3 potential trades Cavs can make with the Sacramento Kings

Potential Kings Trade 3: The Blockbuster

Instead of deciding between the two above players in a deal, what if the Cavs combined the two? They could add a perimeter gunner and a two-way combo forward, and all without giving up a first-round pick. Would a trade along these lines interest the Kings?

We’ve already discussed the fit of both players, but what about the value here? Supporters of Collin Sexton would of course feel the gut-punch of giving him up here, but in essence, he is being valued around that of two first-round picks in this balancing of the scales. For a pending restricted free agent that seems solid. Sexton would be free to pursue a contract more in line for a starter, something he likely won’t get from the Cavs.

Markkanen would have to be in the deal to make the salaries work, but adding both Barnes and Hield sops up most of what he is providing to the Cavs anyway. Lamar Stevens and Dean Wade can absolutely step in for backup forward minutes, while currently one or the other is pushed out of the rotation on most nights. Markkanen could slide to his more natural power forward position in a frontcourt alongside Richaun Holmes for the Kings.

This kind of deal would let the Kings move on from a pair of veterans and add another future building block in Sexton. Then they can turn around and trade for Ben Simmons if they so wanted; this deal gives them the freedom to include De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton by replacing him with Sexton, and Markkanen is the ideal forward to put with Ben Simmons because of his floor-spacing.

This is probably too wild to actually work; the Kings would ask for a draft pick, and the Cavs would ask for one back their way to give up Sexton. Yet both Hield and Barnes would fill the hole in the middle of this roster, and the Cavs could upgrade for this season and beyond with a little boldness and a little creativity.