NBA Rumors: Kings Won't Trade Keegan Murray amid Pascal Siakam, Zach LaVine Links
January 12, 2024
The Sacramento Kings have been linked to the likes of Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam and Chicago Bulls veteran Zach LaVine ahead of the NBA's Feb. 8 trade deadline, but it appears they aren't willing to part ways with one player to facilitate a deal.
The Kings have "zero interest" in dealing Keegan Murray this winter, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe.
Lowe wrote:
"They have held at least internal discussions about almost every available big name, including Zach LaVine, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, sources said. Anunoby looked like perhaps the cleanest fit, but the Kings do not appear to have gotten far there; they had no expendable young player the Toronto Raptors coveted.
"Murray would be that player, but the Kings have shown zero interest in discussing him, sources said. They are also concerned adding a third massive salary would hamper their roster flexibility beyond this season -- especially if they trade away picks."
The report comes as little surprise after Michael Grange of Sportsnet reported this week that "the Kings are not going to trade talented second-year forward Murray and the Kings—already on the hook for full max deals for Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox—aren't interested in paying Siakam a full max contract which means any chances of retaining the pending free agent are nil."
Siakam—a two-time All-Star who will be a free agent this summer—would, in theory, be a short-term rental. Understandably, the Kings wouldn't want to part with a premium asset like Murray in such a deal.
The same can't be said for LaVine, who signed a five-year, $215 million max contract extension with the Bulls in July 2022 and won't become a free agent until 2027 if he picks up his $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign.
Murray, the No. 4 pick in the 2022 draft, has taken a big leap forward in his sophomore season, proving his worth to the Kings in the process. He is averaging 16.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 33 games while shooting 46.7 percent from the floor and 37.2 percent from deep.
The Kings currently sit fifth in the Western Conference with a 23-14 record and are just three games back of the first-place Minnesota Timberwolves.
Considering they're already in contention for the No. 1 seed with the roster they already have, it's no surprise Sacramento is unwilling to move Murray.
