Kings, Westbrook Likelihood Tied to Kuminga Trade

As we all wait and see what happens with the Sacramento Kings and Jonathan Kuminga, it's important to remember that Scott Perry still has other moves up his sleeve that he can use to reshape the roster. That includes the Mid-Level Exception (MLE), valued at $14.1 million this offseason.

Outside of Kuminga, the player they've been connected to the most throughout the offseason is former MVP Russell Westbrook, who remains available in the later stages of free agency.

While the Kings still have the availability to sign Westbrook, bringing him in with the roster as is still looks unlikely, given the glut of guards that Sacramento currently has.

Between newly acquired Dennis Schröder, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, Keon Ellis, Devin Carter, and even Nique Clifford, the Kings have ample guards on the roster, but still only the one true point guard in Schröder. It makes sense that Westbrook is still on Perry's radar, but unless the Kings can make a move to adjust the roster, he just doesn't make sense.

But that's where the connection to the Kuminga trade comes in. If the Kings bring in Kuminga, it will likely be for either Monk or Carter, which would open up a spot for Westbrook. So it's not just the Warriors and their potential free agents that are getting held up in this saga, but also Westbrook and the Kings.

On The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross this morning, Carmichael Dave stated that the trade would almost certainly need to happen in order for Westbrook to be brought in.

"If they're able to work this Kuminga trade out as it's presented, that means they're also going to sign Russell Westbrook. That may not be the case," Dave stated. "But it certainly is incredibly plausible. We do know this, for the Westbrook thing to happen, the Kuminga thing would almost definitely have to happen."