Apparently there is one less interested party in the race for a potential trade for Ben Simmons. The Sacramento Kings have probably said goodbye to poker for the Sixers star. Still, Sacramento could be one of the most active teams at the trade deadline.
Wie Adrian Wojnarowski (ESPN) writes, the Kings are no longer chasing a trade for the point guard who is willing to change and are looking elsewhere in trade talks. This information has now been confirmed by other media.
The Kings have long been considered one of the hottest contenders for a trade for Simmons, and the California capital franchise has been linked for months with the 25-year-old, who is desperate to leave Philadelphia before the February 10 trade deadline.
However, according to Woj, the Kings are of the opinion that the required consideration for Simmons is too high and that there is no prospect of an agreement. the Philadelphia Inquirer had recently reported a Kings offer for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes and two first-round picks for Simmons, Tobias Harris and Matisse Thybulle. The Sixers were not interested in that.
According to Woj, Sacramento now wants to look at other options to rebuild the roster. The Kings, who have lost five games in a row and are stuck at No. 13 in the west (18-32), are still willing to take action at the trade deadline.
Barnes, Hield, Richaun Holmes and Tristan Thompson are traded as likely trade candidates, while backcourt duo De’Aaron Fox and Haliburton are said to be staying in Sacramento. However, some insiders suspect that one of the two is also available at the right price. Sacramento is said to be interested in Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner and Jerami Grant, among others.
Trade Rumors: Lakers Attacking Hield Again?
Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz are said to be interested in Barnes, Hield is moving according to a recent report by Chris Haynes (Yahoo Sports) again caught the interest of the Los Angeles Lakers. They were on the verge of a deal for the shooting guard last summer, but then decided on a Russell-Westbrook trade.
Now LA wants to loosen the 29-year-old shooting guard, who earns $ 22.5 million this season and is under contract until 2024, in a package for Talen Horton-Tucker. The Kings have apparently rejected this, however, according to the report, Sacramento is of the opinion that it can get significantly more for Hield. In 50 appearances so far in 2021/22, he scored an average of 14.9 points with 38.6 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from downtown.
