{"id":155131,"date":"2026-01-29T16:56:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T16:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/155131\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T16:56:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T16:56:29","slug":"should-the-sacramento-kings-trail-blazers-make-a-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/155131\/","title":{"rendered":"Should the Sacramento Kings & Trail Blazers make a deal?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NBA trade deadline is less than one week away, meaning that the time has come for the Sacramento Kings to make some moves.<\/p>\n

As the February 5th (12 pm PT) deadline nears, first-year Kings general manager Scott Perry has several key players on his roster that would benefit from a change of scenery, but none in higher demand than guard Keon Ellis.<\/p>\n

Ellis, who is on a team-friendly, expiring $2.3 million contract, has been in and out of head coach Doug Christie\u2019s rotation this season.<\/p>\n

One year removed from a career season in which he shot 43 percent from beyond the arc (8th in the NBA) and collected 121 steals (5th in the NBA), Ellis has seen his playing time decrease from 24.4 to 17.5 minutes per contest.<\/p>\n

As Perry evaluates the best path forward for a Sacramento Kings team that currently holds the third-worst record in the league, moving Ellis may open the door to other opportunities to reshape this roster.<\/p>\n

Moving Ellis appears to be inevitable, but couldn\u2019t the Kings use a three-and-D type of player in the future? Is there any chance Sacramento may hold onto the Alabama product and try to work out an extension following the trade deadline?<\/p>\n

On the latest edition of The Matt George Podcast, George and Sactown Sports\u2019 Chris Watkins discussed the unlikely possibility of an Ellis-Kings extension.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would never say never, because stranger things have happened, and we know money talks, right? So if the Kings aren\u2019t able to move on from Keon Ellis \u2014 which I don\u2019t know how they wouldn\u2019t be able to at this point \u2014 Sam Amick has shared that there are as many as 10 teams interested in Keon Ellis. He has value. At the very least, you should be able to get, hopefully, a late first-round pick or multiple second-round picks for Keon,\u201d George said.<\/p>\n

\"HOUSTON,<\/p>\n

(Photo by Alex Slitz\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt sounds like \u2014 and this is speculation \u2014 there are already deals on the table that are Plan B, C, and D. And it seems like Plan A, if I were in Perry\u2019s position, would be attaching Keon to a contract you\u2019re trying to move on from. You kill two birds with one stone and convince a team to be more willing to take on a DeMar DeRozan contract, a Zach LaVine contract, or something of that nature. Again, money talks.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo if Keon is not here, and the Kings offer Keon more money \u2014 essentially overpay him relative to what we think his market value is \u2014 maybe Keon says, \u2018Alright, fine. I\u2019ll deal with it. You paid me, I\u2019ll take the payday.\u2019 I\u2019d never rule that out completely.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible the Kings end up balking at trade offers for Ellis over the next week, but if they do, why would Ellis want to remain in a situation that has seen his playing time fluctuate?<\/p>\n

Finding a new home, one with more stability, is likely the priority for Ellis and his camp\u2013regardless of a trade during the deadline or if he makes it to unrestricted free agency this offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut if I\u2019m Keon Ellis \u2014 or if I\u2019m advising Keon Ellis \u2014 even though I\u2019m rooting for the success of the Sacramento Kings for my own sanity and fandom, I\u2019m telling him to get the hell out of here,\u201d George continued. \u201cThe organization is trending in the opposite direction of where you want to go. You\u2019re trying to ascend, and the Kings right now are very diligently descending.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd while I do think Keon Ellis could be part of a rebuild, and could be part of the team that comes out on the other side and becomes a legitimate playoff team for years \u2014 not just a flash in the pan \u2014 that feels a long way away. Given how Keon has been treated this season \u2014 in and out of the rotation, inconsistent playing time \u2014 I wouldn\u2019t feel good hitching myself to this wagon long-term if I were him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I think the Kings understand that if they don\u2019t move Keon Ellis, he\u2019s going to leave and sign somewhere else \u2014 which he has every right to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

If the Kings are going to move on from Ellis, it\u2019s best to cash in and get something back in return. But what?<\/p>\n

\"PORTLAND,<\/p>\n

(Photo by Steph Chambers\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cBut for both sides here, strike while the iron is hot,\u201d Watkins said. \u201cKings, make sure you get something for Keon Ellis while his name still carries value. Herb Jones is still in New Orleans. Matisse Thybulle was moved from Philadelphia, but now he\u2019s in Portland \u2014 and, to your point, kind of rotting away. Nobody is having Matisse Thybulle trade conversations at this deadline.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it\u2019s best for the Kings to strike while the iron is hot. And Keon Ellis \u2014 your name is hot right now. A lot of people think you can be the 3-and-D connector on a championship team. Try to get out of here as quickly as you can. As you said \u2014 and like our friend De\u2019Aaron Fox once said \u2014 the grass is greener on the other side.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels like two ships passing in the night, going in completely different directions.\u201d<\/p>\n

It seems more likely that the Sacramento Kings will attach Ellis to one of the more-expensive contracts on the books this deadline in hopes of making a deal more likely for interested teams.<\/p>\n

DeMar DeRozan, who is averaging 19.1 points per game on 50\/33\/87 shooting splits, may be a fit for teams like the Portland Trail Blazers (9th seed in the West) as they look to make a playoff push.<\/p>\n

DeRozan, 36, is making $24 million this season, with a partially guaranteed ($10 million) option for the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n

Would attaching Ellis to DeRozan in trade talks be enough to get a deal done with the Trail Blazers?<\/p>\n

\"SACRAMENTO,<\/p>\n

(Photo by Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t talked enough about Portland as a potential landing destination. DeMar DeRozan,\u201d George said. \u201cI feel like it makes a ton of sense. I want your opinion on this, and listeners, if you haven\u2019t heard this trade package, tell me what you think.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s Trade A and Trade B. Trade A is the one I think Scott Perry would prefer: Robert Williams III and Matisse Thybulle \u2014 both expiring contracts \u2014 plus the 2028 Orlando first-round pick. Make it lottery-protected; it doesn\u2019t have to be a great pick. A first-rounder for DeMar DeRozan and Keon Ellis.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrade B is if Portland doesn\u2019t want to include a first. You take Keon Ellis out of it. You do Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle, and two second-round picks. They have four seconds in 2027 \u2014 they\u2019re not using all four. Take two of those, and you get DeMar DeRozan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the range I\u2019m thinking in terms of fair value or a realistic DeMar DeRozan trade.\u201d<\/p>\n

What do you think, Kings fans? Let us know in the comments of the latest edition of The Matt George Podcast.<\/a><\/p>\n

Subscribe to The Matt George Podcast on Sactown Sports<\/p>\n

Subscribe to The Matt George Podcast<\/a> on Apple & Spotify. You can also watch all episodes of The Matt George Podcast on the Sactown Sports YouTube page & SactownSports.com.<\/p>\n

Matt George brings years of experience covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter, with deep roots in Sacramento\u2019s basketball community.<\/p>\n

His approach blends reporting, analysis, and a fan\u2019s perspective\u2014making The Matt George Podcast both informative and accessible for die-hard and casual Kings fans alike.<\/p>\n

You can also hear Matt on Sactown Sports alongside Kayla Anderson on The Matt & Kayla Show<\/a>, airing weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT.<\/p>\n

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season<\/p>\n

Thursday, January 29th\u00a0\u2013 @ Philadelphia 76ers \u2013 4:00 PM PT
\nSunday, January 30th\u00a0\u2013 @ Boston Celtics \u2013 4:30 PM PT
\nSunday, February 1st\u00a0\u2013 @ Washington Wizards \u2013 3:00 PM PT
\nWednesday, February 4th\u00a0\u2013 vs. Memphis Grizzlies \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nFriday, February 6th\u00a0\u2013 vs. Los Angeles Clippers \u2013 7:00 PM PT<\/p>\n

Thank you for reading\u00a0SactownSports.com<\/a>. Follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Google News<\/a>, and subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0channel.<\/p>\n

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