Kings Acquire Nets' 'Versatile' Two-Way Wing in Latest NBA Mock Trade
Things are starting to look bleak for the Sacramento Kings in the final 20 games of the NBA season. Now sitting 34-28 in the Western Conference, this team lies 7th in the standings, currently booked for a date in the Play-In Tournament to solidify themselves into the postseason.
After the front office sat on their hands at the February trade deadline, hoping for internal adjustments to get this team looking better on both ends of the floor, it hasn't quite seemed to click for Mike Brown and this group. It inevitably leads to questions surrounding whether the Kings should've decided to make a splash when they had the opportunity to.
Even with the deadline passing, some NBA outlets have continued to put together some mock deals that prove to be nice hypotheticals and can even be utilized as intriguing predictions heading into the offseason soon to come.
In Bleacher Report's latest NBA mock trade, the Kings bring in Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets for a package, consisting of Harrison Barnes and additional assets.
Sacramento Kings acquire: Mikal Bridges
Brooklyn Nets acquire: Harrison Barnes, Davion Mitchell, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick and a 2030 first-round pick
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report dove into his rationale for this deal, noting that in the wake of Sacramento's recent stumbling within the standings, Bridges could prove to be an ideal forward pairing next to sophomore Keegan Murray:
The Kings have taken a half-step back from last season, which isn't alarming but also isn't ideal for a team whose two best players are in the heart of their prime (De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis). This is a roster built to win sooner than later, and it probably needs a pick-me-up at the forward spot to make that possible. Bridges would be an ideal find to pair with sophomore swingman Keegan Murray, as they are lanky and versatile defenders who can put up big numbers on offense but are probably optimized as third options on a great team. Sacramento would have a non-zero chance of becoming exactly that if it could get this deal done.
Since passing the All-Star Break, the Kings have put up a middle-of-the-road 3-3 record, throwing out some signals that this roster might not be ready to compete for a title down the stretch. After producing the league's best-rated offense a season ago, Sacramento has taken a slight step back in their standing amongst the league and could benefit immensely from a talent like Bridges in their starting five.
Bridges has had a solid first full season in Brooklyn, putting up averages of 21.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 44.4/35.7/81.4 splits in 62 games. The Nets have valued him as a vital building block of what this team is building for the future after their blockbuster Kevin Durant deal in their previous season.
Despite the Nets' consistent unwillingness to send off Bridges in a trade, Buckley displays some optimism for this being a move Brooklyn could at least consider with the current state of their roster:
The Nets, of course, keep signaling a desire to build around Bridges, but he doesn't look like a centerpiece talent, and they don't have the necessary pieces to support such a player anyway. You'd have to think they'd at least consider this package—regardless how they feel about Barnes and Mitchell—as three unprotected future firsts would be a huge haul for a 27-year-old who's still awaiting his first All-Star selection.
While no move of this caliber will be made down the stretch of this regular season, look into Sacramento being a prime candidate to make a splash later this summer if this team comes up short in the postseason.
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