The Sacramento Kings are looking for a superstar and are homing in on Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls. LaVine trade rumors have surfaced for a while now, with several teams linked to the two-time All-Star.
The Kings have been doing well under the watch of Mike Brown since last season. Although De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis are leading the charge, Sacramento can only ramp up its chances against other Western Conference heavyweights by adding another big name, per Bleacher Report.
Read more: 3 Hypothetical Trade Packages LA May Offer to Bulls For Zach LaVine
Aside from LaVine, other names that the Kings are reportedly looking at include OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic when he spoke on FanDuel's "Run It Back."
The Kings are expected to be aggressive leading up the trade deadline
“They’re going to be involved in every star player. Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, maybe Zach LaVine.”
[Via @ShamsCharania ,h/t @esidery ] pic.twitter.com/ENAD5OWeiF— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BasketballOnX) November 20, 2023
But like other teams, the question is who will the Kings give up to acquire LaVine. The names of Davion Mitchell and Keegan Murray have been floated, two promising young players in the Kings' fold, along with future picks.
Assuming they get it done, the Kings could benefit from a Zach LaVine acquisition. Here are some potential scenarios.
The Kings' offense will get a boost
LaVine is known to be a scorer and someone who can bump up the offensive rating of Sacramento. They are 11th in the league, with a 114.7 rating in 12 games per NBA.com.
So far this season, the former UCLA Bruin is averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. Playing alongside Fox will also be ideal since LaVine will not spend much time on playmaking duties.
Sabonis will benefit from a broader offense
LaVine can take it inside or shoot it from beyond the arc. His field goal percentage this season is worth noting. He is averaging 42.7% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc, per Basketball Reference.
With more offensive options for Brown, opposing teams will need to spread on defense, giving Sabonis more room to operate inside. He already owns a high 63.4% FG percentage, and things may get easier for the Lithuanian if LaVine joins them.
Kings Playoff odds will be better
With their current crop, the Kings have given heavyweights such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and the Golden State Warriors a run for their money. Brown is heavily credited for this, and adding someone like LaVine will only make them tougher to beat.
They made the NBA playoffs last season and took the Golden State Warriors to the limit in the first round, 4-3. Learning from that loss, plus the possibility of getting another superstar, Sacramento could do better this 2023-24 season.
Oddsmakers are hardly giving the Kings a chance this season, giving them only a +5000 odds per SI.com. That will change immensely if Sacramento adds a notable name before the NBA trade deadline in February 2024.
Related Article: Zach LaVine Net Worth 2023
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