SACRAMENTO — The Kings find themselves in a precarious place. Once riding high on the “light the beam” wave, they have slipped back into mediocrity. In 2022-23, they surged to the third seed in the Western Conference with a 48-34 record. Last season, they stumbled to 40-42 and missed the playoffs after falling short in the play-in. Oddsmakers now peg them at just 35.5 wins, projecting them as a fringe play-in team. Around the league, the tone surrounding Sacramento has shifted. What was once a story of revival is now seen as a cautionary tale. The momentum is gone. The urgency, however, is not. The Kings must what needs to be done and trade Keegan Murray for an elite rim protector.
Kings Must Sacrifice Former Top-4 Pick Keegan Murray To Solve Biggest Issue
The Center Problem That Never Left
Since trading DeMarcus Cousins in 2017, the Kings have lacked a true anchor at center. Domantas Sabonis has come closest. His résumé includes two All-Star appearances, a Third-Team All-NBA selection, and even MVP and Defensive Player of the Year votes in 2023-24.
But Sabonis is not a long-term answer at the five. He is, by nature, a skilled power forward playing out of position. His offensive brilliance can’t hide Sacramento’s glaring defensive flaw: rim protection.
The Kings ranked 17th in rim defense last year. That deficiency fed into the NBA’s 22nd-ranked defense, a weakness that undermined their elite offense. With scorers like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk, the Kings don’t lack firepower. They finished in the top seven offensively despite their uneven season. But when your defense is that porous, you don’t win shootouts.
Why Defense Is the Real Priority
The Kings’ projected starting lineup — LaVine, DeRozan, and Sabonis included — has a low defensive ceiling. None are poor defenders for lack of effort, but the collective profile is unforgiving. Sacramento needs a rim protector to cover the gaps. Without one, their ceiling is capped.
That’s why the franchise faces a difficult truth: they must consider trading Keegan Murray, their former No. 4 pick in the 2022 draft.
The Case for Trading Keegan Murray
Murray entered the league with promise, immediately flashing as a high-volume, efficient shooter. As a rookie, he shot 41.1 percent from three on over six attempts per game. Last year, his numbers dipped. His three-point percentage fell to 34.3 percent, and his role shrank amid roster changes.
Despite that decline, Murray still holds significant trade value. He fits the archetype every contender covets: a 3-and-D forward with size, rebounding ability, and a rookie-scale contract. For Sacramento, that makes him their most appealing trade chip — and the one piece capable of returning a defensive anchor.
Targets on the Market
The Kings have assets to spend. They own all their future first-round picks and have the salaries to construct a meaningful deal. Two names stand out as attainable upgrades: Jarrett Allen in Cleveland and Daniel Gafford in Dallas.
Both players fit Sacramento’s need profile. Allen has already proven himself as an All-Defensive caliber rim protector. Gafford, though less accomplished, has emerged as a force around the basket and could blossom with a larger role. Both Cavaliers and Mavericks have roster constructions that could benefit from Murray’s skill set.
A Necessary Sacrifice
The Kings are not in a position to wait. Their current trajectory points toward irrelevance in the Western Conference, where depth and star power abound. Trading Keegan Murray may sting, but the Kings have reached the stage where hard decisions define futures.
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