The Kings are another team that has had Pascal Siakam on their radar for a while now.
Sacramento was linked to the two-time All-Star in the offseason. In the months since, the Kings have been routinely mentioned as potential suitors for Siakam, along with the Hawks and Pacers.
The Kings ended a historic playoff drought last season and find themselves in the top six of the Western Conference nearing the midpoint of this season. Siakam would bring even more firepower to a team that already has two All-Stars in De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
What could Sacramento offer Toronto for Siakam? Here's one potential deal.
MORE: Why Raptors say yes and no to this Pascal Siakam-to-Pacers trade
Why Raptors say yes and no: Pascal Siakam trade to Kings for Kevin Huerter, Davion Mitchell package
The trade
Pascal Siakam and Jalen McDaniels for Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter, Davion Mitchell and two future first-round picks.
Why this trade
Trading for Siakam only makes sense if the plan is to pair him with Fox and Sabonis. In which case, Huerter and Barnes are Sacramento's easiest path to matching his salary.
In mid-December, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported that the Raptors would be expected to seek Keegan Murray if they were to do business with the Kings, but "that would seem too rich a price for Sacramento." Otherwise, he would be an ideal fit with Scottie Barnes.
With Murray not being in the deal, draft picks need to be involved.
MORE: These trade targets can help Raptors rebuild around Scottie Barnes
Why Raptors say yes
The Raptors need shooting and Huerter was one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA last season. Only 15 players made more 3-pointers than he did in 2022-23 and he knocked them down at a 40.2 percent clip. Huerter won't turn 26 years old until August, so he's on a similar timeline as Barnes. He's also under contract for two more seasons, making him Gary Trent Jr. insurance.
While Harrison Barnes is 31 years old, he's a versatile forward who can space the floor. If nothing else, he would be a good locker room addition and his contract is moveable.
The No. 9 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Mitchell would give the Raptors a younger player than Dennis Schroder to backup Immanuel Quickley at point guard. Mitchell's known for his pesky defense — he earned the nickname "Off Night" in college because he was locking up draft prospects. He's a special on-ball defender.
.@hoopculture13 took his cornbread 🍞
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) March 1, 2022
Kings cap a 14-2 run late in the third. pic.twitter.com/z6smStZMHK
Trading for Siakam would be a win-now move for the Kings. It's hard to predict what state any team will be in by 2027 and 2029, but Fox, Sabonis and Siakam will each be around their 30s at that point. Those picks could be valuable.
Why Raptors say no
Last season's Huerter makes a lot of sense next to Scottie Barnes, but he hasn't been the same player this season. His scoring average has fallen from 15.2 to 9.9 and his 3-point percentage has dipped from 40.2 percent to 33.9 percent. After starting the first 29 games of the season, he is now coming off the bench.
Harrison Barnes is also having a down year and Mitchell is out of Sacramento's rotation. And while Mitchell has shown flashes of being a special defender, he hasn't been consistent on the other side of the court, averaging 7.8 points on 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 31.2 percent from 3 to this point of his career. There were some concerns about how his offense would translate to the NBA ahead of the draft.
The two first-round draft picks could be valuable, but there's no way of knowing. The Raptors could look back on this trade in five years with Huerter, Barnes and Mitchell no longer on the roster and two mediocre draft picks to show for it. That's not an ideal return for a two-time All-Star in their prime.
Would the Kings even sign off on this?
If it means getting Siakam without giving up Fox, Sabonis, Murray and Malik Monk, who is one of the leading candidates for Sixth Man of the Year, probably. That's not to say there wouldn't be risk involved — Siakam will be a free agent in the offseason and Sacramento's depth would take a hit — but the addition of Siakam could help the Kings break into the top of the Western Conference.
