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The Sacramento Kings will have a busy 2021 NBA offseason as they have a lot to figure out if they hope to break their 15-year NBA playoffs hiatus. Their 12th-place finish in the previous season is not a reflection of the quality of talent they have, which is why restructuring is inescapable.
Several players have shown an interest in leaving the Sacramento Kings, which will lead the franchise to look for worthy replacements. In the same vein, they will be looking to build a team that will be a great fit for their dynamic backcourt duo of De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton.
The Sacramento Kings have already started shaking up their roster as reports suggest they have traded for Tristan Thompson in a deal that sent Delon Wright to the Atlanta Hawks. Due to the NBA's moratorium, the deal will become official on August 6.
Wright's departure has solved two problems for the Sacramento Kings - a cramped backcourt and the unavailability of an experienced center. After selecting Davion Mitchell as the 8th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the backcourt was getting clogged, and the Kings needed to make some adjustments.
Although there are still big decisions to make as we enter the offseason, the Sacramento Kings are off to a flying start. If the front office manages to get the pieces right, the franchise might have a shot at postseason qualification in the 2021-22 NBA season.
With that said, here are three bold predictions for the Sacramento Kings in the 2021 NBA offseason.
#1 Richaun Holmes will not suit up for the Sacramento Kings during the 2021-22 NBA season
Richaun Holmes is currently an unrestricted free agent following the expiration of the two-year $9.7 million contract he signed with the Sacramento Kings in 2019. Although the Kings are working with his Early Bird Rights, what can be offered without using cap space will be below his market value.
Using cap space to pay him is also not an option, as the Sacramento Kings currently do not have any leeway. If they offer Holmes anything below his market value, the big man will decline.
With the Sacramento Kings facing salary problems and Richaun looking to get paid, it is unlikely that both parties will agree on a deal. Seeing that he will end up being a rotation player if he remains at Sacramento, paying him anything north of $15 million will be too costly.
#2 Sacramento Kings will keep Harrison Barnes on their roster
Harrison Barnes has been the subject of several NBA trade rumors, mainly because the Sacramento Kings will be looking to free up cap space. However, they will likely find other ways to do that, as Barnes could play a significant role in their success in the 2021-22 season.
Barnes has proved that he can play alongside Fox and Haliburton, which is the main deciding factor for the Sacramento Kings as they build their roster. Trading him for someone else who might be a good fit would be unwise.
The Sacramento Kings finished dead last in defensive rating last season, which is another reason Barnes is a need rather than a luxury. He is a power forward that can guard the perimeter. That will give the Kings a defensive boost, especially with the acquisition of Thompson, an elite rim protector.
Offensively, he is a threat as he spaces the floor and attacks the rim. He shot 39.1 percent from three-point range the previous season, which means he can clear out for Fox to attack the rim and also be an effective option for the kick-out.
Letting their third-best scorer go will be a bad decision by the Sacramento Kings' front office. Although he is an asset that can be used for trade, getting a player of his caliber will be difficult.
#3 Buddy Hield would be traded
As things stand, it's only a matter of time before the Sacramento Kings decide on a deal for Buddy Hield. He is a very talented player and has sparked interest from several teams.
NBA trade rumors surrounding Hield claimed that the LA Lakers are favorites to land the guard. However, with their recent acquisition of Russell Westbrook, chances of them including his $20+ million annual salary to their current salary cap is unlikely.
Regardless, there is no scenario where Hield will continue to ply his trade with the Sacramento Kings. The franchise is building their team around Haliburton and Fox, and having him come off the bench would be a disaster.
Not only will Hield be unhappy, but it is also a terrible decision from a business standpoint. To that effect, trading Hield will be atop the Sacramento Kings' list of moves to make this offseason.
