The Cleveland Cavaliers might need to clear some cap in order to make a blockbuster trade, and the Sacramento Kings could help them make it happen.
Like I’ve rehashed in many articles, the Cleveland Cavaliers have to make a trade in order to keep LeBron James. However, the Cavs and many of their potential trade partners are out of cap room, which is where the Sacramento Kings come into play.
One of just eight teams to have a payroll of less than $100 million in 2018, the Sacramento Kings are looking at just under $73 million guaranteed. In order to hit their cap floor, they need to sign players. But, there aren’t many superstars left thinking about signing with Sacramento.
With about eight players on their rookie contracts still, the Kings need to sign players without pulling another signing like George Hill. Last offseason, the Kings shockingly signed Hill to a three-year, $57 million deal. Big money and multi-year deals are what Sacramento must avoid.
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There are always going to players in the open market that will take that money to play in Sacramento. But, do the Kings really want to tie themselves up into an unnecessary contract for the next few seasons?
The question to that is a big no.
That said, there’s a huge talent gap between the No. 7 free agent, DeAndre Jordan, and the No. 8 free agent, Aaron Gordan. Without much hope of signing Jordan or any player in the top six, they should shy away from offer Gordan over 20 million a season.
That leaves them wide open to acquiring some contracts that will expire in the next few seasons, the same general time that Sacramento should be looking to sign some of their players coming off those rookies contracts.
On top of that, they could get a quality talent in Jordan Clarkson, a player that struggled and lost most of his value during his horrific postseason run.
While the Kings haven’t been rumored to be active in the trade market, they could and should help Cleveland rid themselves of these contracts.
Why?
Because, in the end, Cleveland could deal them picks just for that assistance in return. While there’s no promise they’ll be more than top second-round picks, Cleveland should be willing to deal those multi-million contracts such as Tristan Thompson who makes upwards of $16 million a season.
However, those contracts will end in the next few seasons, when several superstars will hit the open market and Sacramento’s rookie should already be developed into a capable supporting cast.
Picks and the relief of not being forced into unnecessary contracts while lining their expiring rookie deals with these much larger, expiring deal could also make Sacramento likely to help the Cavs orchestra an Eastern Conference superteam.
Next: LeBron James: 3 sign-and-trade options involving the Lakers
While unlikely, these two could mutually benefit from a deal with a third, more noteworthy team.