When the Sacramento Kings try to turn the franchise around under a new general manager, away away stars and rebuilding may be the best option.
Kings of Sacramento will remain mediocre for the next few seasons if they stay on the course. Between Demar Derozan, Zach Lavine and Domantas Sabonis, the King is too talented to completely tank and rebuild, but he cannot compete in crowded Western Conferences.
Miami’s heat is in a fairly similar situation across the country. But Pat Riley has long made it clear that his team won’t allow a year-long rebuild.
The heat is in a much better place than the king, as well as the benefits of playing between Tyler Hero and Bam Adebayo, and in a much weaker meeting.
Also in the East, the Atlanta Hawks are nearing the end of Trae Young’s contract and must commit to winning to prevent him from leaving to the free agency. The two missing Eastern teams can take advantage of the inevitable reconstruction in Sacramento.
Trae Young has never played for another All-Star. The Hawks tried to combine him with Dejounte Murray, but the experiment didn’t work. For Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson, and Dyson Daniels, Young is actually surrounded by younger talent than ever before, and could be the time for the Hawks to win.
Heat can also use a scoring boost next to the hero. Both teams have a way to add the Kings’ best players.
Complete mock trade details
- King Receipt: Terry Rosier, Terry Rosier, Terrance Mann, Duncan Robinson, Onica Oconwu, Georges Nian, #22 Pick (via LAL), 2029 First Round Pick (via ATL), 2029 First Round Pick (via MIA)
- Thermoreception: Demar Derozan
- Hawks Received: Domantas Sabonis
Rozier, Robinson, and Niang all have expired contracts, giving the King much needed flexibility in 2026. Okongwu can join Keegan Murray and Devin Carter as an important piece in the youth movement, and once Zach Lavine is out of the book, the draft topic will begin to convey.
Meanwhile, the Hawks keep most of their younger cores unharmed, upgrade their center position, and already solidly boost their attacks. Meanwhile, Miami should have jumped over some spots in the rankings in Delozan’s veteran experience, and he and Hero were able to share the ball pretty well.
It’s time for the Hawks to go all in. The Orlando Magic and the Detroit Pistons are likely to be far from being legal title candidates. Jason Tatum and the Boston Celtics will take a step back next season, with the Cleveland Cavaliers getting caught up in the Indiana Pacers from an early exit.
On top of that, Trae Young appears to have a New York Knicks number.
The Hawks were able to build organically through the draft, but borrowed selections from the San Antonio Spurs in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
The East is weaker than ever, and the Hawks need to make the playoffs to put themselves in order to make noise, and adding a sabonis can do just that.