Could Cavs trade up with Kings to No. 4 in the NBA Draft?

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De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings. Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images /

Cavs / Kings trade in NBA Draft: Why Sacramento might do it

Good organizations put a general manager in place, allow that person to hire a head coach, and the two work in tandem to try and achieve success. Bad organizations keep both the coach and GM on opposite schedules, firing one or the other in an endless cycle as neither is able to be maximized working alongside someone with a different timeline and often different priorities.

Such it has been with the Kings for years and years, and once again the team is bringing in a new head coach in Mike Brown while retaining Monte McNair to run basketball operations. McNair is certainly embattled and will likely consider win-now moves, just as he did at the last NBA Trade Deadline when he flipped young guard Tyrese Haliburton for All-Star big Domantas Sabonis, a move that was largely panned at the time.

The Kings therefore want to add veteran contributors now, but not necessarily old veterans. That’s what the Cavs come in. If the Kings want an offensive powerhouse they could make a move for Collin Sexton in a sign-and-trade; No. 4 and Justin Holiday for Sexton and No. 14? They could also make a move for starters around their two tentpole “stars” with Caris LeVert and Lauri Markkanen prime options.

Would the Kings trade No. 4 and matching salary to the Cavs for Markkanen, Isaac Okoro, No. 14 and No. 39? It’s absolutely a possibility, as the Kings would add a viable starter who can stretch the court around Sabonis and still have a lottery pick. They may have better offers out there, but only a handful of teams can offer a lottery pick as part of the package coming back. Perhaps the Cavs could therefore stick in the running.