Contenders circle emerging Kings guard Keon Ellis. His surprising trade value ignites interest from multiple playoff hopefuls seeking a lockdown defender.
The Sacramento Kings are in the midst of a 2025-26 season dedicated to the tank, but the Feb. 5 trade deadline will give the franchise a chance to capitalize on the value of a few key contributors.
Sacramento has been widely viewed by the rest of the NBA sphere as one of the biggest sellers of the deadline, with talents like Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine set to be three of the most proven names on the market.
Incredibly enough, their combined 11 All-Star selections have not gained nearly as much attention from prospective trade suitors as a formerly undrafted two-way contract player averaging 5.3 points and playing just 17.3 minutes.
Keon Ellis' value has only grown as the deadline nears, and so has the number of teams willing to check in on his availability, as a recent report from Forbes' Evan Sidery has indicated that the 6-foot-4 shooting guard could land with one of a few franchises desperate to bolster or re-gain their status as contenders.
"The (Los Angeles) Lakers, (Detroit) Pistons, (Toronto) Raptors, (Philadelphia 76ers), and (Golden State) Warriors are among the huge group of teams who have shown trade interest in Keon Ellis," Sidery shared via X on Sunday night.
"Unable to find a consistent role in Sacramento, Ellis is viewed as a player who will fit well within a contender’s rotation."
There's a reason why Ellis is considered one of the most important options on the market this season, and it's that his abilities would mesh perfectly with any of the previously mentioned squads as a wonderful two-way competitor with a solid jump-shot.
Whether it be alongside Luka Dončić and LeBron James as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers or a supporting piece next to the Detroit Pistons' rising superstar Cade Cunningham, Ellis' three-and-D skillset is a perfect compliment to any ball-dominant, No. 1 option.
Though his efficiency has dropped by a wide margin this season to a horrid 50.5% effective field goal percentage, his offensive woes could be directly correlated to wildly inconsistent playing time.
Kings head coach Doug Christie has displayed a tendency to inexplicably cut Ellis from the team's plans on any given night, and that unpredictability easily affects a player's consistency with regard to scoring the ball.
Regardless of the burn he does or does not receive, Ellis could always be relied upon for his stellar defense on the perimeter, a quality that will continue to make him one of the NBA's most coveted role player trade targets leading all the way up until Feb. 5.
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