A new name emerged Monday as the Kings continue trade talks in hopes of bringing another All-Star caliber player to Sacramento.
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports described the Kings as “strong possible suitors” for Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen, a 7-foot forward who scores, rebounds and spreads the floor as an elite perimeter shooter.
It remains to be seen whether Kings general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox can strike a deal with Jazz CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge. Fischer reported that Utah would likely want the Kings to include Keegan Murray in the deal, but that could be a nonstarter for Sacramento with only one year remaining on Markkanen’s current contract.
The Kings have also been linked to trade talks involving Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma and New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram. Markkanen and Ingram are former All-Stars. Ingram has the most team-friendly contract.
On the Utah front, Fischer wrote: “In addition to Golden State, Sacramento and San Antonio have been two other teams characterized by league figures with knowledge of the situation as strong possible suitors for Markkanen at this point. For the Kings to land Markkanen, NBA personnel believe the Jazz would require Sacramento to part with Keegan Murray, and that might leave other trade options like Brandon Ingram as a more palatable outcome for the Kings.”
Here’s a closer look at the players the Kings appear to be targeting as they try to acquire another star to join their core of De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk and Murray.
LAURI MARKKANEN
PF | 7-0 | 240 | Age: 27
Markkanen came out of Arizona as the No. 7 pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He was an All-Rookie First Team selection in 2018 and the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2023.
Markkanen averaged career highs of 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds while earning his first All-Star selection in 2022-23. He averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists last season, shooting 48% from the field and 39.9% from 3-point range.
Markkanen is entering the final year of a four-year, $67.5 million contract. He is owed $18 million next season.
BRANDON INGRAM
SF | 6-8 | 190 | Age: 26
Ingram came out of Duke as the No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft. He was an NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection in 2017 and the league’s Most Improved Player in 2020. Ingram made his only All-Star appearance in 2019-20 while averaging 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
He put up a career-high 24.7 points per game while shooting 39% from 3-point range in 2022-23. Last season, he averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists, shooting 35.5% from beyond the arc.
Ingram is going into the final year of a five-year, $158.3 million contract. He will earn $36 million next season.
KYLE KUZMA
SF | 6-9 | 221 | Age: 28
Kuzma came out of Utah as the 27th overall pick in the 2017 draft. He was an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection in 2018 and helped the Los Angeles Lakers win an NBA championship in 2020.
Kuzma averaged a career-high 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Wizards last season, shooting 46.3% from the field and 33.6% from 3-point range.
Kuzma is entering the second year of a four-year, $90 million contract with a declining salary scale. He is owed $23.5 million in 2024-25, $21.5 million in 2025-26 and $19.4 million in 2026-27.
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