Various reports suggest the Sacramento Kings will be shopping ahead of the trade deadline, but nobody seems to have a clue of who they will be targeting. Amid a four-game losing streak, it is clear that changes must be made in order for Sacramento to leap to the next level, but what is the best option?
The Kings desperately need to upgrade their starting forward position, as Harrison Barnes has been an utter disappointment this season. Another option could be to get a defensive-minded guard to pair with All-Star De'Aaron Fox in the backcourt, as starting shooting guard Kevin Huerter is forgettable if he is not hitting his shots.
To solve this problem, Ben Cooper of ClutchPoints crafted a mock trade that sends Memphis Grizzlies' Marcus Smart to the Kings:
Sacramento Kings receive: Marcus Smart
Memphis Grizzlies receive: Davion Mitchell, Sasha Vezenkov, Colby Jones, 2026 first-round pick
Smart, 29, was the 2021-22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and has proven to be one of this generation's most valuable guard defenders. While his defensive talent is off the charts, he might not be the best pairing next to Fox.
There would be uncertainty playing Fox and Smart in the backcourt together, but it could be an experiment worth testing. The Kings would get this deal done without giving up their two most valuable trade assets in Huerter and Barnes, but giving up on Jones and Vezenkov in their rookie seasons could be costly.
Cooper adds commentary on why the Grizzlies would jump on this deal:
While Marcus Smart is a talented player, he is on a sizeable contract. This trade would give Memphis a young defensive guard in Davion Mitchell, who could thrive with a change of scenery. Mitchell has the potential to fill the Smart role while being on a cheaper contract. Memphis would also receive Sasha Vezenkov and Colby Jones, who could develop into solid NBA players.
Smart is in the second year of a four-year/$76.5 million contract, and while he is having the best season of his career statistically, his poor efficiency (43/31/76 splits) is not sustainable. The Kings certainly need to make a move ahead of the deadline, but trading for Smart would not be as significant of an upgrade as many believe.
The Grizzlies just gave up Tyus Jones and two first-round picks in exchange for Smart in the off-season, so they would likely be hesitant to give up on him this early into his Memphis career. If a deal like this comes up for Sacramento, it is certainly something they could look into, but it is not a must-accept.
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