Keon Ellis has been an excellent addition for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the manner that many fans and analysts predicted. His versatility and toughness have already injected the Cavs with winning value, and it's no surprise that Cleveland has quickly made Ellis a fixture of their rotation.
Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings, who parted ways with Ellis at the deadline after failing to find consistent minutes for him, look like fools. And this is far from the first time the Kings have given away a player who later finds success with another franchise.
Once upon a time, Boston Celtics breakout center Neemias Queta was a member of the Kings.
Kings weren't wise to give up on Neemias Queta, Keon Ellis
Queta was selected by Sacramento in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft. The Kings signed Queta to a two-way deal but waived the Portuguese big man by September 2023 despite his notable development in the G League.
The Celtics, known for astute talent evaluation in the Brad Stevens era, snatched up Queta a week after his release from the Kings and signed the agile 7-footer to their own two-way deal.
Queta's continual improvement in the G League led to some NBA action in a Celtics uniform. He won an NBA championship ring with Boston in 2024 and then signed a three-year, $7.2 million deal with the Celtics in July 2024, cementing his status as a legit NBA player.
Queta's reputation has only skyrocketed since then. Entering the current, 2025-26 NBA season, Queta was thrust into a starting role following the offseason departures of Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet.
Queta has grabbed this opportunity by the horns and exceeded expectations, establishing himself as a double-double threat and reliable starting center. His ceiling might even be higher, as a bonkers 27-point, 17-rebound masterclass against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday showcased. Somewhere, the Kings' front office cringed.
The Kings have become a farm system for NBA contenders
No one can explain why the Kings keep giving away good players, but trading Ellis was an even weirder decision than waiving Queta, who wasn't a known commodity at the time. Queta's growth since is a partial result of Boston's uniquely effective development program under Stevens and head coach Joe Mazzulla, an incline of improvement that wouldn't have happened in Sacramento.
Ellis was already a finished product when the Kings decided trading him was the move. There's a reason Ellis was coveted at the deadline by virtually half of the NBA -- there's nothing not to like about his game, which adds to winning and can be seamlessly worked into the jigsaw of any NBA team's rotation. He defends at a high level, he makes good, quick decisions on offense, he provides length and athleticism, and he doesn't play beyond himself.
The Kings might be the most self-destructive, directionless franchise in the NBA, but at least they've found ways to bolster two Eastern Conference teams this season amidst their path deeper into irrelevance.