Sacramento is overhearing rumors of DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis being shipped away. But the most likely candidate is a surprise.
Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan are the two most-talked about trade candidates on the Sacramento Kings. The former dropped 24 on the Cleveland Cavaliers to boost his value, while the latter is linked to the Golden State Warriors amid the Jimmy Butler injury.
Yet they're surprisingly not the most likely to get traded on the Kings per one league insider.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints revealed a different name who become the most likely to be traded ahead of the league's deadline. And he's someone who hasn't earned minutes as of late.
"Keon Ellis, he's a guy that I fully expect to be on the move before the trade deadline, but again, multiple teams interested in him," Siegel shared.
Ellis noticeably hasn't earned any minutes in the last few games as he's been listed as a did not play/coach's decision.
Ellis previously battled Monk in attempting to earn reserve action. Monk has since become one of the spark plugs off the bench for Sacramento -- including during its recent four-game winning streak.
Yet Monk is another who heard some trade chatter ahead of the league's deadline.
But back to Ellis, Siegel mentioned a Pacific rival of the Kings who look like a fit for the big.
"And so if you're the Lakers, you're going to have to give up something of value to really draw Sacramento's attention,” Siegel said.
Even Sam Amick of The Athletic is another who envisions Ellis commanding some trade value before the Feb. 5 deadline date for teams to make a trade.
"League and team sources say the Kings continue to draw serious interest in veteran guard Keon Ellis, with approximately 10 teams in pursuit of the 26-year-old. A deal is almost certain to go down before the Feb. 5 deadline, if not much sooner,” Amick wrote Friday.
There's also a strange part attached to Ellis, as Amick points out.
“The strangest part of it all? Despite Ellis’ three-and-D skillset being so coveted, Kings coach Doug Christie opted against playing Ellis in the past two games. The Kings are seeking a late first-round pick in the deal, those sources said,” Amick said.
But now it appears that DeRozan, Monk and Sabonis could stay even longer than Ellis.
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