in the draft, who drew high praise from Fox.

Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

“I think he (Murray) is one of the best two-way guys in the league,” Fox explained to HoopsHype. “You see what Mikal (Bridges) is doing in Brooklyn now. I think he (Murray) can be that for us. I’ve told him this is a wing-driven league. Most of the best teams in the league have their best players that are wings. I’m not putting pressure on him. He has a lot of things to work on. In his first year, he’s been great for us. I think he has a bright future.”

After praising Murray’s upside, Fox made it clear he feels the Kings can compete with anyone and have a bigger goal than ending the playoff drought.

“We want to win a championship,” Fox told HoopsHype. “That’s the end goal. We love where we’re at, but we’re not satisfied. We know we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on Twitter.

NBA Intel: Kevin Durant, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, OG Anunoby, Knicks, Raptors, Grizzlies

Reporting on trade talks for Kevin Durant, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, OG Anunoby, Knicks, Raptors, and more from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto

Kevin Durant shifted the landscape of the NBA literally and figuratively when the Brooklyn Nets sent the All-Star forward and TJ Warren West to the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster trade for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks, and a 2028 pick swap.

Wednesday night also included Kyrie Irving’s Dallas debut, D’Angelo Russell, Russell Westbrook, Mike Conley, Josh Hart, Jakob Poeltl, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt all getting traded.

With hours left before the trade deadline buzzer, you’ll find all the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype.

NBA Notebook: Russell Westbrook, OG Anunoby, Cam Reddish, Kyle Kuzma, Rui Hachimura, more

Reporting on trade talks for Cam Reddish, Bojan Bogdanovic, Naz Reid, Rui Hachimura, Russell Westbrook’s Sixth Man case and OG Anunoby fits.

With just over two weeks until the NBA’s trade deadline, there’s more urgency between rival executives to determine if there’s a middle ground on the asking price for a coveted player and what’s real beyond the smokescreens. 

With that in mind, this week’s NBA notebook includes the latest trade intel on Bojan BogdanovicJakob PoeltlCam Reddish, Grayson Allen, Rui Hachimura, Naz Reid, Alec Burks, Doug McDermott, Josh Richardson, Serge Ibaka, and Kyle Kuzma’s free agency from our Michael Scotto. Plus, the latest trade rumors commentary on OG Anunoby and Hachimura from our capologist Yossi Gozlan, a free agency stock watch from our Frank Urbina, and a look at Russell Westbrook’s case for Sixth Man of the Year by Alberto De Roa