Trade targets: All 30 teams
Sacramento Kings
Record: 22-31
10th in West
Status: Buyers
The Kings are 4.5-games out of the eighth seed in the West and few teams have more incentive to chase the postseason. Sacramento hasn't made the playoffs in a decade and wants to build excitement for the opening of a new arena, the Golden 1 Center, next fall.
So the Kings are buyers, but with their pick obligations to the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers, their assets are limited. As a result, Sacramento's big move could involve trading a starter.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported in January that the Kings are willing to move forward Rudy Gay -- if they can get a quality young player or a player they like whose contract extends at least through 2016-17. Figuring out who that player might be is much trickier.
Potential trade targets
Danilo Gallinari
Gallinari is basically the evolutionary version of Sacramento forward Omri Casspi in terms of his ability to swing between the forward spots to give the Kings lineup versatility. His game would work well in Sacramento's up-tempo system, and Gallinari had success playing for Kings coach George Karl in Denver.
Alas, the Nuggets surely won't part with Gallinari for Gay, and Sacramento may not be able to add enough sweetener to make a deal.
Evan Fournier
If the Magic have any interest in Gay, they have a number of wings who would make sense in Sacramento. Dealing Fournier and Channing Frye for Gay could ultimately save Orlando millions because Gay is locked in for a reasonable $13.3 million next season while Fournier will be an attractive restricted free agent. Still, the Magic would get much older in the process.
Most trade value
1. DeMarcus Cousins
While he's surely off the table for now, having just made his second consecutive All-Star team, Cousins will always be one misstep away from trade rumors. If the Kings ever decided to trade him, they could receive a ransom in return. Cousins will make just $35 million over the next two years, a huge bargain as the cap explodes.
2. Willie Cauley-Stein
So far, so good for Vlade Divac's maligned first draft pick as Sacramento's decision-maker. Cauley-Stein has proved a high-percentage finisher and versatile defender as expected, and also performed better on the defensive glass than his college stats suggested. Cauley-Stein may not have high upside, but he looks like a starting-caliber player throughout the life of his cheap rookie contract.
3. Omri Casspi
Coming off a decent season as a reserve for the Kings, Casspi couldn't attract much attention last summer and re-signed for a little less than $6 million over two years. If he hit the market again today, Casspi might command eight figures per year after establishing himself as a 40 percent 3-point shooter at high volume who can also be effective in transition.
4. Rudy Gay
In a league where average starters could soon make $15 million a season, Gay's extension -- which pays him $12.4 million this season and $13.3 million in 2016-17 before a $14.2 million player option in the final season -- looks eminently reasonable. Gay no longer has star sheen to him but remains a capable starter.
5. Darren Collison
In the right situation, Collison could be a starting NBA point guard, and his price tag ($5 million this year, $5.3 million the next) isn't exorbitant for a reserve.
6. Ben McLemore
Though he has developed into a quality 3-point shooter, McLemore's inconsistency and defensive shortcomings have kept him from locking down Sacramento's shooting guard job for the long term. Not yet 23 (his birthday is just before the All-Star break), McLemore could be attractive to another team hoping to get more out of him.
7. Rajon Rondo
Despite his resurgence with the Kings, Rondo has little trade value because he can be an unrestricted free agent this summer and will almost certainly need to be re-signed using cap space. That's OK since Sacramento has no intention of trading Rondo anyway.
Most valuable draft pick
2020 first-rounder
As noted, Sacramento owes a pair of first-round picks. Thanks to its protection, the Kings have kept the pick they originally sent to Cleveland for J.J. Hickson (since traded to Chicago) each of the past four years. This could finally be the season the pick conveys; it's top-10 protected, meaning Sacramento will definitely send it to the Bulls if the team makes the playoffs and possibly even as one of the best lottery teams.
At earliest, the Kings would then send another first-round pick to Philadelphia in 2018 (subject to its own projection). That means Sacramento can't trade a first-round pick until at least 2020, two years after that pick conveys.
Toughest contract to trade
Marco Belinelli
Outside the warm cocoon of the San Antonio Spurs' offense, Belinelli has played ... well, a lot like he did before signing in San Antonio. His .512 true shooting percentage is nearly identical to his .513 mark in 2012-13 in Chicago and down from .605 and .553 during two seasons with the Spurs. Unfortunately, the Kings are paying for San Antonio-era Belinelli, who will make $6.3 million in each of the next two seasons. Nearing age 30, a rebound seems unlikely.