Keegan Murray initially suffered the ankle injury during the Kings’ loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. He left the game and did not return. He finished with three points, one rebound and one blocked shot in nine minutes of play. He did not suit up in the Kings’ win against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

Murray has been the Kings’ starter at both forward positions at times since he was drafted, but this season he’s struggled to stay healthy. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Murray has played in no less than 76 games since his rookie season, but is on pace to fall far short of that this year.

He has appeared in only 23 games this season, including 22 starts, at a little over 34 minutes per game while he’s dealt with multiple injuries. His 2025-26 season debut was delayed as he recovered from a finger injury. He sustained a calf injury back in December. And then the aforementioned ankle injury actually occurred in early January, causing him to miss 20 consecutive games.

Murray had returned for four games before re-injuring that same ankle. He has been averaging 14.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 blocked shots with splits of 42 percent shooting from the field, 27.7 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 77.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

As one of the Kings’ most promising young players, Murray was reportedly one of only two on the roster, along with rookie Nique Clifford, that the Kings would not entertain trade offers for at the deadline.

The post Keegan Murray facing multi-week absence amid ankle injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Immediately, the attention of everyone in the NBA turned to the buyout market, a post-trade deadline period that has become a valuable resource for playoff-contending teams over the years. Many organizations that face cap and apron problems have utilized the buyout market over the years as their own trade deadline and a way to add high-level, veteran talent on contracts for the remainder of the season.

However, this season’s buyout market has been quiet with little movement.

Mike Conley Jr. returned to the Minnesota Timberwolves after being traded twice at the deadline, and Pat Connaughton returned to the Charlotte Hornets, who initially waived him to free a roster spot given all of their deadline transactions.

The two biggest names who have found new homes are Cam Thomas and Jeremy Sochan. Whereas Thomas has already become a focal scorer for the Bucks with Giannis continuing to rehab his calf injury, Sochan has struggled to find his footing early on with the New York Knicks.

Both young talents signed contracts for the remainder of the 2025-26 season after their former teams waived them in the final year of their respective contracts.

Seven different players have been waived or bought out and signed new contracts in the buyout market, the most recent being Kyle Anderson. Upon clearing waivers after the Memphis Grizzlies bought him out on Thursday night, Anderson plans to sign with the Timberwolves, where he spent two seasons earlier in his career.

Will Anderson be the final notable name to hit the buyout market and sign with a new team?

There are a few more notable names teams around the league are monitoring at this juncture, as players like Khris Middleton, DeMar DeRozan, and others have until Sunday, March 1, to decide whether they want to remain in their current situations for the rest of the season.

A player must be waived before Mar. 1 to be eligible for the playoffs with a new team. This doesn’t mean that a player needs to sign a contract by then, but they must be waived to remain playoff-eligible wherever they may end up.

Here is the latest we are hearing at ClutchPoints regarding what has been a quiet buyout period, starting with Middleton and the Dallas Mavericks.

Khris Middleton – Dallas Mavericks

When he arrived in Dallas as part of the nine-player trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards, many began to speculate that the Mavs would soon buy Middleton out. That was not the case at all, as the Mavericks welcomed the former All-Star wing with open arms and were happy to have a player of his class and skills join the team in what has been a lost season.

The Mavericks are in no position to make the playoffs despite Cooper Flagg’s sensational first season in the league, which is why they have left the buyout decision in Middleton’s hands. While the Mavs have signaled that they would like to keep Middleton for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, he and his representation have received interest from several teams in playoff position this season, league sources said.

Among those with interest in Middleton, the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs are said to be at the front of the line for the 34-year-old wing should he be bought out of his contract in Dallas.

Denver, who was unable to make a significant move at the trade deadline outside of moving below the luxury tax by trading Hunter Tyson, has been very cognizant of their financial standing. That is why the Nuggets waited until after the All-Star break to officially sign Spencer Jones to a standard deal, which leaves the organization $1.1 million away from the luxury tax line with one open roster spot.

Before his buyout with the Grizzlies on Thursday, the Nuggets held interest in Kyle Anderson, sources said. It is clear Denver wants to add another wing or forward to their rotation, which is why Middleton would be the perfect piece to their championship equation.

One note on the Mavs — they don’t appear to want to buy out Tyus Jones, as he’s a player they wanted since last offseason. During free agency, Dallas did not have the money to give Jones the contract he ended up getting with Orlando, which is why the Mavs traded for him when that opportunity came at the deadline.

It would be a surprise if the Mavs bought out Jones, that is unless he approached them about wanting to play for a contender this year.

As of right now, Middleton’s decision comes down to what he ultimately wants. If he is happy playing for the Mavericks and increasing his workload before hitting free agency in the offseason, then he won’t seek a buyout. However, the opportunity to play for a playoff-contending team is certainly appealing, and he would easily have a path to minutes on such a team should he be waived.

It is worth noting that a lot of players and agents do not necessarily like the idea of hitting the buyout market in Middleton’s case, as he would go from a high-paying contract to being viewed as a minimum-like talent. Once players accept a minimum deal, that is essentially what their market looks like for the rest of their career, barring a significant uptick in production.

In Middleton’s case, this may not be the smartest financial decision, especially if he wants any chance of landing a deal higher than the veteran’s minimum in free agency this upcoming summer.

DeMar DeRozan – Sacramento Kings

Unlike Middleton, who was traded at the deadline, DeMar DeRozan remains stuck in basketball purgatory this season with the Sacramento Kings. Unfortunately for DeRozan, this has been another failed season for the Kings, an organization that has once again seen a fall from grace after a glimmer of playoff hope.

The six-time All-Star has been nothing short of a true professional in Sacramento, and he recently passed Paul Pierce inside the top 25 of the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Every player ahead of DeRozan either is currently or will soon be in the Hall of Fame, which only improves his chances of eventually being elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Although his situation is different from Middleton’s in the sense that he has been with the Kings all season and did not join a new situation at the trade deadline, DeRozan shares the same reality as Middleton in the sense that if he wants a buyout, he will need to be the one to initiate such conversations.

The Kings have shown no interest in buying out any of their veteran players this season, and they have valued DeRozan’s leadership as the organization navigates yet another rebuilding or retooling stage, whatever we want to call it in Sacramento nowadays.

Along with the Kings having no interest in seeing DeRozan leave right now, the 36-year-old has yet to approach them asking for such negotiations. It will definitely be interesting to see if anything changes over the next 48 hours, especially since DeRozan would draw interest from virtually every playoff-contending team with the ability to give him a roster spot.

At the trade deadline, there were some whispers that DeRozan and his camp were exploring ways to get him to one of the two Los Angeles-based teams, sources said. While nothing ever really materialized on that front, it is worth noting that DeRozan is from Compton, California, and he has long wanted to finish his career in Los Angeles.

I would not anticipate DeRozan being bought out at this point, especially since his contract for next season is partially guaranteed for $10 million. How the Kings navigate this situation in the offseason will be interesting.

Russell Westbrook – Sacramento Kings

Another key veteran who has played really well in Sacramento this season is Russell Westbrook. Say what you want about Russ, but this guy is a true professional and plays with the exact level of intensity and joy every team should want.

With the Kings, Westbrook has really made the most of his opportunity, and he’s been a leading voice both on and off the court for the young players on this roster. Westbrook has the respect of his teammates and the Kings’ coaching staff, so why would he want to think about leaving?

For the first time in a long time, Westbrook is actually with a team that values his production and skills. If he were to be waived, there is no guarantee right now that another team would even sign him.

Should interest exist from a playoff-contending team, I am sure Westbrook would strongly consider such an option, but it doesn’t appear as if that’s the case right now. Assuming Westbrook stays with the Kings entering March, it would not be shocking to see him sign another contract with the Kings in the summer.

Lonzo Ball – Free Agent

When Lonzo Ball was traded to the Utah Jazz and immediately waived upon arrival, several teams in playoff position began gathering his medical information and contacting him. The Golden State Warriors held strong interest in Ball, as did the Nuggets, sources said.

However, no deal ever materialized for Ball with the Warriors or Nuggets due to concerns both organizations had with his overall knee health. Although Ball played in 35 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers this season before being traded, there are concerns among many league personnel that the former second-overall pick may not play again over concerns with his medical records.

Ball remains unsigned and available on the open market. It is worth noting that Denver and Golden State were not the only two organizations that expressed a level of interest in him.

Nothing is imminent on this front, and Ball will continue to work on strengthening his game and health as he waits for another opportunity. Should he remain unsigned through the remainder of this season and want to continue his playing career, Lonzo may be forced to do so overseas.

D’Angelo Russell – Washington Wizards

One of the notable names who was tied to the Anthony Davis-Khris Middleton nine-player trade between the Wizards and Mavericks was D’Angelo Russell. The 30-year-old guard has been with several teams through the years and has been unable to lock in a firm roster spot with any organization. Washington is the sixth franchise Russell has been with since the 2019-20 season.

At first, it did not appear as if Russell would even report to the Wizards. Unlike Davis, who changed his tune and has embraced this new challenge with a young, rebuilding team in the Eastern Conference, Russell was not eager for this change.

Wizards general manager Will Dawkins told reporters after the trade deadline that he wouldn’t ask the veteran guard to show up until the organization figured out what was best for both parties.

A few weeks later, Russell has yet to be waived by the team, and it doesn’t appear as if he will be. Upon receiving no interest from other teams around the league, Russell may actually play for the Wizards during the back half of the 2025-26 season, as he recently swapped his number from No. 14 to No. 28 for Washington.

Unless a team comes out of left field and informs him they would add him to their playoff roster, Russell seems prepared to finish the 2025-26 season with the Wizards.

Russell owns a near-$6 million player option for the 2026-27 season.

Cole Anthony – Phoenix Suns

Another player who has yet to report to his new team since the trade deadline is Cole Anthony. The 25-year-old guard originally signed with the Bucks this season after being dumped in the summer by the Orlando Magic, and Milwaukee traded him in a smaller deal made on deadline day.

The Phoenix Suns acquired Anthony as a cap-relief move to dip below the luxury tax. In doing so, the organization was able to add veteran forward Haywood Highsmith. Should they waive Anthony, the Suns will have enough space to convert two-way guard Jamaree Bouyea to a standard deal for the rest of the season.

It is all too obvious that Anthony doesn’t appear to be in the Suns’ plans whatsoever, especially since they didn’t even give this guy a welcome graphic after the trade. Perhaps another team would take a look at Anthony before the end of the season, whether it be on a 10-day contract or a regular deal, but it would be surprising if he actually showed up in Phoenix.

There have been some international basketball clubs showing interest in Anthony, although it appears as if he is not ready to give up on his NBA career just yet.

Matisse Thybulle – Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers recently made the expected move of waiving 2023 second-round pick Rayan Rupert and converting two-way forward Sidy Cissoko to a standard contract that runs into the 2026-27 season. Cissoko signed a two-year, $3.1 million contract that is not guaranteed until two weeks after free agency begins, sources said.

This was one of two moves the Blazers had hoped to accomplish after the All-Star break, as converting two-way guard Caleb Love to a standard deal is something the organization also wishes to achieve. However, Portland has no open roster spots and is operating roughly $700,000 below the luxury tax line.

It is highly unlikely that the organization will look to buy Robert Williams out of his contract, which leads to major questions about Matisse Thybulle in the final year of his deal. When the Trail Blazers acquired Thybulle from the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2022-23 season, they were taking a chance on a high-potential defensive wing who had trouble staying healthy.

Much of the same has happened in Portland, as he’s only played in 110 games over the last four seasons with the Trail Blazers, including just eight games this year. At the same time, Thybulle has played in four straight games and has shown flashes of being the two-way wing this team has wanted. That is why the franchise has been hesitant to waive him.

Love can only play in five more games this season on his two-way contract, so a decision is looming for Portland.

Other than Thybulle, the only other player who would make sense to possibly waive in favor of signing Love is Blake Wesley, although the Blazers have valued the former first-round pick’s production when healthy.

Chris Boucher – Free Agent

When the Boston Celtics signed Chris Boucher to a minimum deal in the summer, it seemed like he could potentially be in line to hold a significant role, possibly even as their starting center. Boucher barely played for the Celtics and ended up being buried on their depth chart, which led to an easy decision to trade him for tax relief.

After being traded to the Jazz with a 2027 second-round pick, Boucher was waived and has been a free agent since.

The Suns were a team linked to Boucher during the trade deadline and once he hit the buyout market, but the organization turned their attention to signing Highsmith instead once he was waived by the Nets.

While some had speculated that the Warriors would look to bring back Boucher, who actually began his career with the Dubs during the 2017-18 season, there have been no conversations on this front, sources said.

So, what’s next for the lengthy 33-year-old big man?

Boucher spent seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors, and his former team does have an open roster spot. Toronto is also $900,000 from the luxury tax line and could sign Boucher for the rest of the season without crossing this mark based on what would be a near $650,000 prorated contract.

Many league personnel have indicated that Boucher holds a desire to return to the Raptors. Whether this will happen, especially after the Raptors traded for Trayce Jackson-Davis at the deadline, is the bigger question at hand.

The post Latest NBA buyout intel including Khris Middleton, DeMar DeRozan, more appeared first on ClutchPoints.

DeRozan is going through the 17th season of his NBA career, his second with the Kings. He continues to stand out as one of the most experienced scorers in the league, showing out with solid nights on the offensive side of the ball.

Going into Sacramento’s game with Houston, DeRozan has scored 26,391 regular-season points throughout his career. This placed him at the 22nd spot on the all-time scoring list, trailing John Havlicek’s 26,395 points and Pierce’s 26,397 points.

DeRozan needed to score six points to tie Pierce and seven points to surpass for 20th place. He got the job done. The veteran scorer had seven points in the first half, passing both Havlicek and Pierce in the process.

How DeMar DeRozan, Kings played against Rockets

It was an incredible achievement for DeMar DeRozan to pull off, surpassing NBA legend Paul Pierce and John Havlicek. However, he couldn’t top it off with a win as the Kings suffered a 129-97 blowout loss to the Rockets.

The game was over at halftime. Sacramento couldn’t set the tone on defense, giving up 77 points throughout the first 24 minutes of regulation. The Kings never recovered from that poor start, being unable to keep up with Houston’s attack.

Four players scored in double-digits for Sacramento in the loss, including DeRozan. He finished with a stat line of 15 points, seven assists, one rebound, and one steal. Russell Westbrook led the team with 22 points, five rebounds and three assists. Nique Clifford came next with 15 points and four steals, while Maxime Raynaud provided 11 points and eight rebounds.

Sacramento fell to a 13-47 record on the season, being at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. They are behind the New Orleans Pelicans and the Utah Jazz.

The Kings will look to bounce back in their next matchup, remaining on the road in Texas. They face the Dallas Mavericks as tip-off will take place on Feb. 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The post Kings’ DeMar DeRozan passes Paul Pierce for 20th on all-time scoring list appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Murray sustained the NBA Injury with nearly 3:25 left to play in the first quarter at the Toyota Center.

Keegan Murray headed to the Kings' locker room after seeming to land awkwardly on this play.

Hope he's okay pic.twitter.com/KQi9RSYPNe

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 26, 2026

Murray is averaging 14.5 points per game for Doug Christie and Sacramento. But now he’s officially ruled out with what’s called a left ankle injury.

UPDATE: Keegan Murray (left ankle) is OUT for the remainder of tonight's game against the Rockets, the Kings announced. https://t.co/9qeVZ3CuYW

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 26, 2026

He settled for just three points in a span of nine minutes. Murray grabbed one rebound and blocked one shot on the defensive side.

Kings trending toward landing top pick of NBA Draft

Murray has risen as one of the better performers for what’s become a lost season in Sacramento. Regardless, the Kings are trending toward another mark: Landing the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.

Erik Slater of ClutchPoints revealed where the Kings stand in the race for the top pick.

Nets lose. Pelicans win.

Brooklyn gains more separation in third place in the lottery standings. pic.twitter.com/Ny0H3aSZ3L

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) February 25, 2026

Sacramento remains in front of the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets in the current projections. However, ending with the league’s worst record doesn’t guarantee the top pick in this scenario.

The Dallas Mavericks benefitted from the lottery system last season — earning the top pick even after finishing 39-43. Cooper Flagg arrived one month later.

Many analysts already envision AJ Dybantsa teaming with Murray and company next season. The BYU freshman sensation continues to hear his name attached to top pick chatter.

Yet Kansas standout freshman Darryn Peterson is one more possible top pick to Sacramento. The Kings stand at 13-46 overall and are losing 51-32.

The post Keegan Murray exits Kings-Rockets game with leg injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

When you’re one of the worst teams in the league, people are going to clown you. That’s what recently happened to the Kings, but in the most bizarre fashion, it was by a reporter talking to Coby White about the thought of being traded to the team.

“Is there any appreciation of ‘hey, they could have sent me to Sacramento'” the reporter asked.

“Yo, come on bro,” White said with a laugh.

Reporter: "Is there any appreciation of 'hey, they could have sent me to Sacramento'".

Coby White: "Yo, come on bro."

Kings catching strays

(via @British_Buzz)pic.twitter.com/vN5WNFBmzN

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 25, 2026

At this point, it doesn’t seem as if any player would want to get traded to the Kings, especially with uncertainty about their future. Things have fallen apart since last season, when Mike Brown was fired, and De’Aaron Fox was traded, and the hope was that with new pieces coming into this season, things would be better.

Unfortunately, things have gotten worse, and the only huge positive to take from this year is that they’ll have a chance at a top pick in the upcoming draft.

As far as the current roster, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they dealt away some of their key players in the offseason, such as Sabonis, so they could acquire assets in return. That would be the sign of a true rebuild for the Kings, and with how things have been going over the past few years, it might be the best decision they can make.

If they don’t, there’s a good chance they’ll just keep being the joke of the league.

The post Kings catch random stray from reporter during Coby White interview appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Bagley turned in his most efficient performance of the season during Tuesday’s 123-124 win over the Brooklyn Nets. The 6-foot-10 big man posted a team-high 22 points and five rebounds on 10-of-13 shooting in 20 minutes off the bench.

“He’s a really good player,” Jason Kidd said of Bagley’s performance. Talking to him, he’s a grown up and he understands the NBA game a little bit. Sometimes it takes time. We all want it to happen overnight. But I think the coaching staff, the media, everyone that’s been on this road trip with him has made him comfortable, and you can see the way he’s playing. If it’s not in the post, it’s an offensive rebound, and then playing defense for us. So the trust with everybody is high, and he’s brand new, and that just shows how talented he is.”

Bagley has been unable to find an NBA home after the Sacramento Kings selected him No. 2 overall in 2018, directly ahead of Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Trae Young.

Marvin Bagley turns heads during first games with Mavs after Anthony Davis trade

The former Duke star has changed teams five times during his eight-year NBA career. After spending his first three seasons with the Kings, he saw stints with the Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards before landing in Dallas at this year’s trade deadline.

While Bagley’s career has been disappointing, he’s making the most of his new opportunity with the rebuilding Mavericks. With Derek Lively sidelined, the 26-year-old has averaged 13.0 points and 8.2 rebounds on 64.3 percent shooting across five appearances with the team.

“Just keep building,” Bagley said of his mindset following Tuesday’s win. “It’s continuing to learn each other, at least for myself and the new guys. Just continuing to gel with the guys that have been here, learning the system, and just every day putting your best foot forward and giving it your all. That’s my mindset, and it looks like that’s the rest of the guy’s mindset here as well. I love to be a part of this, and I’m just happy that I have teammates like that.”

Bagley is on an expiring minimum contract and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The post Jason Kidd praises former top draft pick finding his way with Mavericks after surprise trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

That’s why he was recently baffled when the Sacramento Kings admin posed the question, did he wish he were athletic.

Westbrook answered with complete confidence, which is no surprise.

“I’m the most athletic all-time. Ever. Don’t even question that. Better check the numbers,” Westbrook said.

Russell Westbrook believes that he's the most athletic player of "all-time":

"Don't even question that. Better check the numbers."

Agree with Russ?

(via @SacramentoKings)pic.twitter.com/jPlxu2YkPq

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 25, 2026

Westbrook mentioned that he has the most career dunks by a point guard, which already shows his athleticism and what he can do in open space. Not only that, but Westbrook is also considered one of the best rebounding guards in the league as well, and he has the stats to prove that.

There was one point in Westbrook’s career where he was recording a triple-double every night with ease, and it led him to an MVP award. If anybody ever wants to argue that he’s not the most athletic player of all time, they may be in for some trouble, because there is definitely an argument to be made.

Though Westbrook may not be the same player he was in his prime, he’s pretty much still affecting the game in the same way that he has. Unfortunately, it hasn’t led to much success for the Kings, as they’re currently 13-46 and last place in the Western Conference.

They’ve recently shut down Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine for the remainder of the season due to injuries, and at this point, they’ll be looking to get the top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

The post Russell Westbrook’s mic drop to anybody who dares question his athletic GOAT claim appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, miracles do happen, and the Kings, after making it seem as though they were destined to lose all of their games for the rest of time, finally got back on the winning track — taking a 123-114 win over the tanking Memphis Grizzlies despite being on the road. This gave the Kings just their 13th win of the season in 59 contests, and it took an incredible team effort just to put an end to their misery.

In a season that’s been straight out of their worst nightmares, Kings fans are simply resorting to humor to cope with their team’s horrendousness — with new signing Killian Hayes being the butt of jokes aplenty.

“We are on a 1 game win streak we are so back ,” @PlayoffKings hilariously remarked.

“Sacramento Kings won? In this economy?” X user @compSciMatt wrote.

“Killian Hayes is turning the Sacramento Kings around,” @yhmzotf added.

“Killian Hayes has won 100% of his game(s) with the Sacramento Kings,” @sosynoidFr furthered.

“Killian Hayes gets signed to the Kings and they won their first game after 17 losses. Coincidence? I think greatness ,” @Pdmwoz pointed out.

Will the Kings’ ineptitude be rewarded with draft-day reward?

The Kings have the worst record in the NBA, but with the flattened lottery odds the league has used over the past few seasons, that is far from a guarantee.

Nonetheless, even if the Kings do end up with the first overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, they better not make the mistake of going for fit instead of selecting the best player available on the board.

The post Fans come up with hilarious reactions to end of Kings’ brutal 16-game skid appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Entering Monday night’s contest against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Kings had lost 16 straight games dating back to January 18, 2026. This marked a new franchise record for Sacramento since the team moved to California’s capital.

The previous longest losing streak in Sacramento history was 12, done back in the 1997-98 season. The previous longest losing streak in franchise history dates back to the 1971-72 season, when the Cincinnati Royals lost 14 games in a row.

In addition to the 16-game losing streak, the Kings had also lost 16 consecutive games on the road dating back to December 6, 2025.

Russell Westbrook was the game’s leading scorer with 25 points, two rebounds, and seven assists in 33 minutes of play. Sacramento led for almost the entire night, with its lead growing as big as 13 in a game where the Grizzlies were without eight key rotational players in Ja Morant, Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, Brandon Clarke, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Santi Aldama, Ty Jerome, and Kyle Anderson.

With the victory, the Kings improved to 13-46 on the season with a two-game lead over the Indiana Pacers for the worst record in the NBA.

At this stage in the season, teams like the Kings, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, and Washington Wizards are all positioning themselves to be a bottom-three team to give themselves a 14 percent chance to land the number one overall pick in what’s considered a loaded 2026 NBA Draft.

The Kings have the eighth toughest strength of schedule remaining over the final month-and-a-half of the season.

The post Kings put end to franchise record for futility vs. Grizzlies appeared first on ClutchPoints.

During the first quarter of Sacramento’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum in Memphis, the former NBA Most Valuable Player’s aggressive play claimed a victim in the form of a floor beer.

While bringing the ball up the court, Westbrook was bumped off and fouled by Memphis guard Scotty Pippen Jr. That sent Westbrook into the sidelines, where he inadvertently stepped on a drink (probably a beer). The sheer force of Westbrook’s momentum caused the drink to drizzle all over him and onto the floor, causing a delay in the game, as it took some time for the mess on the court to get cleaned up.

Meanwhile, Westbrook took a seat on the courtside as things were sorted out. He could also be seen asking for a towel to wipe the drink off his body.

Russell Westbrook caused a splash on a courtside fan's drink in Kings-Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/ERpobw8ZdE

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 24, 2026

Metaphorically speaking, that drink can represent the kind of season Westbrook and the Kings are having. Sacramento has been consistently stepped on by teams in the 2025-26 NBA campaign.

In fact, the Kings entered Monday on a horrible losing streak, as they have lost 16 games in a row. With a 12-46 record going into the Grizzlies game, the Kings are the worst team in the league right now, based on the standings.

Sacramento’s record, however, will not be a reason for how the 37-year-old Westbrook, who is on a one-year deal with the Kings, approaches every game, as he can be expected to continue playing like everything is on the line.

The post Kings’ Russell Westbrook hilariously takes a seat after destroying floor beer appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Baldwin, 23, was selected No. 28 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors after one collegiate season at UW-Milwaukee. Now in his fourth NBA season, Baldwin has played 96 career games across stints with the Warriors, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers. He owns career averages of 3.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.0–8.8 minutes per game, while shooting 40.9% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range.

A 7’0″ power forward, Baldwin has appeared in three total NBA games this season, averaging 3.3 points and 0.7 rebounds in 4.7 minutes per contest. He played two games with Los Angeles and one with Washington earlier in the season and also signed 10-day contracts with Los Angeles on January 16 and Philadelphia on February 5. Baldwin initially joined the Clippers on a training camp deal in October 2025 before the team waived him before the regular season.

Most of his production this season has come in the G League with the San Diego Clippers. Over 18 appearances, he averaged 21.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. In 26 total G League outings, he posted 21.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals in 33.8 minutes per game, shooting .518 from the field, .336 from three, and .667 from the free-throw line.

Baldwin will occupy Sacramento’s third and final two-way slot alongside Isaiah Stevens and Daeqwon Plowden. The Kings had an open two-way position following Dylan Cardwell’s conversion to a standard contract and were one of seven NBA teams with a two-way vacancy, requiring no corresponding move. Sacramento also retains an open standard roster spot.

The signing comes as the Kings deal with season-ending injuries to Domantas Sabonis (knee), Zach LaVine (hand), and De’Andre Hunter (eye), leaving Keegan Murray, DeMar DeRozan, Precious Achiuwa, and Doug McDermott as the team’s primary forward options. Baldwin, in his final year of two-way eligibility, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The post Kings sign former Warrior Patrick Baldwin Jr. to two-way contract appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Hayes, the No. 7 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, spent over three seasons with the Detroit Pistons before they released him midway through the 2023-24 campaign. He signed with the Brooklyn Nets last season, spending most of his time with the team’s G League affiliate before a short NBA stint on a 10-day contract.

The 6-foot-5 point guard averaged 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 42/38/83 shooting splits in 27.0 minutes per game across six appearances with Brooklyn. However, the Nets chose not to re-sign Hayes at the conclusion of his 10-day deal.

Killian Hayes signing 10-day contract with Kings after Cavs G League stint

Hayes turned down EuroLeague interest this offseason and signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of training camp. The Cavaliers waived him and assigned him to their G League affiliate. He impressed during his G League stint, averaging 22.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.6 steals on .474/.318/.804 shooting splits across 19 appearances.

Hayes should have an opportunity to prove his worth with the reeling Kings, who recently shut down Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and De’Andre Hunter for the season.

With LaVine sidelined, Russell Westbrook has served as Sacramento’s starting point guard in recent games. Devin Carter has filled the point guard minutes with the second unit.

The Kings will travel to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

The post Kings adding former No. 7 overall pick amid historic losing streak appeared first on ClutchPoints.

With Saturday’s 139-122 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Kings have gone winless in their last 16 games, spanning over a month. And Charles Barkley, ever to speak his mind, certainly wasn’t going to hold back when criticizing Sacramento for its horrendous play, whether it was 15 or 16 straight.

“You can’t play 15 good teams in a row… Come on, man,” Barkley said on ‘Inside the NBA’, via ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel. “These teams out here doing Harlem Globetrotter stuff (against them). Come on, man. These guys out here doing Globetrotter stuff.”

It’s certainly true that the Kings have not played 15 — or now 16 — good teams in a row. In fact, before its losses to the Spurs and Orlando Magic, Sacramento played the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz, both of whom are much closer to competing for the first overall pick than a playoff spot. The result, despite Utah and New Orleans having the third and second-worst records in the Western Conference, respectively, was a pair of blowouts.

On Feb. 9, the Pelicans thrashed the Kings 120-94. Two days later, Sacramento similarly lost 121-93 to the Jazz. During the course of this losing streak, the Kings have not played any team more than once, meaning they have lost to over half of the NBA in a little over a month.

Of course, that is acceptable for Sacramento, which has its own first-round draft pick this year. If it did not, losing three players to season-ending surgery — Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and De’Andre Hunter — in the past few weeks would be the absolute worst news possible. But for the Kings, it only further cements that they will have among the best odds in the NBA draft lottery.

The Kings, who recently set a new record for the longest losing streak in franchise history, could keep adding to it Monday evening when they play the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a five-game road trip.

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San Antonio (39-16) will host Sacramento (12-45) at 5:00 p.m. PT, looking to extend its current seven-game winning streak to close out a two-game homestand. The Kings, meanwhile, enter the contest seeking to snap a franchise-record 15-game losing streak.

According to the Spurs’ injury report issued Saturday, Harrison Ingram (G League – Two-Way) and Stanley Umude (G League – Two-Way) are listed as questionable. David Jones Garcia (G League – Two-Way) has been ruled out. Veteran center Mason Plumlee is also out due to return-to-competition reconditioning. Lindy Waters III is listed as questionable with a left knee hyperextension.

Spurs list Lindy Waters III questionable, Mason Plumlee out vs. Kings

Waters, 28, last appeared in San Antonio’s 112-103 victory over the Orlando Magic on Feb. 1. He logged two minutes in that contest and recorded a turnover as his only statistic. Across 28 games this season, Waters is averaging a career-low 1.9 points in 6.8 minutes per game while shooting 35.2 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from beyond the arc. His current usage rate also marks a career low.

Plumlee, 35, joined the Spurs on a 10-day contract after being traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal involving Ousmane Dieng and subsequently waived by Oklahoma City. The veteran center last played Dec. 22 in a 139-122 loss with Charlotte, finishing with five points and five rebounds on 2-of-4 shooting in 10 minutes. He later underwent surgery to address a right groin injury and has remained sidelined.

In 14 appearances this season, including two starts, Plumlee is averaging 1.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 8.9 minutes per game while shooting a career-high 75 percent from the field.

With several rotation and depth pieces managing injuries, the Spurs will aim to maintain momentum against a struggling Kings team desperate to halt its skid.

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According to NBA insiders Chris Haynes and Marc Stein, Hunter “will undergo season-ending eye surgery,” shutting him down for Sacramento, having only played two games with the team after being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers at the deadline.

“BREAKING: Sacramento Kings forward De’Andre Hunter will undergo season-ending eye surgery, league sources tell [Marc Stein] and me,” Haynes wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

In terms of what he’s dealing with exactly, it’s been diagnosed as “iritis,” as he was hit in his left eye in last Feb. 6’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee reported that he would be reevaluated in 10 days, with the ultimate conclusion being to go with the season-ending surgery.

“Sacramento Kings forward De’Andre Hunter has been diagnosed with iritis after taking a blow to his left eye in Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers. He will be reevaluated in about 10 days,” Anderson wrote on X on Feb. 8.

This is a profound change of pace from how Hunter was speaking about his progress going well, almost speaking like a return could’ve been imminent.

“It’s not all the way there yet, but it’s definitely a lot better than it was,” Hunter said, according to Sports Illustrated on Thursday. “I’m able to actually play and train and stuff like that, so it’s progressing really well.”

At any rate, Hunter looks to be fully healthy for next season and will contribute to the Kings.

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“The negative effects of sports betting brings out the worst in people smh,” Nina Westbrook wrote on her social media post. “Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident. It’s something my husband and I consider routine. With that said, I’m sharing this now because I’m growing increasingly concerned for athletes. I felt it important to highlight the effects that sports betting has on individuals and how it pts athletes and their families in potentially dangerous positions.”

The email that was received was expletive-laden and violent in nature.

Earlier this season, federal authorities announced charges being brought against former and current NBA faces in regards to illegal gambling activities. Former NBA player Damon Jones and current Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were both charged with allegations of distributing confidential information for betting.

Current Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested at the same time on charges of participating in illegal poker games.

When the charges were first announced, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown cited growing concerns among NBA players regarding potential safety and integrity issues amid the growth of the sports betting industry.

“That whole world was introduced a couple of years ago, and I don’t think they took players into consideration – especially with the energy, the behavior that goes around gambling and how that directly correlates with players,” Brown said. “We don’t benefit from any of the profits, but we’ve got to deal with a lot of the extra negativity and scrutiny behind all the gambling stuff. On top of that, it creates more integrity issues.”

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Keegan Murray, who returned from a six-week ankle injury absence against the Magic, was found at a loss for words post-game.

“It’s tough. I don’t really have words to explain it to be honest. I don’t know if anyone has words to explain what’s transpired these last three or four years, but obviously we’ve got to change something because this obviously can’t happen. Not many teams in NBA history have gone 15 straight losses in a row,” he said per The Sacramento Bee.

The Kings were competitive early against Orlando, leading 28–18. However, the Magic responded with elite efficiency, shooting 16-of-21 (76.2%) in the second quarter and finishing with a franchise-record 27 made three-pointers.

The losing streak comes alongside a genuine injury crisis. Domantas Sabonis (meniscus surgery) and Zach LaVine (hand surgery) are out for the season, removing Sacramento’s primary interior facilitator and leading scorer from the rotation.

The absence of Sabonis in particular, who had averaged roughly 19.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists, has damaged Sacramento’s offensive structure, which has been amplified in LaVine’s absence. Regardless, Murray returns give them a slight silver lining.

He produced 15 points and eight rebounds on 6-of-13 shooting (3-of-7 from three) against the Magic and will only be expected to grow further from here. Regardless, there is little doubt that the Kings now have a mountain to climb to salvage this season.

They will now take on the San Antonio Spurs, which kickstarts a five-game road trip.

The post Kings’ Keegan Murray at a loss for words over last 3 years, not just 15-game losing streak appeared first on ClutchPoints.

And as a result, the official Sacramento Beam account has posted an ‘open for work’ update on X, simply because it has not been lit up since January 16, when they won against the Washington Wizards.

Been a great run Sacramento pic.twitter.com/tsFZII75Ap

— The Beam (@SacBeam) February 20, 2026

That was also a fourth-straight victory for Sacramento, their season-best run thus far. Further, things may get even more dire, considering up next is a five-game road trip that includes games against the Houston Rockets, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Los Angeles Lakers as well.

Introduced during the 2022–23 season, the Sacramento Beam is a multi-laser installation mounted atop the Golden 1 Center that fires a purple column into the sky after every Kings victory. It has since evolved into a civic ritual for fans, and would light up after each victory for the Kings.

Sacramento has since fallen to 12–45, the worst record in the NBA, and on pace to match its worst Sacramento-era finish of 17–65. The skid has been driven by injuries, with key players such as Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Zach LaVine and De’Andre Hunter all missing.

“I’ve been here for the best and been here for the worst, so I know what both of them look like, and our fans deserve more, and we’ll get there. It’s about as painful as it gets. “The pain that I felt here was something that, you know, in my opinion, it can affect your life in many ways. Knowing that you have the best team, and you don’t get there,” Doug Christie said after the game, effectively summing up the crisis that the Kings currently find themselves in, per Sactown Sports.

They will now face the mercurial San Antonio Spurs in Austin, and need a quick turnaround to change their fortunes.

The post Sacramento Beam account ‘open to work’ after Kings’ record-breaking 15th straight loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Magic blasted the Kings, 131-94, at Golden 1 Center, setting a team record with 27 three-pointers.

Sacramento also set a team record, but the unwanted kind, as it suffered its 15th straight defeat. It has been nothing but a nightmarish season for the Kings, who are set to end up in the lottery yet again.

The Kings broke the franchise record of 14 consecutive losses set by the Cincinnati Royals in 1959-1960 and 1971-1972.

The Kings have set a new franchise-record with 15 straight losses in tonight's game against the Magic pic.twitter.com/EzRPWQrrDq

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 20, 2026

Sacramento played without Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, who are both out for the season due to a torn meniscus and a fractured hand, respectively.

The Kings have the league’s worst record at 12-45, including 9-20 at home. The last time they won was against the Houston Rockets on January 12. NBA analyst Zach Lowe recently called the Kings “depressingly bad.”

Maxime Raynaud had 17 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists against Orlando, while Precious Achiuwa added 14 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.

Many expected the Kings to make major moves at the trade deadline involving Sabonis, LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan. In the end, they were only able to ship Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis in exchange for De’Andre Hunter.

After an inspired run to the playoffs in 2022-2023, the Kings are back as the laughingstock of the NBA. Their series of questionable moves, particularly in building a balanced lineup, has hampered the team’s success, and there seems to be no solution in sight.

The Kings can end their embarrassing skid versus the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

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LaVine could help mentor the young Kings amidst the final year of his contract, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel per Clutch Scoops.

“Honestly, unless the Kings are willing to take on contracts that they don’t want, which they’ve signaled that’s not going to be the case, they want to have clean books moving forward,” Siegel said. “I don’t see any option other than they try to buy him out, maybe in the off-season, or just simply waive him and pay him $49 million.

“If you’re the Kings, why would you do that? If you’re going to pay him $49 million anyway, you might as well have him as the featured star on your roster to try to mentor some of these young guys.”

The final season of LaVine’s five-year, $215.1 million deal for next is a player option, worth $48.9 million.

Zach LaVine undergoes season-ending surgery

After the Kings announced Domantas Sabonis’ season-ending knee surgery, Zach LaVine met a similar fate amid his hand surgery. Sabonis went under the knife to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, as both he, and LaVine’s regular season comes to an abrupt end.

The Kings, who are entering the All-Star break with a 12-44 record, are last in the Western Conference standings and have the fewest wins in the NBA.

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It may be dire in Sacramento at present, but it’s not all doom and gloom, as the Kings have at least few young players on the roster who have shown glimpses of being a member of the next great iteration of the team, with the most prominent being Keegan Murray.

Murray was performing well to start the season, but his progression into becoming the Kings’ main man has been halted by his battle with injuries. Nonetheless, with Sacramento’s veterans on the mend, Murray now has a huge opportunity in store upon his return from injury.

“I think it’s a big opportunity for me just to kind of grow as a player. I mean, with DeMar [DeRozan] these last couple years, [De’Aaron] Fox guys like that, I haven’t been able to take those big shots and things like that and those in those moments,” Murray said, per Brendan Nunes of Sactown Sports.

“Just to be able to grow in those moments and be able to make and take shots that win or lose games. I think that’s the thing that I haven’t really done in my career so far.”

Keegan Murray to be the main man for the Kings

Murray has indeed not yet gotten the opportunity to be the number one option for the Kings. He may not have that opportunity quite yet though, as DeMar DeRozan is still on the roster and he’s been very durable for his entire career.

But the Kings, being in tank mode, should hand over the keys to Murray and the rest of the team’s youngsters, including Nique Clifford, Devin Carter, and Maxime Raynaud, so they could at least gauge the talent they have at present.

The post Kings’ Keegan Murray relishing ‘opportunity’ amid Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine injuries appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Sabonis went under the knife to repair a torn meniscus, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

“Kings star Domantas Sabonis will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season after undergoing surgery today to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee,” Charania reported.

Sabonis had averaged 15.8 points on 54.3% shooting, 11.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 0.9 steals in 19 games for the Kings this season. 2025-26 marks the fewest regular-season games Sabonis has played since 2021-22.

Amidst a disappointing regular season, the Kings entered the All-Star break with the worst record in the NBA (12-44). As part of a three-team trade, Sacramento acquired De’Andre Hunter, while parting ways with guards Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder, who joined the Cleveland Cavs ahead of the deadline. The Kings also sent veteran Dario Saric to the Chicago Bulls.

Will Kings secure odds-on favorite for 2026 top lottery pick?

While some will point to the Jazz and Pacers, both of whom were fined for benching their best players, as the NBA teams purposely tanking for a top lottery pick, the Kings weren’t supposed to be this bad. The front office had high hopes heading into 2025-26, but injuries and a lack of chemistry derailed the Kings from reaching their full potential.

The Ringer’s Zach Lowe discussed the supposed tanking of several teams. He, however, noted that it seems like the Kings are not doing it on purpose.

“You have Sacramento, just bad by accident. Just organically, abysmally, depressingly bad. The most unwatchable basketball team,” said Lowe on his show.

With the Kings’ chances of securing the top pick in the 2026 NBA draft improving, the front office can only hope they’ll be the ones selecting the No. 1 pick that will complement Domantas Sabonis and the rest of the Kings’ core.

The post Kings’ Domantas Sabonis undergoes season-ending knee surgery appeared first on ClutchPoints.

LaVine will go under the knife after All-Star weekend, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.

“Kings guard Zach LaVine is set for a season-ending hand surgery that will take place after the All-Star break,” Haynes said. “LaVine’s 2025-26 season is over.”

The Kings, who are entering the All-Star break with a 12-44 record, are last in the Western Conference standings and have the fewest wins in the NBA. The final season of LaVine’s five-year, $215.1 million deal for next is a player option, worth $48.9 million.

Zach LaVine’s defiant mic drop after Kings win

Kings veteran Zach LaVine made headlines for a 42-point performance in a 127-111 win against the Heat. However, the attention on the veteran guard was for what he did on the floor, and for what he said after the game. LaVine put the Kings on blast for not getting enough touches.

LaVine, who finished with a season high 42 points on 12-of-24 shooting, including eight threes, one assist, and one steal, revealed why it was the first (and only) time he scored 40+ points, per HoopsHype’s Cyro Asseo.

“I can do that any night if they give me the damn ball enough,” LaVine said, which for many fans, could have did the veteran a public disservice for team potentially interested in trading for the guard ahead of last week’s trade deadline.

Coupled with an injury-riddled season, LaVine was most likely not an easy guard to sell to potential suitors at the negotiating table, where the Kings were very active amidst trade talks.

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“Impressive win. Great group of guys. Under 50 points at half, I don’t think we had that in Sac for a long time,” Schroder said postgame on February 5. “Really competitive group who wants to play defense, and then, share the ball on offense, wants to play fast. I love it. I feel comfortable already.”

Following Schroder’s home debut six days later, along with James Harden and Keon Ellis, he continuously praised the Cavs.

Candidly, those compliments also came with him describing his experience with the Kings, a subject he hasn’t been reluctant to address since the move.

“It was a rough two months for me beginning of the season,” Schroder said after Wednesday’s 138-113 blowout Cleveland win over the Washington Wizards. “But being a part of Cleveland’s organization has been great, and we didn’t even practice yet. But the chemistry you can tell is on a high notch, and we just want to keep it going.”

It ultimately comes back to the upward-trending 34-21 Cavs playing “meaningful” games as the team tries to compete for a championship. He went from the worst organization record-wise to a red-hot group with a strong chance to contend.

“I’m a winner. I try to win,” Schroder said. “It’s tough when it’s not going your way. You try to work hard every single day, and you’re not getting over the hump, you’re not winning games. It was so tough for me waking up, going to practice because it wasn’t really the focus. Myself included, I think everybody in [that Kings] locker room, we had to do a better job of playing the right style of basketball. But at the end of the day, that’s over with.

“Really appreciate Sac as well because they gave me a big contract to have security for my family. I appreciate [Kings general manager] Scott [Perry], [assistant GM] BJ [Armstrong]. But at the end of the day, to be on this side now, where you play every single game to win, that excites me every single day.”

Schroder has already brought his brand of ball to Cleveland, with pestering pressure on defense and quick bursts to the rim offensively. He’s hoping to add his toughness to the team, which has its sights on a league title when all is said and done.

“The dog mentality,” Schroder said. “I think we’ve got high character guys in this locker room, but if we turn it up there, I think on the defensive side of the ball, especially, I think we can do a lot of big things here. I’m looking forward to that.”

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The Kings have the worst record in the league at 12-43. At this point, unless they go on a miraculous run after the midseason break, they will surely end up in the lottery anew.

The Ringer’s Zach Lowe discussed the supposed tanking of several teams. He, however, noted that it seems like the Kings are not doing it on purpose.

“You have Sacramento, just bad by accident. Just organically, abysmally, depressingly bad. The most unwatchable basketball team,” said Lowe on his show.

Not many gave the Kings a chance this season because of the questionable makeup of their roster. Many thought that they would ship either DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, or Domantas Sabonis at the trade deadline. But they ended up moving Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis in a three-team deal to acquire De’Andre Hunter.

Lowe, however, added that if there is a bright spot for the Kings, it is Dylan Cardwell.

“God bless Dylan Cardwell. I’m a huge Dylan Cardwell fan, I would wear a Dylan Cardwell jersey right now if they made them,” said Lowe.

The rookie center is averaging 5.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 21.0 minutes per outing.

Remember the Kings’ inspired “Light the Beam” run in the 2022-2023 season? Yeah, that now feels like eons ago.

Sacramento has only been to the playoffs once in the last 19 years, underscoring the team’s mediocrity.

The Kings will face the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.

The post Zach Lowe goes off on ‘depressingly bad’ Kings in tanking rant appeared first on ClutchPoints.

As reported by Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee, the Kings have listed the likes of Domantas Sabonis (knee), Russell Westbrook (ankle), De’Andre Hunter (eye), Zach LaVine (finger), Malik Monk (illness), and Keegan Murray (ankle) out for tomorrow night’s contest with various injuries.

Anderson added that LaVine’s finger problem has now been deemed a tendon injury. Sabonis and Westbrook are being managed, with the former having missed plenty of time due to knee problems and the latter accumulating so much wear and tear on his ankle.

But as much as the Kings would justify their best players’ absences, it all boils down to them protecting their status as the worst team in the NBA. It pays to tank in the NBA, and at this point, this is the best course of action for one of the most wayward franchises in the league.

Kings give their young guys all the opportunities they can handle

The good news is that the absences of the Kings’ more established players mean that the team’s young players will get to show what they’re made of. The likes of Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, and Devin Carter are expected to shoulder a heavy workload alongside the last veteran standing, DeMar DeRozan.

They are battling against another team that wants to lose games in the Jazz, but the Kings are going to be so shorthanded that it should be considered a miracle if they manage to pull out a win tomorrow night.

The post Kings’ unreal injury report for Jazz game leaves unrecognizable starting lineup appeared first on ClutchPoints.

At one point in the game on Monday in New Orleans, Kings veteran guard DeMar DeRozan could be seen slamming a water bottle on the ground in frustration on the bench, and after the game, DeRozan got 100% real on how his emotions boiled over in that moment.

“Us not being in the right spots, make it a chain reaction, them getting back in transition, getting easy shots, easy buckets, so (the water bottle incident) was just me wanting us to play the right way, win, lose or draw,” said DeRozan, per Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee.

Kings head coach Doug Christie also got honest on his reaction to the incident.

“I went down and sat with him for a second just to talk to him. His frustration is more about, first of all, ending a skid, and also after being so close that it could go either way in so many games, this is the first time in a minute where we had this kind of result where we weren’t really in a game,” said Christie.

Many foresaw the Kings’ struggles heading into this season due to their utterly bizarre roster construction, but few could have seen a losing skid as ugly as this on the horizon.

With the team mostly remaining intact at the recent NBA trade deadline, fans have to be wondering where Sacramento goes from here.

The team will look to end its losing streak on Wednesday against the Utah Jazz.

The post DeMar DeRozan reveals why he slammed water bottle on ground during Kings’ historic 13th straight loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Unfortunately, the injury bug has already started to hit Hunter since he made his way to Sacramento, as he recently suffered a freak eye injury.

“Sacramento Kings forward De’Andre Hunter has been diagnosed with iritis after taking a blow to his left eye in Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers. He will be reevaluated in about 10 days,” reported Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee on X, formerly Twitter.

The injury occurred on an inadvertent shot from Kobe Sanders of the Clippers last week, which sent Hunter down, and forced the Kings’ training staff to have to come out and check on the new trade acquisition.

Injuries have been a problem for Hunter dating back to his days with the Atlanta Hawks, although, of course, this particularly instance is isolated and not the sign of things to come.

Hunter had been struggling through a down year shooting the ball for the Cavaliers this season before the trade that sent him to the Kings, seeing his field goal and three-point percentages dip dramatically when compared to the career year he enjoyed last season, when Cleveland acquired him from the Hawks at the trade deadline.

Hunter doesn’t necessarily qualify as “young talent” for the Kings, who are desperate to add players whom they can potentially build around moving forward, but he does give them a serviceable wing who can space the floor when he’s on it.

In any case, the Kings are next slated to take the floor on Wednesday evening on the road vs the Utah Jazz.

The post Kings’ De’Andre Hunter already missing time after Cavs trade due to freak eye injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Westbrook is halfway through the 18th season of his NBA career, his first with the Kings. The veteran guard continues to be productive with his aggressive scoring and playmaking skillset at age 37.

While he has declined in the number of dunks as he ages, he doesn’t hesitate to get up in the air for slam dunks. The highlight took place midway through the third quarter as it started with Precious Achiuwa missing a shot at the rim. Despite this, Westbrook quickly secured the offensive rebound and put the ball through the hoop with a fierce two-handed dunk.

Russell Westbrook turning back the clock on the putback jam pic.twitter.com/QVO9PSDx8B

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 10, 2026

How Russell Westbrook, Kings played against Pelicans

It was an impressive highlight for Russell Westbrook to add this season. However, the Kings continued losing as they suffered a 120-94 blowout to the Pelicans.

The game started out close as Sacramento only trailed 31-26 after the first quarter. However, New Orleans took full control of the matchup after outscoring the Kings 61-41 in the second and third periods, something the visitors never recovered from.

Perimeter shooting and ball movement made the difference in this matchup. The Pelicans prevailed in both categories after making 16 3-pointers and creating 30 assists. It wasn’t the same for the Kings as they only made four triples and dished out 19 assists.

Four players scored in double-digits for Sacramento in the loss, including Westbrook. He finished with a stat line of 17 points, two rebounds and two assists on 7-of-17 shooting from the field, including 1-of-6 from beyond the arc. Maxime Raynaud led the team with 21 points and 19 rebounds, Devin Carter came next with 12 points and four assists, while Nique Clifford provided 10 points and six assists.

Sacramento fell to a 12-43 record on the season, being at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. They are behind the Pelicans by three games and the Utah Jazz by 5.5 games.

Going through 13 consecutive losses, the Kings will search for a much-needed win in their next matchup. They are on the road when they face the Jazz on Feb. 11 at 9 p.m. ET.

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And produce was exactly what Raynaud did on Monday night in the Kings’ 120-94 blowout loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Starting in place of Domantas Sabonis, the rookie out of Stanford put up 21 points and 19 rebounds, with the latter being a career-best, and all that came out of it was a loss to another one of the worst teams in the NBA.

The Kings and Pelicans’ Monday night tussle made for appointment viewing for some, with the two teams going viral on TikTok in such a hilarious manner. Alas, the rivalry did not deliver.

Sacramento employed the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards’ strategy of limiting the minutes of their more established players to reduce their chances of winning, and suffice to say, this is the smart thing to do to boost their odds ahead of a stacked draft.

Kings’ young players are finally getting opportunities

With the 2025-26 season long lost for the Kings, their young players are finally getting the opportunities they deserve. Raynaud played 38 minutes and Nique Clifford wasn’t too far behind with 37 minutes of his own. Clifford, however, struggled to the tune of 4-16 shooting from the field on the night.

Devin Carter and Dylan Cardwell also played huge minutes off the bench, with both of them crossing the 30-minute mark. Carter recorded 12-3-4 with one steal, while Cardwell stuffed the stat sheet, tallying six points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

The post Kings waste player’s near 20-20 game in 13th straight loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Nightmare spirals downward

The Kings currently languish at the bottom of the West with a dismal 12-42 record. Despite a roster featuring high-scoring veterans like Zach LaVine (19.2 PPG) and DeMar DeRozan (18.9 PPG), the team has struggled to find any defensive identity under head coach Doug Christie. They rank near the bottom of the league in both defensive rating and opponent points per game.

Sacramento’s defensive rotations have been inconsistent, and transition coverage has been porous. What was envisioned as an offensively explosive roster has instead become a one-dimensional group. They just cannot generate stops when it matters most. A brutal 12-game losing streak heading into mid-February effectively extinguished any postseason hopes. The franchise sits in what many around the league now describe as “basketball purgatory.”

The frustration peaked at the February 5 trade deadline. The front office’s relative inactivity was seen by many as the biggest mistake of the season. Aside from a minor move to acquire De’Andre Hunter at the cost of young asset Keon Ellis, the Kings failed to offload heavy contracts or commit to a full-scale rebuild around their youth.

Consequently, promising young pieces like Nique Clifford and Devin Carter remain buried behind veterans. With Domantas Sabonis currently sidelined by a back injury and Sacramento sitting 28 games back from the conference lead, the remainder of the campaign looks more like a somber countdown to lottery night than a competitive NBA season.

Analysis paralysis

By keeping an expensive, aging core on a 12-win team, Sacramento boarded their rebuild window shut. League consensus in the days following the deadline has been defined by growing impatience from a fan base that expected decisive action.

Sacramento’s only significant transaction came via a three-team framework involving Cleveland and Chicago:

Outgoing: Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder, Dario Saric, 2030 second-round pick
Incoming: De’Andre Hunter

On paper, Hunter adds positional size and wing scoring. In practice, the move raised eyebrows. Ellis had emerged as one of the roster’s few cost-controlled defensive bright spots. He is a true “3-and-D” contributor who fit modern playoff archetypes. Moving him for Hunter, a player with a sizable contract and an injury history, felt misaligned with the team’s supposed developmental needs. For this kind of roster, lateral veteran swaps hold minimal long-term value. Fans weren’t asking for tweaks but for transformation.

Keeping cornerstone contracts

The Kings entered the deadline with three major trade chips:

• Domantas Sabonis
• Zach LaVine
• DeMar DeRozan

None were moved.

Each situation carried urgency.

Sabonis stalemate

Sabonis drew interest from teams seeking a high-post offensive hub. Those included reported discussions with Toronto. However, negotiations reportedly stalled over contract offsets, specifically reluctance to absorb additional long-term salary structures. Rather than pivot creatively, Sacramento walked away empty-handed.

LaVine contract trap

LaVine’s situation proved even more complex. Owed nearly $50 million next season, his contract became a deterrent rather than an asset. According to league reporting, teams demanded first-round compensation simply to absorb the deal. Faced with attaching picks to move him or standing pat, the Kings chose the latter.

As such, the Kings have ongoing salary-cap gridlock with no competitive upside. They remain financially inflexible while fielding a bottom-tier roster. It’s the worst-case combination.

Rotational logjam stifling development

Perhaps the most damaging downstream effect of deadline inactivity is developmental stagnation. By retaining veterans on a noncompetitive roster, Sacramento has created a minutes bottleneck that limits evaluation of its younger talent. Devin Carter needs extended run. Dylan Cardwell, recently signed to a four-year standard contract, requires developmental reps.

Instead, Christie is forced to juggle rotations featuring former All-Stars on a last-place team. These players have timelines that no longer align with the franchise’s reality. This creates what executives often call a “losing veterans environment.” In this setup, development and competitiveness both suffer. Young players don’t get runway. Veterans don’t get meaningful games. The franchise drifts.

Basketball purgatory

Rebuilding teams typically embrace clarity:

Sell veterans. Acquire picks. Develop youth.

Contending teams chase upgrades.

Sacramento did neither.

They neither tanked with intention nor competed with viability. The Kings exist in the NBA’s most dangerous middle ground. This team is expensive, aging, and losing. That’s the true cost of the 2026 deadline.

It was neither the Hunter trade, nor the Ellis departure. It was the absence of structural direction.

Long-term implications

The ripple effects will extend beyond this season. By failing to move veterans now, Sacramento risks declining trade value in the offseason, especially if injuries or performance regression strike.

They also delay cap flexibility. That could otherwise position them to absorb contracts for picks or participate in multi-team blockbuster frameworks. Most critically, they postpone identity formation.

Are they building around youth, or chasing one last veteran push? Right now, no one knows.

Direction delayed, rebuild denied

The Kings’ biggest trade deadline mistake was indecision. In a lost season, clarity is currency. Sacramento had the chance to reset timelines, reallocate salary, and empower its next generation.

Instead, it preserved a roster built for a competitive window that no longer exists. In doing so, the franchise ensured that its nightmare season wouldn’t end at the deadline. It would simply continue.

The post Kings’ biggest 2026 NBA trade deadline mistake appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In a game that put both Sacramento’s woes and its budding talent on display, the Kings leaned on their younger players due to injuries and cautious rotations. Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, and Malik Monk were all sidelined, forcing Sacramento to open with their 27th different starting lineup of the season. The group included Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan, two-way player Daeqwon Plowden, rookie Maxime Raynaud, and Nique Clifford, who shone in a career night.

Clifford, the 24th overall pick in last summer’s draft, led all Kings scorers with 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting, including five three-pointers, while adding four rebounds, four assists, and two steals and blocks. This performance made him the third rookie in Kings history to score 30 points with at least five triples in a single contest, joining Ricky Berry and Keegan Murray. Also, Devin Carter took advantage of extra minutes on the floor, recording a career-best 18 points with four rebounds, four assists, a block, and a steal.

Sacramento’s young big men continued to show promise. Raynaud contributed 14 points and seven rebounds, while undrafted rookie Dylan Cardwell posted a second-straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Plowden, making his first career NBA start, finished with 16 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Overall, seven Kings reached double-digit scoring.

Sacramento’s early 11-point flourish and persistent resistance could not forestall Cleveland, whose freshly anointed superstar pairing dictated the outcome. Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points, Jarrett Allen added 29 points and 10 rebounds, and James Harden, making his Cavaliers debut following the trade of Darius Garland to Los Angeles, scored 23 points with eight assists. Harden’s mastery was on full display in the fourth, producing 15 of 19 points and pivotal free throws in the closing seconds.

Other post-deadline Cleveland additions faced their former team. Dennis Schroder scored seven points with four assists in 17 minutes, while Keon Ellis added six points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

The loss highlighted the Kings’ uphill climb, having had only two winning seasons since 2006-07, while also revealing the bright side of their young roster.

Looking ahead, Sacramento will begin a two-game road trip before the All-Star break, facing the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday and the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. The Kings currently hold a 52% chance at a top-four selection and a 14% chance at the number one overall pick.

The post Kings become 1st team to hit unfortunate milestone in 2026 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Monk three
Monk three
Monk three

Malik Monk ends the first quarter on FIRE from deep

pic.twitter.com/IKjej3gU6E

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 7, 2026

L.A. ended up nipping the Kings, 114-111. Monk though did his best to will his team to win. He finished the game with 18 points, and six three-point field goals. He was on fire as the game started.

The Kings dropped to 12-41 on the season following the loss. Sacramento has now dropped 11 games in a row. This one was an absolute heartbreaker, considering the Kings had controlled the first quarter and led at the half.

The Clippers are now 24-27 after defeating Sacramento.

Kings are looking for victories

Sacramento has definitely had a season to forget. The Kings have struggled defensively, and as a result are at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

Monk has been a bright spot for the club, while he has been in Sactown. He is averaging 12 points per game this season. That is actually lower than his average from last year. Monk’s minutes are also down this season.

The team hasn’t won a game since January 16, against the Washington Wizards. Sacramento is currently on their worst losing streak since the 1997-98 season, per NBC Sports.

“That’s not far off from the longest losing streak in the Sacramento era (13) and three away from the franchise record of 14 consecutive losses,” the outlet reported.

Kings fans are hoping the team can salvage a very frustrating season. Sacramento has a core of young talent, including big man Domantas Sabonis. Sabonis didn’t play in the Clippers game as he is dealing with a sore back.

The Kings look to end their rough losing streak, as they next play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. Time will tell if Sacramento can pull out a much-needed victory.

The post Kings’ Malik Monk showcases sixth man prowess with 3-point barrage appeared first on ClutchPoints.

As part of a three-team trade with the Cavs and the Chicago Bulls, the Kings also sent Dario Saric to the Bulls. However, when a reporter asked Kings GM Scott Perry whether fans can expect coach Christie back next season, his response left no doubt, per The Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson.

“I expect him to be my coach until I tell you anything different,” Perry said.

Perry’s reassurance that the Kings’ head coach, Doug Christie, would keep his job was far from a guarantee, as things can surely change between now and the end of the offseason. More than a few head coaches lose their jobs by the end of every NBA regular season. And while the Kings are on a 10-game losing streak, falling to 12-40 for the worst record in the association, Christie’s job could be on the line, depending on how things unfold.

Is Kings’ DeMar DeRozan a potential buyout candidate?

Given the direction his team is headed toward, fans wonder whether the Kings and DeMar DeRozan will reach a buyout before the end of the regular season. With $25.7 million on the books for next season, the chances of seeing DeRozan bought out of his contract are slim, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.

“The Kings have no plan to buy out DeMar DeRozan if he’s still on the team after the trade deadline, per sources,” reported Slater on X, formerly Twitter. “DeRozan is owed $25.7 million next season, but only $10 million is guaranteed.”

The Kings will look to snap their 10-game winning streak when they host the Clippers on Friday.

The post Doug Christie gets reassurance on future with Kings appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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Domantas Sabonis injury status vs. Clippers

Given that Domantas Sabonis is questionable on the injury report, it’s hard to predict whether he’ll be playing tonight vs. the Clippers. Sabonis has been the subject of trade rumors this season, linked to the Toronto Raptors, who are reportedly still a possibility in the offseason.

The Kings will look to snap a 10-game losing streak on Friday. After rattling off four consecutive wins, the Kings haven’t won a game since January 16’s 128-115 victory against the Washington Wizards, which capped off a four-game win streak.

Amidst an injury-plagued campaign due to a lingering back injury, Sabonis is averaging 15.8 points on 54.3% shooting, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 19 games this season. While the Kings will continue to rebuild their roster, which included trading Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis, and Dario Saric in a three-team deal with the Cleveland Cavs and the Atlanta Hawks.

The Kings acquired last year’s sixth man of the year candidate in De’Andre Hunter from the Cavs, while sending Ellis and Schroder to the Cavs, and Saric to the Bulls. At the same time, Sabonis continues his recovery from a back injury.

However, as for the question of whether Domantas Sabonis is playing tonight vs. the Clippers, the answer is maybe.

Kings injury report

Keegan Murray — Out — Left ankle sprain

Domantas Sabonis — Questionable — Lower back soreness

Clippers injury report

Bradley Beal — Out — Left hip fracture

Darius Garland — Out — Trade pending

Bennedict Mathurin — Out — Trade pending

The post Kings’ Domantas Sabonis on injury report vs. Clippers after not getting traded appeared first on ClutchPoints.

𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 official

we have signed rookie center Dylan Cardwell to a Standard NBA contract, congrats Dylan! pic.twitter.com/bf6NyiTfqv

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) February 5, 2026

This is a rare win for a Kings organization that badly needs to stack victories. Cardwell has done nothing but impress in the limited minutes he’s gotten, flashing his potential as a rim-protecting glass cleaner who can fashion for himself a long NBA career.

Cardwell is on the older side as a rookie, as he’s already 24 years of age. Nonetheless, the Auburn product is averaging 1.7 blocks in 20 minutes per contest. The Kings badly need defense, and he’s one of the rare players on the roster who consistently brings energy to the floor whenever he checks in.

With the Kings likely to revisit a Domantas Sabonis trade come offseason time as they came close to dealing him away prior to this year’s deadline, Cardwell could end up playing a larger role for the Kings next season. In fact, if the Kings decide to give Sabonis rest days to ensure that they get the best odds at the top pick, then he could be a player to watch moving forward as soon as this season.

Kings don’t pull off nearly enough trades

The Kings did well to clear up some backcourt logjam, but all they did was clog their cap sheet with the Hunter contract. Moreover, they failed to trade away Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan, and the same problems exist for this roster that makes no sense.

Sacramento could blow it up this offseason, but they may have to be more realistic in terms of their expectations on what they get in return.

The post Kings ink promising rookie big man to standard contract appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, the Grizzlies are struggling to generate a real market for Morant, as those with interest have not been willing to offer up a first-round pick in discussions, league sources told ClutchPoints. General manager Zach Kleiman and the Grizzlies’ brass are ready to move on from Morant before the trade deadline if they can salvage a first-round pick.

To this point, teams have been viewing Morant in the same category as Trae Young, who was moved by the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. No draft picks were involved in the Young trade, which is the same ideology teams are operating with when approaching the Grizzlies for Morant.

In the days leading up to the NBA trade deadline, the Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, and Milwaukee Bucks have all called the Grizzlies to discuss a Morant trade, sources said. While all three teams hold a level of interest in the two-time All-Star, each scenario presents different complications.

Morant and his camp hold zero interest in being traded to the Kings, ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly reported on Wednesday. Sacramento would only entertain such a trade if it were able to essentially swap Zach LaVine for the All-Star guard. But there is serious pushback in Sacramento to such a move, especially with Morant signaling that he holds no interest in playing for the organization.

Potential news of the Kings trading for Morant would come as a shock to many around the league.

The Heat have long been linked to Morant, and they have been labeled by league sources as his preferred landing spot. With all indications from the Bucks earlier in the week being that they would hold onto Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat began pivoting to other potential options before the trade deadline, including Morant.

Even though there is a level of interest in trading for Morant, the Heat do not want to give up anything more than expiring contracts and second-round assets. Miami will not be offering a first-round pick for Morant, sources said, especially now that they can attempt to renew Giannis trade talks in the summer.

That leaves the Bucks, who made it clear Giannis would not be traded earlier in the week and made their intentions to keep him clear to the league on Thursday. Morant has been linked to the Bucks in a potential buy-low spot using the contracts of Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis, but there are obstacles in their pursuit as well.

Milwaukee owns no future second-round picks, and it would take getting at least one other team involved to land Morant. That is why league personnel no longer view the Bucks as a real destination for Morant.

With the trade deadline approaching, the Grizzlies have no path to getting real value for Morant, which is why they will likely hold onto the disgruntled superstar into the offseason.

The post Sources: Grizzlies receiving no value in Ja Morant trade discussions appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“It was great,” Hunter told SacTown Sports in a scrum after the first practice with his new team. “I enjoyed my time. I think it was a little short, but I definitely enjoyed it. It’s a business. You’ve just got to roll with the punches.”

In 70 games with Cleveland, Hunter averaged 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in just under 26 minutes a night. He shot 44.5% from the floor with a 35.2% clip from long distance.

Unfortunately, this season didn’t work out the way either party intended it to when the Cavs traded for the 28-year-old forward at this time one year ago. It looked like Hunter was going to be a key cog right off the bat, nailing every triple in sight, breaking down opponents off the dribble, and covering a ton of space with his length defensively.

After rolling in the Miami Heat series, Hunter broke his thumb against the Indiana Pacers on a hard foul from Bennedict Mathurin; he wasn’t himself even when he played through it. This summer, the Cavs were adamant that Hunter would be the last piece of the puzzle in the starting five. His size, offensive ability, and physicality were thought to complement the Core Four, and Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson was adamant on getting to know him better in the offseason.

Following a star-like training camp, Hunter hurt his knee in the preseason finale against the Detroit Pistons and was behind the 8-ball. He missed the first two games of the season, then played 21 of the next 23 contests as a Cavs starter. After a rough December beginning, Atkinson and Hunter mutually decided it was best for him to come off the bench.

Although the role adjustment paid off initially, Hunter just never found his rhythm, and his minute count was dipping. Besides the shot-making downturn, his turnovers and decision-making were unrecognizable. Atkinson felt it was because he played with different lineups featuring younger players that he didn’t share the floor with last year. The emergence of Jaylon Tyson and Nae’Qwan Tomlin likely had a part in Hunter’s role changing as well.

“I was hurt,” Tyson said of learning about the trade. “I was super close to Dre. He’s like a brother to me now; almost a year it’s been with him. He’s a great player. Excited for him and his new journey, and hope everything goes well.”

The Cavs know that Hunter is better than what he showed, and Atkinson even admitted that it was circumstantial.

“That’s my dawg. I love him,” Cleveland All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell said Sunday. “We all wish him the best, and he was a hell of a player for us, hell of a player in general. Sometimes, things happen. This is the business. He’s a pro’s pro. He understands it. He works his butt off. I have no doubt he’s gonna continue that.”

“From our side, we work in the business,” Jarrett Allen added. “But when you make these personal connections, it’s always hard to see somebody that you’ve been playing even a year with; that’s a long time in the NBA. It’s hard to see him go.”

Despite a foul-heavy, nine-point debut for the Kings against the Memphis Grizzlies, Hunter feels good about coming into a Sacramento situation with good energy. With a clean slate, does he feel like he has something to prove?

“I wouldn’t say to that extent, but I have my own expectations,” Hunter said. “I feel like my own expectations are higher than what anyone else expects of me, so I just try to hold myself to a standard, and I’m usually good with that.”

The post De’Andre Hunter describes Cavs experience after Kings trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Just two minutes into the first period, Westbrook drained a 3-point bucket off an assist from DeMar DeRozan to surge past Olajuwon, who last played in the NBA during the 2001-02 season with the Toronto Raptors.

Here is how that play unfolded:

With this three, Russell Westbrook has SURPASSED Hakeem Olajuwon for 14th on the NBA all-time scoring list

pic.twitter.com/44zsgkIPbu

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 5, 2026

Westbrook’s latest career achievement has drawn some great reactions from fans online.

“Another milestone for Russ that screams longevity over efficiency, but does climbing the scoring list change how you rank his all-time legacy?” commented a fan.

“Russ, passes Hakeem? Wow Dude is cool,” a social media user shared.

“Congrats to Russ ,” another one said.

“Hakeem being this high is one thing, but Russ to now be top 15 is a huge achievement from him,” a different commenter stated.

“Russ is a great scorer now,” read another comment.

The 37-year-old Westbrook, who is also a nine-time NBA All-Star  could go up a few notches on the list, depending on how long he continues to play in the NBA. Above him on the all-time list at No. 13 is Elvin Hayes (27,313) and Moses Malone (27,409) at No. 12.

The post Kings’ Russell Westbrook passes another NBA legend on all-time list amid Grizzlies game appeared first on ClutchPoints.

For the Kings, though they have an interest in Morant, it doesn’t seem that it’s being reciprocated by the player, according to Brett Siegel and Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.

“I think you reported earlier today that the Sacramento Kings were interested in acquiring or trading for Ja Morant. I’ve been told that Ja Morant is not interested in going to the Sacramento Kings. If he goes anywhere he’s looking at the Miami Heat or the Minnesota Timberwolves,” Azarly said on Clutch Scoops.

It makes sense why Morant may not want to play for the Kings, as they’re not the hottest destination for players. They’re also near the bottom of the Western Conference, and don’t have a true path to getting better.

As for the Heat, Morant is interested in playing there, probably because of their playstyle, and it’s a place where many go and have a rejuvenation of their career. A pairing with him and Bam Adebayo may suit him as well, and the Heat could definitely improve with his addition.

At the same time, the Grizzlies don’t have to particularly honor what Morant wants, and if they know they’re not going to get a great offer for him, they’re going to get the best offer they can from whatever team wants him.

The post NBA rumors: Ja Morant does not share mutual interest in Kings despite trade buzz appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Grizzlies are now a team that can be a partner and help with other trades, and with the Toronto Raptors reportedly looking to go after Domantas Sabonis, they could be of good use. That means that there is a chance that the Kings could land Morant in a hypothetical trade from Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

“Then again, if Memphis is to rebuild, Kleiman won’t want to take on any long-term salary,” Siegel wrote. “The Grizzlies are solely focused on finding a way to move Morant before Thursday, which leads to the idea of the Kings being a potential suitor for the star guard if Memphis takes on Poeltl’s contract.

“This would offer Sacramento a path to move DeRozan, who is owed only $10 million of his $25.7 million salary if waived this upcoming offseason, by adding draft compensation. Again, this is just a hypothetical path to the Kings dumping future money and striking a deal to send Sabonis to Toronto without taking on Poeltl’s contract.”

This could be a deal where all three teams get what they want, but it’s also uncertain if the Kings actually want Morant. The Kings may also be looking to make some big changes between now and the offseason, and they’ve already traded Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis for De’Andre Hunter.

As for the Grizzlies, with them going through a possible rebuild, taking on long-term salary would be going backwards unless they’re getting a pick out of it. As for the Raptors, they’ll be satisfied with almost anything as long as they can get Sabonis.

The post NBA rumors: How Ja Morant could help Domantas Sabonis get to Raptors appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Recently, NBA insider Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported on what the future could hold for veteran Kings shooting guard DeMar DeRozan in the coming days.

“The Kings have no plan to buy out DeMar DeRozan if he’s still on the team after the trade deadline, per sources,” reported Slater on X, formerly Twitter. “DeRozan is owed $25.7 million next season, but only $10 million is guaranteed.”

At this point, it’s unclear what exactly the trade market looks like for DeRozan, who is still a talented scorer, but whose skillset is not exactly well-suited for the way the game is played in the modern NBA. It seems that if the Kings aren’t able to find a deal for him before Thursday’s deadline, then he’ll be with the team at least through the end of the season.

Meanwhile, the Kings have reportedly had calls with some teams, including the Toronto Raptors, on Sabonis, a talented big man who has seen some injury troubles in recent years that may have impacted his value. Sabonis’ poor performance in the 2023 playoffs, the Kings’ lone appearance in the postseason in recent memory, may also give teams some pause to part ways with heavy assets in order to bring him in.

Overall, the Kings are still looking to pick out a clear future direction, currently still with a bizarre mix of role players and aging veterans, without much young talent in the mix.

In any case, the NBA trade deadline is set for Thursday afternoon.

The post Kings rumors: Is DeMar DeRozan a buyout candidate if he’s not traded at deadline? appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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Domantas Sabonis injury status vs. Grizzlies

Given Domantas Sabonis is questionable on the injury report after missing two consecutive games, it’s difficult to say whether he’ll play or not. Sabonis has been a fixture on the injury report these days, as a nagging back injury has forced him to sit in the Kings’ 112-93 loss to the Celtics, and a 116-112 loss to the Wizards on Sunday.

Sabonis has been the subject of trade talks reportedly linked to the Toronto Raptors. However, other teams have also expressed interest as the Kings could be the next NBA team to make a trade after a handful of players were moved throughout of a busy day across the association on Tuesday. The Kings made one trade earlier in the week.

In a three-team deal with the Hawks and the Cavs, the Kings acquired last year’s sixth man of the year candidate De’Andre Hunter, while sending Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder, Dario Saric, and two future second-round picks to the Bulls. Hunter has averaged 14 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this season.

As for the question is Domantas Sabonis playing tonight vs. the Grizzlies, the answer is still maybe, unless he’s traded between now and Thursday’s 3 PM EST deadline.

Kings injury report

Keegan Murray — Out — Left ankle sprain

Domantas Sabonis — Questionable — Lower back soreness

Grizzlies injury report

Santi Aldama — Questionable — Right knee injury management

Kyle Anderson — Out — Trade pending

Brandon Clarke — Out — Right calf strain

Walter Clayton Jr. — Out — Trade pending

Taylor Hendricks — Out — Trade pending

Ja Morant — Out — Left elbow; UCL sprain

Georges Niang — Out — Trade pending

The post Kings’ Domantas Sabonis on injury report vs. Grizzlies as trade rumors swirl appeared first on ClutchPoints.

While going from a Cavs team that had championship hopes to a 12-39 Kings squad that’s currently languishing in the bottom of the Western Conference has to be very sobering for Hunter, he is embracing the opportunity that lies ahead of him with his new team.

“There’s good energy here. A lot of great coaches. A lot of experience in the league, very experienced players who’ve been in the league for a while. Just excited for a new opportunity,” Hunter told reporters, via James Ham of ESPN 1320 Sacramento. “[I] bring versatility on both ends. A guy that plays hard. A guy that does what the team needs.”

De’Andre Hunter on getting traded to Sacramento, how he fits and his 3-point shot. pic.twitter.com/pYeahmZmcZ

— James Ham (@James_HamNBA) February 3, 2026

Hunter is currently averaging just 14 points per game this season on 42.3 percent shooting from the field and a career-worst 30.8 percent from beyond the arc. Perhaps being in a more consistent role in Sacramento helps get his production back on track.

Kings have more to do on the trade market

The Kings, as laughable as their present roster construction may be, at least have all their future first-round picks. They do owe a first-round pick swap to the San Antonio Spurs, but that won’t be until 2031 anyway.

This should give the Kings the license to tank and hope that they draft a new franchise cornerstone that lifts the franchise from the trenches. Trading Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine would also go a long way towards recouping some assets as they pivot towards a full-blown youth movement.

The post Kings’ De’Andre Hunter praises ‘good energy’ after trade from Cavs appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Kings are dismantling their Beam Team bit by bit; only three players from their 2023 playoff team remain, and two of them (Malik Monk and Domantas Sabonis) have been heavily involved in trade rumors.

This continues a steep drop-off for the Kings, and the morale level in the locker room has to be in the gutter. Monk, in particular, expressed his sadness to see Ellis, who he’s built a close friendship with over the three and a half seasons they spent together, go.

“That’s my dawg, man. Man, I hate seeing anybody that I’m close friends with go, but obviously it was on, they wanted to go, and I feel like the team, (Kings general manager) Scott (Perry), thought it was best for us to let them go. And yeah, man, it sucks seeing all the guys go, especially, like I said, when you’re close,” Monk said, via Brendan Nunes of Sactown 1140.

Full Malik Monk quote where he said Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder “wanted to go.” https://t.co/r06RAHVb4A pic.twitter.com/CtbdAD7nBG

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) February 3, 2026

Kings to be even busier on the trade market

The Kings’ decision to trade Schroder and Ellis away should only be the beginning. Domantas Sabonis is reportedly drawing serious interest on the market from the Toronto Raptors, while DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine could become targets for teams in need of a scoring punch. Monk could be a good buy-low option considering how inconsistent his role has been this season.

Whatever the case may be, something has to change for this Kings team that’s currently flatlining at the bottom of the West standings.

The post Kings’ Malik Monk lets it all out in reaction to Keon Ellis trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Kuminga and the Warriors have seemed to have a sour relationship since last season, and with head coach Steve Kerr not playing him for 16 straight games, the writing is on the wall. There are some teams that have shown interest in Kuminga, but the Warriors must be asking for more than what they’re being offered.

The Sacramento Kings were one of the teams interested in Kuminga, but since they’ve traded for De’Andre Hunter, those talks have cooled off. Apparently, the talks for Kuminga never went anywhere, going all the way back to the offseason, according to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points.

“One Warriors source told ClutchPoints that talks with the Kings about Kuminga, both dating back to the offseason and before 2026 began, never went anywhere because Sacramento had ‘nothing worth sacrificing assets for,'” Siegel wrote. “Malik Monk and DeMar DeRozan, two players the Kings constantly made available in talks for Kuminga, were of no interest to the Warriors, and now, with Keon Ellis gone (Golden State had interest), the chances of a trade between these two teams is essentially zero.”

It seems as if the Kings moved on and had to find another deal elsewhere, and now the Warriors are probably fishing around other places.

At this point, the Warriors may have to lower their price if they really want to trade Kuminga before the deadline. They’ve also been one of the teams that have showed alot of interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they know they’ll have to give up the farm for him.

The post NBA rumors: Jonathan Kuminga trade talks between Warriors, Kings are cooked appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Chicago Bulls were also included in this trade, receiving Dario Saric and two second-round picks: Denver’s 2027 second-round pick from the Cavs and New York’s 2030 second-round pick from the Kings. Jevon Carter was waived by the Bulls to make room for Saric, and they also traded two-way player Emanuel Miller to the Cavs as part of the deal.

Before this trade was even made, the Cavaliers were discussing different scenarios to move Hunter with the Kings and a couple of other teams. Both the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers held trade dialogue with the Cavs in the week leading up to Saturday’s trade involving Hunter and the Kings, sources said.

The Lakers had been going back and forth on a package that would’ve involved Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht being traded for Hunter. The idea of including at least one other team had come up in discussions between the Cavs and Lakers, with the Brooklyn Nets being mentioned by league sources as a team willing to take on salary for draft picks.

Although the Lakers did hold a level of interest in Hunter’s skills as a 3-and-D wing, the idea of flipping Hachimura and Knecht for him without receiving any additional assets or draft compensation for the final year of Hunter’s contract was viewed as a negative. This resulted in Los Angeles taking a step back in discussions with Cleveland.

The Bucks were another team to express direct interest in trading for Hunter before the trade deadline, making both Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis available for Cleveland. These trade discussions were also confirmed by Cavs reporter Chris Fedor on Friday, as Cleveland turned down the Bucks’ offer involving Portis.

As the Bucks continue to look for ways to improve their roster before the trade deadline, Portis has continued to be brought up in trade dialogue, sources said. The Charlotte Hornets are one of a few teams with interest in Portis, and the Bucks hold interest in Miles Bridges.

Such a trade involving Bridges is unlikely to happen now that the Hornets are playing their best basketball of the season, but the Bucks can offer their 2031 first-round pick as an incentive in a deal to acquire him. Perhaps this is something Milwaukee will revisit now that Hunter is off the board.

Impact of Cavs-Kings trade

By trading Hunter to the Kings, the Cavaliers saved themselves nearly $7 million in salary and about $40 million in luxury taxes alone. Cleveland also added much-needed guard depth next to Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in the form of Schroder, plus a young 3-and-D swingman in Ellis, whom they were targeting for weeks.

Ellis was at the top of the Cavs’ trade list this season, like so many other playoff contenders, and with the Kings signaling that they would take up other avenues to trade him, Cleveland decided to execute this trade with Hunter on Saturday night. As of Feb. 9, Ellis will be eligible for a three-year, $52 million extension with the Cavs.

After trading Hunter, the Cavaliers are not done making moves.

Executive Koby Altman and this front office remain aggressive in trade talks around the league, with Lonzo Ball being a focal point of discussions, sources said. Ball has not produced at the level the Cavs had hoped when they traded Isaac Okoro for him in the offseason, and now the former second overall pick is viewed as a salary dump before the trade deadline.

Along with attempting to trade Ball, the latest intel surrounding the Cavs relates to 3-point specialist Max Strus, who has yet to play this season after undergoing surgery in August to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot. Strus has become a focal point in talks surrounding the Cavs in the aftermath of Saturday’s trade, as the team has been discussing the idea of trading him with a few teams before Thursday, sources said.

It is clear that Cleveland wants to move out of the second apron and have flexibility to make significant roster changes in the summer. Maybe Altman and the Cavs are gearing up to make a run at Giannis should he remain on the Bucks’ roster past the deadline.

Strus’ days with the Cavs appear to be numbered after the team acquired Ellis and Schroder, and if he isn’t dealt before Thursday’s deadline, he will be a prime trade candidate in the offseason, entering the final year of his contract.

On the flip side of the Hunter trade, the Kings pinpointed him as a key player to add next to Keegan Murray moving forward. League sources say Hunter’s length on the wing and ability to impact both sides of the court is something that was appealing to the Kings’ front office.

While it’s technically a possibility for him to be traded again before the deadline, Sacramento has firmly signaled that he will be utilized right away and be a key asset on the roster. Instead, the Kings will continue to talk with teams about Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis, attempting to create any type of market for these three players.

A trade involving Sabonis, as well as DeRozan, appears unlikely to happen before the trade deadline. However, never say never, especially with the Toronto Raptors still sniffing around Sabonis (more on this later). Opportunity could still present itself for the Kings to help facilitate other trades around the league that are made over the next three days, especially with Monk’s middle-tier contract. As reported last week, the Minnesota Timberwolves have expressed exploratory interest in Monk.

Following their recent trade to acquire Hunter at the cost of three players, the Kings currently have 13 players under contract and are $1.9 million away from the luxury tax threshold. More moves are coming in Sacramento, including Dylan Caldwell eventually having his two-way contract converted to a standard deal.

Besides the Kings, the trade market as a whole will feature a lot of teams being very cautious with their finances, as close to a fifth of the organizations in the NBA are attempting to dodge tax penalties this year.

Tax teams actively pursuing trades

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the ultimate domino at this year’s trade deadline. Once a clear decision is made by the Bucks, several other trade talks will be finalized, and many revolve around teams currently above the luxury tax or hovering around the threshold.

Key decisions on other star players, including the likes of Ja Morant, Anthony Davis, and Domantas Sabonis, are also held up by the Giannis situation. Whether or not one of these stars is traded is certainly dependent on Antetokounmpo’s status.

One prime example of this is the Heat holding onto their assets for Giannis and not willing to offer much for Morant at this juncture. It is feasible to believe that this mindset would change if Antetokounmpo were traded to a different team in the coming days, as the Heat hold interest in Morant’s talents.

Are Hawks still pursuing Anthony Davis? 

Davis and his situation with the Dallas Mavericks are a little different since he is currently sidelined with a hand injury and won’t be ready to return until the end of February at the very earliest. His market has dried out immensely, sources said. Although the Atlanta Hawks still hold a level of interest in Davis, it is from the perspective of a buy-low situation.

The framework of a deal revolving around the expiring salaries of Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kennard, as well as a draft pick many around the league believe to be their middle 2026 first, seems to be the highest Atlanta would go for Davis. Of course, that is unless the Hawks’ position on Zaccharie Risacher changes, which is unlikely.

Atlanta’s trade of Vit Krejci to the Portland Trail Blazers for Duop Reath and second-round picks on Sunday morning raised eyebrows around the league, especially since Krejci had been playing well and was on a minimum-like salary. Either Reath or N’Faly Dante will be waived by the Hawks, but this small trade could very well lead into a bigger move to come for this franchise before Thursday.

Porzingis is a name that keeps coming up as the likeliest player to be moved out of Atlanta this season, with his $30.7 million expiring salary. Unfortunately for the Hawks, Porzingis’ health has resulted in him being a non-factor this year, which is why GM Onsi Saleh and his front office have been searching the market for frontcourt upgrades next to Onyeka Okongwu.

While Davis was the flashy name in Dallas, perhaps the Hawks could pivot to Daniel Gafford, who has drawn significant interest from teams in both conferences before the deadline. The Mavs have been receptive to trade calls for Gafford, and they are also looking to move off Klay Thompson’s $17.4 million salary for the 2026-27 season. Hypothetically speaking, Atlanta could acquire Gafford and Thompson while remaining below the tax.

Going away from Davis and possibly pursuing Sabonis is another option the Hawks could consider, especially since the Kings are looking to make more moves and find any sort of value for the three-time All-Star big man.

Will Raptors swing big? 

This leads us to our next team, the Toronto Raptors, who have also been linked to both Davis and Sabonis.

The Raptors no longer have interest in emptying their roster for Davis, sources said. However, Sabonis’ name keeps coming up in conjunction with Toronto around the league. Throughout this year’s trade cycle, the Raptors keep coming up as a team in the mix to make a big splash, much like they did last season when they traded for Brandon Ingram.

Jakob Poeltl’s ongoing back problems have led Toronto to consider the possibility of adding a star big man, which is why they’ve discussed the scenarios of pursuing Davis and Sabonis. Going out and trading for Sabonis would be a lot easier, especially since the Kings do hold interest in RJ Barrett, whom Scott Perry drafted when he was the GM of the New York Knicks.

League sources have indicated that these two teams have discussed the framework of a trade that would involve at least Barrett, Poeltl, and first-round draft compensation, but the Raptors will not include rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, whom the Kings have inquired about.

It is unknown at this time whether the Kings would even want Poeltl or if there are more teams being discussed behind the scenes.

At this very moment, it’s more likely that Sabonis remains with the Kings than is traded before Thursday, but anything can change, especially based on what transpires in Milwaukee. Saturday’s trade involving Keon Ellis also impacts these discussions between Toronto and Sacramento, as the Raptors were one of the teams interested in him.

Other than pursuing a star big man, the Raptors have also been exploring the possibility of dipping below the tax by trading Ochai Agbaji for a low-salary frontcourt talent. Yves Missi and Goga Bitadze are two names league sources have linked Toronto to leading up to the deadline. A package of Agbaji and an unprotected first would likely be accepted by the New Orleans Pelicans for Missi. Many teams have been offering multiple second-round picks for the Pelicans’ big man.

The problem with Bitadze is that the Raptors would need to trade another salary to acquire him and move below the tax, as they are about $950K above that mark.

Other NBA trade deadline intel around league

Speaking of Bitadze, he is one of three players, along with Jonathan Isaac and Tyus Jones, that the Orlando Magic have made available before the deadline as they too explore ways to dodge the tax, sources said. It is possible that the Magic, who are $5.5 million above the luxury tax line, could operate as big buyers, combining Isaac’s contract ($15 million) with one of the other to add a rental-like player on an expiring contract to make a real push in the East.

Bitadze has drawn the most interest around the league with teams wanting to add frontcourt depth before the trade deadline. One of those teams, sitting at $5.6 million under the tax line, is the San Antonio Spurs, league sources said. As previously reported on ClutchPoints, the Spurs held trade dialogue with the Knicks regarding French forward Guerschon Yabusele and Jeremy Sochan, though league sources say San Antonio doesn’t want to take on Yabu’s contract for next season.

Sochan is certainly available before the trade deadline, and there has been talk of the Spurs potentially combining his salary with that of Kelly Olynyk’s to have a $20 million salary buffer to work with in trade talks. In addition to continuing to make calls about Nick Richards, the Phoenix Suns are a team that has shown interest in Sochan, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

At the same time, the Suns are currently $255K above the tax line, and acquiring Sochan would push them further into the tax. Phoenix will need to be creative to move out of the tax and possibly add an impactful secondary player before the deadline.

Along with Bitadze, Robert Williams III from the Portland Trail Blazers has also come up as a name in conversations about the Spurs.

After acquiring Krejci from the Hawks, the Blazers have a desire to open up roster spots for Sidy Cissoko and Caleb Love, both of whom are on two-way contracts. Portland, $1.3 million below the tax line, is another team that will be active before the trade deadline. Keep an eye on Matisse Thybulle being a buyout candidate should he remain on their roster past Thursday.

Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the Lakers are now pressed for time to find a key wing upgrade before the trade deadline, now that Keon Ellis and De’Andre Hunter are off the table. Where do the Lakers go from here with all of their expiring salaries?

Despite continued interest in Andrew Wiggins, the Heat don’t appear to have interest in anything the Lakers have offered. Naji Marshall is another player being linked to Los Angeles, among other playoff contenders, but Dallas has held a high asking price of a first-round pick for the 28-year-old wing. The Mavs don’t appear eager to trade Marshall over the likes of Gafford, Thompson, and others.

Other teams that have inquired about Marshall include the Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Boston Celtics. Speaking of the Celtics, league sources say Brad Stevens and his front office are under no pressure to lessen their tax bill before the trade deadline. Initially, the thought going into the season was that the Celtics would save extra money by flipping Anfernee Simons.

Well, Simons has played exceptionally well in his sixth-man role, and the Celtics’ overall success has resulted in a change of thinking regarding how well they can perform come playoff time this season. With this said, Boston is still seeing what is out there regarding Simons’ contract as it pertains to finding a key frontcourt upgrade.

Gafford, Missi, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Nic Claxton are all players the Celtics have been linked to, yet Simons would not necessarily need to be included for either Missi or Sharpe. As reported with Tomer Azarly on Jan. 21, one team offered a first-round pick and a swap for LA Clippers starting center Ivica Zubac. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype confirmed this report, stating that it was the Celtics offering said picks with Simons.

That goes to show that the Celtics would still entertain the idea of flipping Simons for an impactful big man who can improve their championship odds now and for years to come.

The last two teams we will discuss facing some small tax implications are the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets.

Paul George’s 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy certainly hurts the Sixers since he is a key weapon alongside Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, but it does present a clearer path for Philadelphia to possibly move out of the tax. As a result of George’s suspension, the 76ers receive a $5.8 million tax credit and are about $1.2 million above the tax now.

A trade involving Andre Drummond before the deadline appears likely, as the veteran center has fallen behind Adem Bona and small-ball center Dominick Barlow in the Sixers’ rotation. Drummond is making $5 million on an expiring salary and presents the clearest path to moving below the tax.

Amid Steven Adams’ season-ending injury, the Houston Rockets are a team league sources indicated have a level of interest in Drummond.

As for the Nuggets, they will be making no substantial trade deadline moves despite Peyton Watson set to become a highly coveted restricted free agent in the summer. Instead, Denver will look to move below the tax, which they are roughly $400K above right now, by making a salary dump move involving one of their recent draftees.

With Zeke Nnaji continuing to hold no market and the Nuggets not having the second-round draft assets to trade him for anything, Hunter Tyson is a name that keeps coming up when asking about Denver. In their efforts to save tax money, the Nuggets, sources said, held conversations about Tyson with the Utah Jazz.

The Nuggets have one second-round pick in 2032 at their disposal, which could be dealt with slight protections to move Tyson or another small contract and dip below the tax line this season.

The post 2026 NBA trade deadline intel: Impact of Cavs-Kings trade, how tax teams are navigating deals appeared first on ClutchPoints.

As for the Wizards, Alex Sarr is on the injury report as he’s dealing with right calf soreness, and it’s uncertain if he will be able to suit up for the matchup.

Here is the latest on these players’ injury status as they go into the matchup.

Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk’s injury status vs. Wizards

Westbrook and Monk are both listed as questionable, and it looks like their status will be up in the air until closer to gametime. Both players have done well in their roles this season, and they will be relied on even more now with the trades to Schroder and Ellis. For this game specifically, it would be nice if they were able to play due to the lack of depth, but if not, they still have players who can step up.

Alex Sarr’s injury status vs. Kings

Sarr is listed as questionable as well, and with a calf injury, the Wizards should be cautious of putting him on the court. Over the past few years, there has been a rise in calf injuries turning into something more serious, and it’s usually because players come back from the injury too quickly.

For the Wizards, they’re at the bottom of the standings, so there’s no need to risk a major injury to one of their young players, but if he feels good to go, it shouldn’t be a problem to activate him.

The post Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, Alex Sarr headline Kings-Wizards injury report appeared first on ClutchPoints.

With the Kings on the brink of a fire sale, expect another trade to happen in the coming days. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports that sweet-shooting guard Malik Monk is the next player on the trade block for Sacramento as they look to recoup draft assets for their lost season.

“As for the Kings, they are not done operating before the trade deadline either,” Siegel reports. “Sacramento has made calls about Domantas Sabonis, as well as DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk over the last few weeks. Of these three, Monk is the player the Kings have been shopping the most.”

It’s worth noting that Monk is listed as questionable for today’s game against the Washington Wizards. This could indicate that the Kings are indeed preparing to trade the guard and is protecting him from injury.

Ellis was asked a few days before being traded about the rumors. The ex-Kings guard put a positive spin on the trade rumors.

“It’s always great to be wanted because that’s not always the case,” Ellis said when asked by HoopsHype how he feels seeing his name linked with so many teams having trade interest in him. “It’s definitely good that other teams see value in you.”

At 12-38 this season, the Kings sit in last place in the Western Conference. In a year where the Western field seems incredibly competitive, Sacramento is far from even sniffing the Play-In tournament. That’s the primary reason why the team is shopping their stars to teams looking to compete in the postseason.

That being said, the Kings aren’t doing a good job of restocking their draft capital, if that even is their plan. The return for Ellis and Schroder was Hunter, a perfectly serviceable wing, but he doesn’t necessarily move the needle in either direction. It’s an underwhelming return for what was already a less-than-ideal situation for the team.

The post Kings rumors: The next player most likely to get traded after Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder head to Cavs appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Though the organization may have felt like this was a good trade for them moving forward, there are a few fans who do not feel the best about it.

“Kings fans, it’s important to know that this trade blows, and the local media who will tell you otherwise on Monday are not your friends. They don’t care about you like I do,” Greg wrote on Bluesky.

“It’s a great trade for the players who no longer have to play for this train wreck of a team though. Keon will be great in Cleveland and the kings will regret this trade in about two Seconds, another user wrote.

It also doesn’t seem like many are too fond of what Hunter can bring to the team.

“Best case scenario for Kings is that Hunter recoups some value and they can move him at next deadline,” one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Others believe that this is probably the best outcome for the Kings.

“Trade is meh but needed to happen. Perry got off a veteran contract. Probably the only one he could. Perry never should have signed Schroder. Would’ve been way better of extending Keon. Kings have screwed up with Keon this season FAR WORSE than MIKE BROWN EVER DID. Hopefully the first move of many,” Matt George of Sactown 1140 wrote on X.

In the end, it doesn’t sound like many fans have enjoyed their experience with the team this season, which is very understandable, but this trade may have been the thing that has led a few of them to crash out.

The post Kings fans have feelings after trading Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder for De’Andre Hunter appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Cavs and Kings agreed to a trade late Saturday night that would send Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis to Cleveland and De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento. The Chicago Bulls were also included in the deal, receiving Dario Saric in the process.

On the surface, the trade doesn’t appear to be a needle-mover for either side, but both teams do benefit in what the trade allows them to do.

Before getting into that, however, the Inside the NBA crew chimed in on the trade, with Charles Barkley expressing confusion at both teams for pulling off the trade.

“This trade makes zero sense for both teams,” Barkley said after the Rockets defeated the Mavericks on ESPN. “The Cavs have a legitimate chance of winning the East, and you know I’m a big Hunter fan. I have no idea what Sacramento is doing. I mean they’re getting him, but I don’t know what they’re doing. But I’m disappointed in the Cavs because I’m a big DeAndre Hunter fan.”

When asked by Kenny Smith why he wasn’t a fan of the move if he’s a fan of De’Andre Hunter, Barkley was blunt.

“[Sacramento] is not relevant!” Barkley said. “They’re not relevant. We’re not living in the future. They’re not any good. Sacramento is not good, man.”

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose second unit has somewhat struggled since the departure of Ty Jerome in free agency, the move gives the Cavs an additional ball-handler in Dennis Schroder while also allowing them to take on a solid, 3-and-D type of player in Keon Ellis.

The move makes less sense for the Sacramento Kings from a guard perspective, given that Russell Westbrook is their only real point guard now. It does, however, give the Kings a bigger body and a three-level scorer in Hunter. The trade also afford the Kings a roster spot to sign two-way player Dylan Cardwell to a standard contract before he hits his games limit.

While the move on its own doesn’t appear to be a big needle-mover, the Kings are likely to remain active on the trade market, with players like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis said to be very much available.

In 40 appearances for the Kings this season, Dennis Schroder averaged 12.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, but struggled shooting just 40.8 percent from the field.

Keon Ellis played in 43 games this season, averaging 5.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 17.6 minutes per game. Starting February 9, Ellis will be eligible to sign a three-year contract extension worth as much as $52 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

The post Charles Barkley has the perfect reaction to Keon Ellis-De’Andre Hunter Kings-Cavs trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Ellis and Schroder will add some much-needed depth to the Cavs’ backcourt, as Cleveland has relied heavily on secondary initiators with Darius Garland out with a right toe sprain. According to one source close to the team, Ellis brings stout point-of-attack defense and a shooting threat from the perimeter, while Schroder adds ball-handling and toughness to the wine-and-gold roster.

This season has been odd for Ellis, who went from being a rotational mainstay to receiving inconsistent minutes. He is averaging nearly seven fewer minutes per game than last year, ceding playing time to the younger Kings on the roster that head coach Doug Christie has an affinity for. As a result, his field goal percentage has dipped by eight points, and his 3-point percentage is down to 36.8% from 43.3% the previous season.

At 6-foot-5, 175 pounds, Ellis should make for a great option with Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson’s guard-heavy lineups. He is instinctual as heck defensively. According to Cleaning the Glass, Sacramento opponents were turning the ball over 17.1% of their possessions with the 26-year-old swingman on the floor; that mark ranks in the 92nd percentile in the NBA. Even more so, when he’s sat, the Kings’ opponents have turned it over 4.3% possessions fewer; a 99th percentile statistic.

Schroder will be suiting up for the 11th team in his career in Cleveland. The 32-year-old veteran is a steady point guard presence, with a mix of downhill attacks and pull-up chops beyond the arc. Just last week, Schroder tallied 21 points on 6-of-12 from the field with four assists against the Cavs at Rocket Arena.

Though in the midst of his 13th season in the NBA, he still has the right amount of burst to get by defenders and get to the free-throw line. He has also taken better care of the basketball in the later stages of his career. In addition, Schroder carries eight years of playoff experience to Cleveland.

The Cavs know that Hunter was better than what he showed, and unfortunately, had to part ways, but time is of the essence with February here. His inconsistencies were alarming, and with a hefty $24 million contract through 2027, this was a move that addressed more pressing needs and helped the salary book. Ellis has an expiring rookie-scale deal, and Schroder will make around $15 million annually through 2028.

On another note, this move leaves Cleveland with an overstacked guard room with Mitchell, Garland, Schroder, Ellis, Lonzo Ball, Craig Porter Jr., and Tyrese Proctor. According to the team source, the Cavs need to figure that part out next.

Cavs trade grade: B-

The post Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder trade grade for Cavs after dealing De’Andre Hunter to Kings appeared first on ClutchPoints.

This trade will also include the Chicago Bulls being a third team to facilitate the contract of Dario Saric, another player that the Kings are trading to absorb Hunter’s $23.3 million cap hit for the 2025-26 season. The Bulls will be receiving two future second-round picks as part of this trade, according to ESPN.

Chicago will be receiving a 2027 second-round pick (via Denver) from the Cavaliers and the least favorable of the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks 2029 second-round pick from the Kings, league sources said.

Upon the trade being finalized, Jevon Carter will be waived by the Bulls, as first reported by Joe Cowley of the Chicago Suns Times.

Over the course of the last 48 hours, the Cavs had been discussing multiple frameworks with the Kings and Los Angeles Lakers to trade Hunter before the Feb. 5 deadline. Cleveland had been searching for backcourt help next to All-Star Donovan Mitchell with Darius Garland continuing to deal with injuries, and the team had also been looking for a cheaper option who can be a 3-and-D contributor.

As reported Saturday afternoon on ClutchPoints, the Cavs and Kings discussed this exact scenario involving Schroder and Ellis. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype was the first to report on the two teams discussing this construct.

Although the Cavaliers had signaled that they did not want to take back long-term salary in the form of Schroder, the Kings made it clear that they would move on to other opportunities if Schroder wasn’t to be included, league sources said.

The Cavs, who had Ellis at the top of their trade list this season, decided to make this trade at the cost of Hunter and one future second-round pick to save money now and moving forward.

The Lakers, who the Cavs were also discussing Hunter trades with, had taken a step back in negotiations over concerns of the extra year on Hunter’s contract compared to that of Rui Hachimura, who will be a free agent in the summer. Sacramento was the only clear trade partner for the Cavaliers to trade Hunter since Los Angeles ended their talks.

This trade allows the Cavs to save $6.9 million in salary and $40 million in luxury taxes while also adding a young, dynamic talent on both ends of the floor in the form of Ellis. Once this trade is approved, Cleveland will remain the NBA’s only second-apron team this season.

Ellis, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer, can now agree to a three-year, $52 million contract extension with the Cavs instead of leaving for another team in free agency.

Hunter, 28, was acquired by the Cavs at the 2025 NBA trade deadline in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Cleveland traded Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three future second-round picks, and two future pick swaps to Atlanta in order to land Hunter, who was highly pursued at the trade deadline last season.

As a result of his inefficiencies on the wing this season and the Cavs’ struggles, executive Koby Altman and his front office decided to part ways with Hunter close to one year after trading for him to address their financial situation and add extra depth for a serious playoff push.

In 43 games with the Cavs this season, Hunter averaged 14.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting a disappointing 30.8 percent from 3-point range.

The post De’Andre Hunter, Keon Ellis involved in three-team trade with Cavs, Kings, Bulls appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, several teams are still attempting to make moves to improve their financial standing and add talent ahead of the playoffs. That brings us to our focal topic of the day, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, and Los Angeles Lakers all being intertwined in trade talks revolving around De’Andre Hunter and Keon Ellis.

While these may not be flashy names like Giannis, Ja Morant, and Anthony Davis, Hunter and Ellis are two key talents who have been discussed in multiple trade discussions over the last month leading up to the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

As the only second-apron team in the NBA right now, the Cavs are attempting to lessen their financial burden while also remaining in a good position to contend in the Eastern Conference.

With this season not going how they had planned to this point, Hunter’s availability, along with another veteran player being dangled on the trade market, opens the door for Cleveland to adjust their salary sheet before the trade deadline.

Cavs attempting to trade De’Andre Hunter

The Cavaliers do not necessarily want to see De’Andre Hunter walk out the door at the trade deadline, close to one year after they acquired him from the Atlanta Hawks. But the $24.9 million still owed to Hunter for the 2026-27 season is a problem for the Cavs, and there are avenues to receive the same production while lessening their payroll.

That is why Cleveland has been active in trade discussions over the last week with both the Lakers and Kings, league sources told ClutchPoints. The Cavs will only trade Hunter for cap relief and a player who can immediately fill his role on the wing. Over the last several days, sources said Lakers forward Rui Hachimura has been at the center of discussions between Cleveland and Los Angeles.

As reported by ClutchPoints on Thursday evening, the Cavaliers and Lakers have held direct talks about a trade involving Hunter. Along with Hachimura’s name being prominently featured, former first-round pick Dalton Knecht is a young talent sources say the Cavs like the idea of adding in a buy-low spot before the deadline.

These trade talks involving Hunter, Hachimura, and Knecht were also reported by Cavs reporter Chris Fedor on Friday.

The idea of including at least one other team has come up in discussions between the Cavs and Lakers, with the Brooklyn Nets being mentioned by league sources as a team willing to take on salary for draft picks. Los Angeles has expressed interest in Day’Ron Sharpe and Haywood Highsmith, yet the Nets have signaled that they do not hold interest in trading Sharpe at this moment.

Perhaps it would take extra draft capital, possibly a first-round pick, to lure Sharpe away from Brooklyn. The Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers have also inquired about Sharpe leading up to the trade deadline, sources said.

Although the Lakers certainly hold interest in the type of player Hunter is on the wing, given the organization’s clear need for a 3-and-D perimeter player next to Luka Doncic and LeBron James this season, concerns do exist in Los Angeles regarding the final year of his contract.

Even though their interest in Hunter is by no means exaggerated, the idea of flipping Hachimura and Knecht for Hunter without receiving any additional assets or draft compensation for the final year of his contract is something that has resulted in the Lakers taking a step back in discussions with the Cavs.

In addition to holding trade dialogue recently with the Lakers, Cleveland has also discussed a potential trade package involving Hunter with the Kings. Keon Ellis has been one of the Cavs’ top trade targets leading up to the deadline, as they join a group of several playoff-contending teams interested in the Kings’ swingman.

The Kings, who hold firm interest in adding Hunter as a contributor on the wing moving forward, presented the idea of trading Ellis and either Malik Monk or Dennis Schroder, league sources said. However, during discussions between Cleveland and Sacramento, it became clear that a third team must be included for such a move to happen.

Not only have the Cavs been discussing potential frameworks of trades involving Hunter, but they have also been discussing scenarios to trade Lonzo Ball, sources said. The goal in Cleveland is to shed long-term salary from their secondary players and move out of the second apron come time for the offseason.

The Cavs hold no interest in taking back any players with long-term contracts in any deal for Hunter, sources said. That is why this organization is prioritizing expiring contracts in their trade talks around the league. Should the Kings and Cavs find a third team interested in facilitating such a deal, then a trade sending Ellis to Cleveland would be likely.

At the same time, the Kings have hinted at wanting draft compensation from the Cavs, not just for trading Ellis, but also for aiding Cleveland by taking on the final year of Hunter’s contract. There are still several details to sort through if the Cavs and Kings are to make a trade revolving around Ellis and Hunter.

The potential framework of an Ellis-Hunter trade involving Dennis Schroder and Dario Saric was also reported by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Although there is still time for anything to happen before the trade deadline, such a decision to trade for Ellis and extend him in the offseason would be very telling as to what the Cavs think about the futures of Sam Merrill and Max Strus. Both players would likely come up in offseason trade discussions for the Cavaliers, especially since Strus hasn’t played to this point due to a foot injury and will be entering the final year of his contract.

Lakers pursuing Keon Ellis

At the same time as the Cavs and Kings are discussing the potential of a trade involving Ellis and Hunter, the Lakers have not backed down from their pursuit of the Kings’ swingman.

Los Angeles has long been targeting Ellis during this season’s trade cycle, and the two teams spoke this past week again regarding the possibility of a trade, sources said. But the major roadblock in talks between the Lakers and Kings, other than Sacramento appearing to want a future swap from Los Angeles for Ellis, is that Sacramento also wants to attach Ellis’ contract with one of their veteran’s long-term deals.

Like the Cavaliers, such a scenario would have to involve at least one other team, and the Lakers have struggled discussing trades with certain teams able to absorb salary at the trade deadline due to Los Angeles’ draft asset vulnerability. The Lakers have not shown any willingness to part with future draft picks unless they can pull off a move similar to what the Phoenix Suns did last year.

In a trade with the Utah Jazz, Phoenix acquired three first-round picks in 2025, 2027, and 2029 in exchange for its 2031 first-round pick. This allowed the Suns to utilize current draft picks that were locked as a result of the Stepien Rule.

Right now, the Lakers can only trade their 2031 or 2032 first-round picks, which has left them with little room to operate outside of their expiring contracts as trade assets.

Before the trade deadline, the Lakers’ priority is to add talent on the wing who can bring toughness and length on defense. Although there has been speculation about Los Angeles pursuing a center this trade cycle, those discussions will happen in the summer, when the Lakers have plenty of cap flexibility to operate.

Ellis and Hunter are both realistic options for the Lakers to add before Feb. 5, but if Rob Pelinka and his front office are unable to acquire either player, then this franchise may very well run out of options in a severely limited market for wings. Maintaining financial flexibility for the summer remains a core principle of what the Lakers are trying to achieve.

Kings discussing multiple options to sell at deadline

In addition to trade talks with the Lakers and Cavs regarding Keon Ellis, the Kings have been fielding interest from virtually every contending team in the league, sources said. As we have been reporting for weeks, the Kings are extremely likely to trade Ellis, and this is a situation that could very much go right up to the trade deadline.

Although the Kings have been signaling that they would like a first-round pick for Ellis, that is unlikely to happen. Instead, sources say multiple teams have presented deals revolving around expiring salary and multiple second-round picks.

This could very well be a scenario where the Kings need to decide between second-round picks or a player like Hunter, who they hold firm interest in from a talent perspective.

Outside of the certainty of Ellis being moved before the trade deadline, whether or not the Kings can include Monk or Schroder in said conversations is a big question mark. While both veterans can help multiple contending teams right now, Monk and Schroder are under contract through the 2027-28 season.

Whereas Monk owns a $21.5 million player option in the final year of his deal, Schroder’s contract contains a partially guaranteed clause of $4.35 million, which could make the veteran point guard slightly easier for a team to absorb.

Teams like the Nets or Washington Wizards could be enticed to acquire Monk if they are to be given draft assets as well. The Minnesota Timberwolves are a team who have spoken with the Kings about Monk in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, but no firm offers have been made on that front, sources said.

One other scenario that could see Monk or Schroder traded, outside of ongoing discussions with Cleveland and Los Angeles for Ellis, involves All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis being moved.

A few teams have a level of interest in Sabonis, but none more than the Toronto Raptors, who have been labeled as one of the most aggressive teams in trade conversations around the league this season. Much like they did a season ago before acquiring Brandon Ingram, the Raptors, as previously reported, have signaled that they are exploring the market for star-level talent.

Sabonis has been linked to the Raptors since December, and the main reason for this is because of ongoing concerns surrounding Jakob Poeltl’s back injury in Toronto. As the weeks have gone by, sources say the Raptors have brought up their willingness to part with RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley in talks with the Kings and other organizations as well.

Even though Sabonis continues to be connected to the Raptors, there has been internal pushback to such a move. Head coach Darko Rajakovic and many of the players, including projected All-Star Scottie Barnes, have signaled that they would like to see this group stay together and compete in a wide-open Eastern Conference playoff picture, sources said.

That is why the Raptors, amid interest in Sabonis, have also been seeking smaller moves involving Ochai Agbaji’s expiring contract to try to add depth while also moving below the luxury tax. League sources have indicated that New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi and Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze are two primary trade targets for Toronto outside of Sabonis.

Assuming the Raptors don’t make a trade for the Kings’ star big man, Sacramento will move forward with him on its roster through the end of the 2025-26 season. Whether the Kings would look to trade Sabonis in the summer is a question that will come up in discussions around the league after the trade deadline, that is, if he remains in Sacramento.

One other key name the Kings, who are operating as the biggest sellers at this trade deadline, haven’t been able to generate much of a market for is 36-year-old DeMar DeRozan. While the Kings held discussions earlier this season with the LA Clippers about a package involving Ellis and DeRozan, nothing ever came of such a scenario in Los Angeles. It is unlikely that the Clippers will revisit those talks, which the Kings were very much open to.

There were some talks weeks ago about the Kings approaching the Portland Trail Blazers about a possible Jrue Holiday for DeRozan type of swap, but nothing ever formed there either. Holiday is certainly a name to watch before this trade deadline, as the Blazers have been fielding interest for the veteran guard from several teams over the last few weeks and have been open to the idea of trading him.

The Kings, who are expected to trade Ellis over the next several days, are open for business before the trade deadline.

The post Kings, Lakers linked to Cavs’ latest De’Andre Hunter trade intel before deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Because of his uncommon beginnings and funky appearance, which Scheierman says isn’t helped by his unique haircut, the 25-year-old is often underestimated. And whenever he rises up for a shot in front of an opposing bench, those seated players usually heckle him.

So, when a few people on the Sacramento Kings bench tried to throw Scheierman off his game on Friday night while he attempted a wide-open triple, he was unfazed. The 2024 first-round pick proceeded to drain the 3-pointer and then looked back at the opposing bench with confidence.

“I’m a 6’7” white guy with shaggy hair and some tattoos,” Scheierman said in the locker room after the 112-93 home win. “So they like to attack me when I’m out there. I’ll give it right back to them.”

Baylor Scheierman on what the opposing bench says to him:

“I’m a 6-foot-7 white guy with shaggy hair and some tattoos. So they like to attack me when I'm out there. I'll give it right back to them.”

“It’s the best feeling,” he says of hitting a 3 in front of the opposing bench. pic.twitter.com/aPdF5Y7ePC

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) January 31, 2026

This isn’t a new experience for Scheierman, who’s relished his opponents’ jeers since his rookie year (and likely long before that in his basketball career).

“It’s the best feeling, no question,” he replied when asked if it’s more satisfying to hit a 3-pointer in front of the other team’s bench.

Barely got the end of it but Baylor Scheierman just blew a kiss to the Sixers bench after that 3 pic.twitter.com/ZU0V8GCLnw

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) March 7, 2025

How Baylor Scheierman has grown for the Celtics

During the 19-point victory over the lowly Kings, Scheierman posted 16 points — one shy of a season-high — and five rebounds in almost 31 minutes of play. And while his 3-point shooting gets the most attention, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla remembers the one steal Scheierman had and how its indicative of his defensive growth.

“He’s developed into a utility guy for us defensively, where he can defend different matchups,” Mazzulla praised in his postgame presser. “He draws some legal screens for us, but he can make defensive plays. He knows how to play versus cross-matches at the other end, and he’s been making some shots and offensive rebounds. So, I’m pleased with where he’s grown defensively for us.”

Since Celtics star Jaylen Brown rested against the Kings, Scheierman got the starting nod. The Celtics are now 3-1 when the NBA sophomore is in the starting lineup, and it’s clear that Mazzulla and the rest of the C’s know they can rely on him more than ever.

“I think I’ve tried to make the most of every opportunity that I’ve gotten, and with that comes more trust,” Scheierman stated. “I’m just out there trying to impact the game in whatever way necessary.”

Almost 50 games into the 2025-26 regular season, Scheierman is shooting a career-high 45.9% from the floor and an impressive 41.5% from deep. He’s also seen an uptick in minutes, which could continue on Sunday afternoon when the 30-18 Celtics host the struggling Milwaukee Bucks.

If Brown sits again, perhaps Scheierman will make the seventh start of his young NBA career. But no matter when he gets in, expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder and the swagger of someone who knows what they’re capable of, even if opposing players and fans aren’t familiar:

This cannot be a NBA player man pic.twitter.com/5Rbyn4Q4JS

— Aadan (@JMurrayWrld) January 8, 2026

The post Celtics’ Baylor Scheierman reveals why he always draws ire of opposing benches after win over Kings appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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Jaylen Brown injury status vs. Kings

Jaylen Brown is doubtful on the injury report. He will most likely sit out of Friday’s matchup against the Kings. Neemias Queta is listed as probable. Fans can expect to see him in uniform for the Celtics’ game on the road. 

Brown is considered to be an MVP candidate for the Celtics this season, averaging a career-high 29.4 points on 48.3% shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. Brown scored 21 points against the Atlanta Hawks, which came in a 117-106 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Both matchups were at home at TD Garden as the start to a four-game home stand that continues against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, and the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. 

While the Celtics have dropped three of their last six games, including two by four or less points, they’re now tied with the New York Knicks for the second-best record (29-18) in the Eastern Conference. Plus, the Toronto Raptors aren’t far behind, trailing in third by 1.0 game.

However, when it comes to the question of if Jaylen Brown is playing tonight vs. the Kings, the answer is most likely no.

Celtics injury report

Jaylen Brown — Doubtful — Left hamstring; tightness and right knee contusion

Neemias Queta — Probable — Illness

Jayson Tatum — Out — Right Achilles repair

The post Is Jaylen Brown playing tonight? Latest Kings vs. Celtics injury report appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“I think we’re pretty lucky, to be honest with you, that we got out of there with a W,” Nurse told reporters after the game. “Not very good on the glass, not very good in transition, not very good on defense… We’re pretty fortunate to get out of there with a win tonight.”

He isn’t exaggerating. On paper, this should have been a blowout. The Kings entered the Wells Fargo Center on a six-game losing streak and were massive 11.5-point underdogs. Instead, Philadelphia found itself in a dogfight, trailing late in the fourth quarter before their stars finally dragged them across the finish line.

The game-saver was, unsurprisingly, Tyrese Maxey. The All-Star point guard was surgical, exploding for 40 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including the game-winning bucket with just 1.3 seconds remaining. He wasn’t alone in the heavy lifting; Joel Embiid turned in a monster performance of his own, tallying 37 points and 8 assists.

Together, the duo scored a staggering 77 of the team’s 113 points. However, that top-heavy production masked some ugly team stats. The Sixers were demolished on the boards, losing the rebounding battle 46-24. Sacramento, led by 27 points from Dennis Schröder and 25 from DeMar DeRozan, repeatedly hurt Philly in transition and on second-chance opportunities.

While the Sixers moved to 25-21 and secured their second straight home win, the lack of support for the “Big Two” and the defensive lapses clearly have Nurse on edge. Survival is fine for a Tuesday night in January, but if the Sixers want to be more than just “lucky” come April, they’ll need to find some help for their superstars.

The post 76ers’ Nick Nurse gets brutally honest about close win vs. Kings appeared first on ClutchPoints.

For DeRozan, he’s prepared for whatever the future holds, as he addressed the Kings trade rumors, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

“It is what it is,” DeRozan said, “For me, I’ve been in the league, and you hear everything. At the end of the day, you’ve got to be a professional and still go out there and compete and play the game. You can’t get caught up in all that other stuff. Whatever happens, happens. At the end of the day, we’ve still got a job and an obligation to do.”

As for Ellis, he looks forward to the team that does see him as a part of its future, rather than stick with one that sees him only as an asset.

“It’s always great to be wanted because that’s not always the case,” Ellis said when asked by HoopsHype how he feels seeing his name linked with so many teams having trade interest in him. “It’s definitely good that other teams see value in you.”

DeMar DeRozan is averaging 19.1 points on 50.5% shooting, 3.9 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals for the Kings this season.

14 teams have called the Kings about one player

When a report reveals that 14 teams have called the Kings about a trade, a move at the deadline feels inevitable. The phone has been ringing nonstop from teams calling about Kings guard Keon Ellis.

Ellis is considered to be the player most likely to be traded before February 5, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

“An estimated 14 teams have registered varying degrees of trade interest in Sacramento’s Keon Ellis,” Stein wrote. “The most likely player to be traded between now and the Feb. 5 deadline, Sacramento’s Keon Ellis, is a strong contender. League sources say numerous teams are in pursuit of Ellis, with the Kings believed to seeking a first-round pick given the widespread interest. One source close to the process essentially describes an Ellis trade as an inevitability.”

At this point it’s just a matter of which offer for Ellis suits the Kings best for their future. Ellis is averaging 5.4 points, and 1.1 steals per game for the Kings this season.

The post DeMar DeRozan, Keon Ellis sound off on trade rumors as Kings shops package deal appeared first on ClutchPoints.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, there have been approximately 14 teams that have shown interest in Sacramento guard Keon Ellis.

“An estimated 14 teams have registered varying degrees of trade interest in Sacramento’s Keon Ellis,” Stein wrote.

As mentioned, the interest that the NBA has in Ellis has been well-documented, though it appears that the list of teams grows by the day. Stein would even report last Sunday that Ellis is “the most likely player” to be dealt with a first-round pick in mind as return for the team.

“The most likely player to be traded between now and the Feb. 5 deadline, Sacramento’s Keon Ellis, is a strong contender. League sources say numerous teams are in pursuit of Ellis, with the Kings believed to seeking a first-round pick given the widespread interest. One source close to the process essentially describes an Ellis trade as an inevitability,” Stein wrote.

Interest around the NBA on Kings’ Keon Ellis is high

As the rumors around the Kings will continue until the trade deadline, especially regarding Ellis, one of the first on the story has been ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel, saying on Clutch Scoops that he ‘fully expects’ the 26-year-old to be traded.

“Keon Ellis, he’s a guy that I fully expect to be on the move before the trade deadline, but again, multiple teams interested in him. And so if you’re the Lakers, you’re going to have to give up something of value to really draw Sacramento’s attention,” Siegel said on the Jan. 23 edition of Clutch Scoops.

While the averages don’t pop out as he’s recording 5.4 points while shooting 38.9 percent from the field and 36 percent from deep, his ability as a “three-and-d” player is coveted around the league, as shown by the interest. It remains to be seen which team wins the Ellis sweepstakes.

The post NBA rumors: 14 teams have called Kings about trade for this player appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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Zach LaVine, Malik Monk playing status vs. Knicks

The Kings will be without two of their top four guards on Tuesday night with Zach LaVine and Malik Monk both now listed as out on the injury report. LaVine will miss his second consecutive game due to back soreness, while Monk is a new addition with an ankle injury. Monk suffered the injury on Sunday, which required a trip to the locker room just before halftime, but he returned in the second half.

LaVine has already missed 13 games this season, but his absence on Sunday marked his first missed game since Jan. 2. He was also listed as questionable for Sacramento’s recent outing against the Detroit Pistons before being downgraded to out.

Monk has missed eight games in his fourth season with the Kings, including a three-game hiatus at the beginning of January. The dynamic sixth man is currently on one of his best stretches of the season and is coming off a 19-point performance against the Pistons in just 22 minutes.

Both players sitting out on Tuesday will open up more minutes for rookie Nique Clifford — who started on Sunday in LaVine’s absence — Keon Ellis and Devin Carter. Russell Westbrook, who has led the team in scoring in three of its last six games, will also be in line for increased offensive responsibility.

Sacramento is just 12-35 on the season and will be shorthanded against a New York team looking to make it three wins in a row.

Kings injury report

Zach LaVine — OUT, lower back soreness

Malik Monk — OUT, right ankle soreness

Keegan Murray — OUT, left ankle sprain

Daeqwon Plowden — OUT, G League

Isaiah Stevens — OUT, G League

Knicks injury report

Trey Jemison III — OUT, G League

Dillon Jones — OUT, G League

Kevin McCullar Jr. — OUT, G League

The post Kings’ Zach LaVine, Malik Monk ruled out on injury report vs. Knicks appeared first on ClutchPoints.

It has been apparent from the start of the season that the Kings’ roster consists of a mishmash of talent who don’t fit too well alongside each other, and it looks like the front office is going to rectify that by being active on the trade market. However, only one player is sure to be traded away, if this latest report from NBA insider Marc Stein is to be believed.

“The most likely player to be traded between now and the Feb. 5 deadline Sacramento’s Keon Ellis is a strong contender. League sources say numerous teams are in pursuit of Ellis, with the Kings believed to seeking a first-round pick given the widespread interest. One source close to the process essentially describes an Ellis trade as an inevitability,” Stein wrote.

Kings to trade away promising young defender in Keon Ellis

Ellis is beloved by advanced stats, as he is a deflection magnet, a steals maestro, and a knockdown shooter when open. But the Kings have not seen him too favorably, especially under head coach Doug Christie’s watch. Ellis, when healthy, barely gets any minutes when the team’s veterans are also up and running.

The Kings may desire a first-round pick in return for Ellis, but he’s about to enter free agency in a few months, and it’s not likely for other teams to acquiesce to their asking price considering that he doesn’t even log heavy minutes for a 12-35 team.

The post Kings rumors: The trade that’s an ‘inevitability’ appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Keon Ellis' reaction to being pushed by Ron Holland.

(h/t @Pistons__Talk)

pic.twitter.com/G4EEAHUa59

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 25, 2026

Flop of the year is not an actual award in the NBA, but if it was, Keon Ellis might have case for his flail during the Kings’ game against the Pistons. Holland clearly shoved Ellis, but it didn’t quite look like enough for that kind of a reaction. The incident occurred as Holland was guarding Ellis about midway through the fourth quarter. Ellis reached into swipe the ball free, and the duo got tangled up near the sideline.

The Kings were trailing by double digits at that point, and the Pistons would go on to win, 139-116. It was the fifth straight loss for the Kings, and they fell to 12-35 on the season. They are currently in 14th place in the Western Conference standings.

Even so, Ellis has been a sought-after player on the trade market by rival teams. The Kings reportedly have made Ellis available ahead of the NBA trade deadline. He is the epitome of a 3&D player who can help multiple contenders as they gear up for the playoffs.

Ellis has appeared in 39 games this season, including five starts, at a little over 17 minutes per game. He’s been averaging 5.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals with splits of 38.4 percent shooting from the field, 35.7 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 63.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The post Keon Ellis has flop of the year candidate amid heated moment vs. Pistons appeared first on ClutchPoints.

As for the Kings, they took a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in their last game, and they’re fighting to climb up in the standings after a rough start to the season.

Coming into this game, both teams have some key players on the injury report, as Cade Cunningham is listed because of right wrist injury management, and Zach LaVine has low back soreness.

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Cade Cunningham’s injury status vs. Kings

Cunningham is listed as probable against the Kings, and it looks like he will more likely than not suit up. He didn’t have the best game against the Rockets, and it’s uncertain if it was his wrist that was bothering him, but it doesn’t seem to be serious. Cunningham is once again having a strong season and was named an East All-Star for the second-straight year.

He’s been a key to their success, and he should continue to be as their season continues.

Zach LaVine’s injury status vs. Pistons 

LaVine is listed as questionable, and his status may be up in the air. It’s been an up-and-down season for LaVine, and mostly on the defensive side of the ball. Earlier in the week, head coach Doug Christie limited his minutes in the second half because of his lack of defense, and fans have even ridiculed him because of his effort on that side of the ball.

The post Cade Cunningham, Zach LaVine both on injury report as Pistons host Kings appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Either way, Sabonis is expected to be moved ahead of the trade deadline, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.

“Domantas Sabonis is still worth monitoring in the weeks ahead,” Amick reported. “When Toronto rolled through town on Wednesday, it wasn’t all that hard to imagine him putting on a Raptors jersey sometime soon. While Washington, Phoenix, and Chicago are known to have had some interest in Sabonis, league sources confirmed reports that Toronto is a legitimate possibility as we approach the deadline.”

While the Raptors appear to be the odds-on favorite to trade for Sabonis ahead of next month’s trade deadline, the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, and Washington Wizards are reportedly hoping to strike a deal as well.

While bigs across the NBA have been thrown into trade rumors, the Raptors are reportedly keeping their options open outside of Sabonis, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

“Although it is known that Toronto would like to move below the tax line this season, this team is also continuing to see what big moves could potentially be available to them, including stars like Anthony Davis and Domantas Sabonis at the top of the list,” Siegel reported. “Sabonis is a very interesting name that keeps being connected to Toronto, with league personnel continuing to question any new information about the Raptors and Sabonis.

“It seems like so many conversations since the new year have branched off to Toronto and Sabonis, which can’t be a coincidence. Even so, talk of Sabonis in Sacramento remains quiet, with him continuing to try and work his way back from a partial meniscus tear in his left knee.”

Domantas Sabonis remains the Raptors’ trade target

Three weeks ahead of the trade deadline, the Raptors have the Kings’ Domantas Sabonis as the top of their target list, according to The Stein Line’s Jake Fisher.

“Sources say that Raptors personnel are also messaging that Toronto isn’t actively pursuing Memphis’ Ja Morant, either, even though the Grizzlies continue to welcome inquiries for Morant,” Fischer reported. “But I have been told by various NBA figures that the Raptors are still intrigued by the prospect of pursuing Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis.”

The NBA trade deadline is February 5.

The post NBA rumors: Kings’ Domantas Sabonis drawing trade interest outside of Raptors appeared first on ClutchPoints.

According to ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel, Sacramento guard Keon Ellis is the one player that he ‘fully expects’ to be dealt as there are teams that have interest in the 26-year-old. The one team that Siegel mentions as potentially having that interest is the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Keon Ellis, he’s a guy that I fully expect to be on the move before the trade deadline, but again, multiple teams interested in him. And so if you’re the Lakers, you’re going to have to give up something of value to really draw Sacramento’s attention,” Siegel said on Thursday’s edition of Clutch Scoops.

Siegel has talked about the interest Ellis has had before, saying to The Drive Guys how a lot of the league has interest, specifically, “over half the league has talked to Sacramento with interest in Keon Ellis,” as he said on Thursday.

Interest in Kings’ Keon Ellis remains high

While the Kings’ trade talks will come to light, the reports on Ellis would be backed up by Sam Amick of The Athletic in his latest column about news heading into the deadline. Though Ellis’ numbers aren’t eye-opening, averaging 5.3 points, his three-point shooting, mixed with his defensive ability, is coveted, and the return seems to be a first-round pick, as Amick points out.

“League and team sources say the Kings continue to draw serious interest in veteran guard Keon Ellis, with approximately 10 teams in pursuit of the 26-year-old. A deal is almost certain to go down before the Feb. 5 deadline, if not much sooner,” Amick wrote on Friday.

“The strangest part of it all? Despite Ellis’ three-and-D skillset being so coveted, Kings coach Doug Christie opted against playing Ellis in the past two games. The Kings are seeking a late first-round pick in the deal, those sources said,” Amick continued.

At any rate, it remains to be seen if, and seemingly when, Ellis gets traded from Sacramento.

The post NBA rumors: The Kings player most likely to be traded before deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints.

One player who was mentioned over time for the Warriors has been DeMar DeRozan, a veteran who can still get a bucket wherever he wants. Though it sounds like a good idea, it’s probably not the kind of value they’re looking for, according to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points.

“But the big question there is, ‘Is that really the type of value and the type of demand that if you’re Mike Dunleavy Jr. that you’re looking for in a Jonathan Kuminga trade?’ And I think that their aspirations are much higher than that. And I believe that over the next 14 days, we’re going to see the Warriors be very aggressive to try to go out and get a player that they have been targeting for quite some time,” Siegel said on Sactown Sports 1140.

It doesn’t sound as if the Warriors have shown any interest in DeRozan and are looking for someone who can contribute now and in the future, like Trey Murphy III, according to The Athletic.

“As has been widely reported, Golden State’s strong interest in New Orleans’ Trey Murphy III most certainly remains,” The Athletic wrote. “It’s just a matter of whether New Orleans will change its current stance and do a deal on that front. (The same applies to the Pelicans’ Herb Jones.)”

Dunleavy seems like he’s trying to make sure that if he makes a deal, it’s something that just doesn’t help this season, which is understandable. Murphy is a young player with a skillset that would fit in with the Warriors and how they play, but the only problem is how much it would cost to get him.

The post NBA rumors: Insiders throw cold water on DeMar DeRozan to Warriors trade scenario appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Adebayo then stepped in and put on his enforcer cap, pushing DeRozan away and confronting him for his treatment of Larsson. In the Kings star’s defense, his frustrations towards what he perceived as flopping from the Heat guard got the best of him. Even then, Adebayo did not take too kindly to the words DeRozan hurled towards his teammate, and as a result, the exchange between the two escalated.

“Don’t do that,” DeRozan implored.

“That’s my guy. God d**n DeMar,” Adebayo said.

However, the extracurriculars between the Heat and Kings did not stop there. With the game out of the latter’s reach towards the end of the fourth, DeRozan decided to leave something on Larsson, smacking him across the head. The Heat guard now confronted DeRozan himself, telling him that what he did was not a basketball play. The Kings star then tried to goad Larsson into a retaliatory blow by asking him to “do something about it”.

(Video review courtesy of LegendZ on X.)

What DeMar Derozan Really Said To Bam Adebayo:

Derozan: “Don’t do that!”

Bam: “Shut your a** up… what are we doing?”

Later in the game, DeMar fouled Pelle Larsson again and things escalated:

DeMar: “Do something, b*tch a** n****”

Pelle: “That’s not a basketball play” pic.twitter.com/t9BnmZ3g9c

— LegendZ (@legendz_prod) January 22, 2026

The Kings’ poor season seems to be getting to DeRozan, who is stuck in this helpless scenario in what might be the league’s worst-run franchise.

Heat keep plucking contributors out of thin air

What’s given the Heat a lifeline over the past decade or so is the fact that they’ve brought out the best in unheralded players like Larsson. Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, and Caleb Martin, just to name a few, feasted when they were on the Heat and cashed in when they hit free agency.

Larsson is the latest success story for the Heat. The 44th overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft has emerged as a key rotation piece for Miami this year — a huge win.

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The Raptors are reportedly still in pursuit to make a trade for Sabonis, according to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer.

“Sources say that Raptors personnel are also messaging that Toronto isn’t actively pursuing Memphis’ Ja Morant, either, even though the Grizzlies continue to welcome inquiries for Morant,” Fischer reported. “But I have been told by various NBA figures that the Raptors are still intrigued by the prospect of pursuing Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis.”

Toronto is expected to be relentless at the trade deadline, and will reportedly settle for alternative bigs such as Sabonis.

Alternative options for Raptors at the trade deadline

While trade rumors have connected them to Domantas Sabonis, the Raptors could settle for Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

“Eastern Conference rival front-office personnel continue to point to the Toronto Raptors as a team ready to strike. Domantas Sabonis and Anthony Davis have both been big names linked to Toronto, yet the Raptors are still lurking and seeing what aggressive moves will present themselvesbefore the trade deadline,” Siegel reported.

The Raptors are another team that has spoken with the Pelicans regarding Trey Murphy III and other players on their roster, so don’t count out this organization finding a big upgrade this season. But no matter what, the Raptors seem set on dipping below the tax and adding another frontcourt talent amid Jakob Poeltl’s lingering back problems.”

The NBA trade deadline is February 5.

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Cardwell finished the loss with two points, 13 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and one steal in 25 minutes. While the Kings again came up short, the 24-year-old’s impact on the defensive end and on the glass continued to stand out for a team searching for stability during a disappointing season.

In his remarks, Cardwell framed his NBA journey through faith and gratitude, emphasizing that his presence in the league defied expectations based on his college production.

“Like I said, it’s all glory to God. Outside of the will of God, I would not be here in the NBA,” Cardwell said. “Like I said, you look on the stat sheet, I didn’t wow people in college. I averaged 5 points per game, I rebounded the ball five times per game, I averaged like 1.6 blocks per game. No one thought I was an NBA player and I’m not supposed to be here but God. So, everytime I get on that court it’s just an opportunity to showcase my God-given abilities and have fun with it and continue to get joy because at the end of the day I’m living my childhood dream.”

Cardwell also reflected on the origins of that dream, pointing back to moments from his childhood that fueled his belief long before he reached the professional level.

“This is something I prayed about since I was five, six years old,” Cardwell said. “I remember watching LeBron James and the Miami Heat and the 2011-12 NBA Finals and telling my mom that I want to be there. I want to be in the NBA, and just to pray about that every single day and to get that is just a dream come true.”

I’m starting to like Dylan Cardwell. Please give this a listen!

“In college I averaged 5 points per game, I rebounded the ball five times per game, I averaged like 1.6 blocks per game. No one thought I was an NBA player. I’m not supposed to be here. I’m living my childhood… pic.twitter.com/Tmj0T7KFzr

— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) January 22, 2026

Dylan Cardwell credits joy and locker room support amid tough Kings season

Cardwell added that the sense of joy has not faded despite the realities of a losing season, crediting both perspective and camaraderie.

“And I don’t think I’ll ever take it for granted,” he said. “I put this jersey on every single day and I have a blast doing it because this is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid.”

Beyond personal fulfillment, Cardwell highlighted the culture inside Sacramento’s locker room, pushing back against common perceptions of the league as purely transactional.

“Coming into this process, you hear a lot about how the NBA is just business,” Cardwell said. “We might not be having a great season, but this is the best locker room I’ve really been a part of outside of my last year at Auburn.”

He specifically pointed to veteran support from players such as Russell Westbrook and Drew Eubanks, noting their willingness to mentor younger teammates regardless of roles or minutes.

Through 18 games, including one start, Cardwell is averaging 4.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.1 assists while shooting 53.8% from the field in 18.9 minutes per game.

The Kings, now 12-33, will look to regroup as they begin a six-game East Coast road trip Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers (25-20). Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

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The Kings, who were on a four-game winning streak entering the game, had a strong start, taking a nine-point lead at halftime, 61-52. They, however, failed to sustain it, as the Raptors slowly cut the deficit to complete the come-from-behind victory.

For what it’s worth, the Kings had the highlight of the evening courtesy of Malik Monk. After forcing a turnover in the second quarter, Monk got the ball on the break. He almost stumbled in evading Jamal Shead with a behind-the-back dribble. But he gathered himself quickly before going up for the dunk.

Malik Monk had Jamal Shead on the FLOOR before throwing it down in transition

pic.twitter.com/uFnWkKtcFx

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 22, 2026

The athletic guard had the whole venue rocking after his nifty move.

Monk finished with 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting, four rebounds, and three assists in 25 minutes off the bench. He has regained his spot in the rotation after a stretch of DNPs in the past few weeks.

Russell Westbrook had 23 points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals to pace the Kings, while Zach LaVine chipped in 19 points and five assists.

The Kings, who are groping for form amid a woeful season, fell to 12-33, including 9-16 at home.

Monk continues to be included in trade rumors, with the Kings looking to fix their logjam in the backcourt. DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Keon Ellis are also reportedly being shopped around by Sacramento.

Multiple teams could be interested in Monk, as he could provide instant scoring off the bench, a valuable asset during the playoffs.

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Russell Westbrook, who was signed shortly before the season began, has been a rare bright spot for the Kings this year. In fact, StatMuse recently pointed out on X, formerly Twitter, that Westbrook is the only player in the NBA this season with at least 650 points, 250 assists, 250 rebounds, and 60 steals, more than proving that he is still a capable NBA player, despite the fact that teams weren’t lining up to sign him this past offseason.

However, this is precisely the problem for Sacramento, in that they are relying way too heavily on players like Westbrook and other veterans, as opposed to stockpiling any kind of young talent to give them something to build with moving forward.

Currently, Westbrook is first in three-pointers, assists, and rebounds on the Kings, and second in steals in points. While it’s a great story for Westbrook, who is proving many of his doubters wrong, it also goes to show how shortsighted the Kings’ front office has been in terms of roster building in the three years since their surprise playoff appearance back in the 2023 campaign.

Sacramento has virtually nothing in the way of young talent on its roster, with Keon Ellis and Keegan Murray being two of the only somewhat viable rotation players age 25 or younger on the team. Instead, the team has been relying heavily on players like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Westbrook to do the heavy lifting, which is not a recipe for long-term success.

In any case, perhaps Westbrook’s uptick in production this year will convince a contender to take a swing on him at the upcoming trade deadline, which is set for February 5.

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That meant that some of his key players would have their minutes cut, and Zach LaVine was affected by that move. LaVine only played close to seven minutes in the second half, and after the game, Christie shared his thoughts about making that decision.

“We’re trying to find a rhythm and find a group that is stopping people at the same time… we didn’t have a problem scoring tonight… we need to stop somebody,” Christie said via Brenden Nunes Sactown1140.

Christie did mention that LaVine shot the ball well, but at the end of the day, the Kings needed to show up on defense if they wanted to win that game, and if they wanted to win any remaining game.

This is not the first time this season that LaVine has been called out for his defense, and it didn’t come from anybody on the team. Earlier in the year, he and a fan went back and forth during a timeout after he was being ridiculed for his lack of defense. After the game, LaVine looked completely out of it, but he did speak about the moment with the fan.

“You guys can say all you want to about effort. We play as hard as we can. We’re in here exhausted, so I don’t know,” LaVine said.

It seems as if Christie is not afraid of pulling his players if they’re not playing defense, no matter how well they’re performing on offense. The hope is that those decisions can result in more wins for them.

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Six different Heat players scored in double figures, and the Kings struggled to keep up with the opposition. This was nothing new for them anyway considering that they own the fourth-worst defense in the association.

One would think that Kings head coach Doug Christie, who made a living as a defensive pest and one of the early 3-and-D players when he was still playing in the NBA, would be more tactically sound on that end of the floor. At the very least, he understands how things went wrong for Sacramento on Tuesday night.

“It looked like the inability to keep people in front caused help, kick outs… guys were breaking us down off the dribble, getting inside,” Christie said after the game, per Brenden Nunes of Sactown Sports 1140. “We need to contest at a higher level… we just weren’t as physical.”

Time is ticking on this Kings roster with a few weeks left before trade deadline

This Kings roster does not make sense and should have been blown apart months ago. This team is going nowhere fast with pieces that don’t fit alongside each other, and Sacramento has to hold a fire sale sooner or later, with their 12-32 record being telling of the quality of their roster.

Sacramento has scored a few big wins in recent days, but that should not be nearly enough for them to change course.

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At 25-19, the Warriors sit behind the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns in the Pacific Division. Butler’s injury threatens to derail a season that had finally stabilized after months of inconsistency. According to Shams, teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Kings are monitoring Kuminga. That could open the door to a multi-team construction, potentially landing DeRozan in the Bay Area.

SportsCenter AM on the Golden State Warriors' crushing blow, a season-ending torn ACL for Jimmy Butler: pic.twitter.com/ZwVBCQsmuJ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 20, 2026

Before his injury in January, Butler was delivering exactly what Golden State envisioned. In 38 games, he averaged 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while shooting a career-best 51.9% from the field and 37.6% from three. His downhill pressure and wing defense anchored a top-five unit. They also fueled a 9-3 stretch that pushed the Warriors firmly into the playoff mix.

DeRozan, meanwhile, remains one of the league’s most reliable offensive engines with the Kings. The 36-year-old is averaging 19.0 points and 4.0 assists on 50.8% field goal shooting. He thrives in isolation and late-clock situations. Sure, he cannot replicate Butler’s defense or spacing. However, his ability to create offense on demand could keep Golden State’s title hopes alive. That’s especially true as the clock continues to tick on Stephen Curry’s prime.

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Take Trae Young, for example. The point guard was already dealt to the Washington Wizards, even though deadline day is still weeks away. Many of the other big-name players on the trading block will be moved before February 5 at 3 p.m. ET, too.

These days, the biggest question surrounding the best trade candidates is not whether they will or won’t be traded, but where they will be traded to. The hope is to answer that question below. Here are the best landing spots for the best NBA trade candidates who already have one foot out the door.

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

Best landing spot: Miami Heat

Ja Morant’s days with the Memphis Grizzlies are numbered, and a trade is likely right around the corner. Memphis has been growing tired of the point guard’s antics for years now. He has been suspended on multiple occasions, and the last straw may have been his recent argument with Vince Williams, in which he clearly stated his displeasure with the Grizzlies.

The Miami Heat seem like a logical home for Morant to turn his career back around. Not long ago, Morant was a two-time All-Star who was viewed as one of the future faces of the league. He was regularly leading the Grizzlies to high seeds in the Western Conference because of his incredible aerial ability. It is obvious that Morant is still a superstar talent, even if he is having a down year and has disappointed in recent seasons.

Perhaps the Heat culture can shape him up and allow him to reach the potential he showed earlier in his career. The Heat have desired another star since Jimmy Butler requested a trade out of town. Point guard happens to be Miami’s biggest need, too. With Terry Rozier on indefinite leave, Davion Mitchell has taken on most of the point guard minutes. Mitchell is a pesky defender, but the Heat need more creation ability from their lead guard. The one thing preventing a Morant-to-Miami deal is the Heat’s hesitancy to ruin a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

Best landing spot: Sacramento Kings

Jonathan Kuminga officially requested a trade on the first day he became trade-eligible on January 15. That doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as he has had a rocky relationship with the Golden State Warriors for quite some time now. Kuminga didn’t return to the Warriors until late in the offseason.

When he was searching for new homes in free agency, the G-League Ignite product was commonly linked to the Sacramento Kings. Sacramento still seems like the best fit for Kuminga. With the team poised to rebuild and trade veteran players such as Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan, adding a young and athletic building block for the future would make sense.

Kuminga still has the talent to give so much more than he was ever able to show with the Warriors. If he were traded to the Kings, and if the team did blow the rest of the roster up, he’d have a chance to prove himself as a featured player.

Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets

Best landing spot: Detroit Pistons

Opinions are mixed on whether the Brooklyn Nets should or shouldn’t trade Michael Porter Jr. The team added him and a future first-round pick in a trade with the Denver Nuggets in the offseason. In his first year with the Nets, Porter has been given a bigger role than he ever had in Denver.

The sharpshooter from Missouri has capitalized by becoming a 25.8 points per game scorer, proving that he can be a legitimate first or second scoring option. Despite this star leap, reports suggest the Nets may still flip him for even more draft capital. After all, they are rebuilding and a ways away from contention. The Nets are playing five rookie first-round picks this year.

While Porter could fit the Nets timeline, the concern here isn’t whether they should keep him or trade him away. If Porter is put on the trading block, a destination that makes sense is the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons have surprised many to become the top team in the Eastern Conference. In this season in which the conference is wide open, due to injuries to Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum, the Pistons should be going all in and making buyers moves.

Arguably their biggest weakness is their 3-point shooting. Porter has proven he is much more than just the catch-and-shoot option he was in Denver, but there is no denying that he is one of the best long-range experts in basketball. He’d help the Pistons spacing out big time, and he could be a legitimate co-star alongside Cade Cunningham on this Pistons team trying to contend for the NBA Finals.

Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks

Best landing spot: Atlanta Hawks

It was less than a year ago when Anthony Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in the Luka Doncic trade. That deal was shocking at the time, and it has proven to be a massive mistake since. Davis just can’t shake the injury bug, and he recently suffered a hand injury that will hold him out for some time.

Davis’ regular season isn’t over, like originally reported, so the odds of him getting dealt seem greater now. The Mavericks are ready to move on from their trade mistake and move forward with Cooper Flagg leading the team. One team that makes sense for Davis’ services is the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks already made the biggest trade of the season when they sent Young to the Wizards. Atlanta didn’t get much of a return in that deal, but they could make up for it by buying low on Davis. Davis’ massive contract and injury history mean it likely won’t cost much to acquire him. At full health, he is still one of the best players in the NBA. Davis could do everything Kristaps Porzingis was acquired to do, but better. Porzingis has also struggled to stay on the court.

Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

Best landing spot: Chicago Bulls

The New Orleans Pelicans drafted Zion Williamson first overall in 2019. He was one of the most highly touted prospects of all time, but his NBA career has largely been a disappointment because the former National College Player of the Year just can’t stay healthy.

At some point, the Pelicans are going to cut their losses and go in another direction. If that happens ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline, the Chicago Bulls would make sense as a trade fit. Williamson is still an elite dunker who averages 22.4 points per game. The Bulls need a top-scoring option, and Williams could be just that.

Chicago could likely buy low on the Duke product, too. Williamson’s contract isn’t as lofty as that of a number of other All-Star caliber players, so trading for him wouldn’t be as risky as meets the eye. Williamson’s dunking ability would pair perfectly with an elite passer and lob thrower like Josh Giddey.

Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Best landing spot: Houston Rockets

Chris Paul was sent home by the Los Angeles Clippers way back on December 3. It is inevitable that he will end his retirement tour on a new team, but little news has come out of Los Angeles about the all-time great point guard since his dismissal from the Clippers for disagreements with the coaching staff and organization as a whole.

The Houston Rockets have been running a point guard by committee philosophy since Fred VanVleet tore his ACL. The team should trade for Paul to shore up the position, though. The Rockets would offer Paul a chance to compete for his first ring in what is his last season. Houston is contending this year, and Paul would bring point guard stability to a team that has predominantly used two youngsters at the position.

The offense has gone somewhat stagnant in recent weeks, largely because there isn’t a true playmaker leading the way. Amen Thompson is a great player, but he can play the two or the three. Reed Sheppard has also impressed in Year 2, but he is still learning the ropes and struggles on defense.

The Rockets have been all in since trading for Kevin Durant, so they need to make sure the VanVleet injury doesn’t cost them. Luckily, a trade for Paul would be easy to pull off because he is on a minimum contract, and the Clippers have been looking to dump him for quite some time now. Los Angeles may end up just cutting him, but it would take a small trade package by the Rockets to ensure he ends up on their roster.

Tyus Jones, Orlando Magic

Best landing spot: Los Angeles Clippers

Tyus Jones seemed like an underrated offseason acquisition for the Orlando Magic. He has long been one of the best assist-to-turnover ratio players in the NBA, and he has developed a reliable 3-point shot in recent years. Playmaking and deep ball shooting were offseason needs of the Magic.

Unfortunately, Jones is having a horrendous season for the Magic. The point guard is averaging just 3.2 points per game while shooting 34.8% from the field. Jones’ failure to produce in Orlando may lead the Magic to prioritize getting off his contract, rather than hoping he develops into the player he has been in the past. Trading Jones would help the Magic get below the luxury tax line.

Although he has struggled this year, teams could still envision Jones returning to form and providing a steady playmaking presence off the bench after getting a change of scenery from the team in which he has had the worst season of his career. With the aforementioned Paul on his way out of Los Angeles, and the Clippers now winning games, Jones would make sense as a target for that team.

Coby White, Chicago Bulls

Best landing spot: Minnesota Timberwolves

One of the clearest team needs across the NBA is the Minnesota Timberwolves’ hole at point guard. Mike Conley is struggling at age 38, and Rob Dillingham has yet to develop into a rotation-caliber player. That has forced shooting guards such as Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, and Bones Hyland into minutes at the one.

Coby White would fix the Timberwolves’ point guard problem. The team is so close, evidenced by their back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances. A trade for White could get them over the hump. As a star scorer, Edwards would benefit from having another playmaker on the roster, as would a play-finishing center like Rudy Gobert.

White is more than just a passing point guard, though. He scores at a fringe All-Star level, too. White is averaging 18.1 points per game this season, and he actually surpassed that total in each of the prior two seasons.

Herb Jones, New Orleans Pelicans

Best landing spot: Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have the biggest basketball fandom in the sport. Therefore, every year, it seems like their fans expect to get their way at the NBA trade deadline. They got their wish last year when they landed Luka Doncic in one of the most shocking trades ever.

The Doncic deal was a fleecing, and Lakers fans shouldn’t expect such a huge deal this go around. The team very well could get one of the top players who have been rumored to them thus far, though. That player is Herb Jones, a wing defender who would be a great fit alongside the rest of the Lakers’ roster.

Jones is truly elite at guarding at the point of attack. He has long arms and can wreak havoc in the passing lanes. He even provides some rim protection, too. Jones has always been a somewhat streaky offensive player, but he can knock down corner 3-pointers when playing at his best. The Lakers don’t need much offense, though, considering Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves are already on the roster. They just need players who can make up for the defensive shortcomings of their stars.

DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings

Best landing spots: Philadelphia 76ers

The Sacramento Kings could blow things up sooner rather than later, so all of LaVine, Sabonis, and DeRozan could be on the move. DeRozan might have the least trade value of that big three, but he also seems like the most likely to be moved.

Sabonis is currently out with an injury that is making negotiating for him difficult. He’d also provide the most long-term value to the Kings if they decided to keep anyone around from the core. LaVine will be tough to move because of his large contract. DeRozan has a relatively tradeable contract. His mid-range-based skillset won’t be valued by every team, but he could provide much-needed scoring for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 76ers rarely have all three of Paul George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey sharing the floor together because of the ever-present injury bug. When any of that core is inevitably sidelined, DeRozan can take over the scoring burden in the half-court offense. He is also shooting the 3-point shot more reliably than normal, which makes his fit with a healthy 76ers team much cleaner.

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