The Sacramento Kings were hopeful to make a playoff push this year and really try to improve their team, surrounding DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and company, but it hasn’t planned out the way they wanted to. They sit at 16-22 and in the 12th spot in the Western Conference in a ridiculously hard conference. Now reports are coming that the Kings may want to trade their 2014 8th overall pick Nik Stauskas for some bigger size.
According to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com:
Determined to find an upgrade to complement inside force DeMarcus Cousins, the Sacramento Kings are seeking frontcourt help in a trade and are willing to discuss first-round pick Nik Stauskas in the deal, league sources told CBSSports.com.
The Kings want to pair Cousins with a frontline player who would fit with his post-up skills — either a stretch four or above-the-rim defender, sources said. They’ve fielded numerous calls about Stauskas, whose opportunities have been limited with the steadily improving play of Ben McLemore.
Sacramento thus far has rebuffed teams inquiring about Stauskas, the sharpshooter from Michigan whom they selected with the eighth overall pick in the draft. But the Kings’ motivation to put a “high-level” player next to Cousins on the front line has heightened, making them finally willing to include Stauskas in trade talks.
Nik Stauskas is a good, young developing player, but he hasn’t exactly panned out the way they have wanted him too. If the Kings were to move him to a place where he can develop fully and be a lethal shooter. A rim protector is definitely what the Kings need, and they are desperate to make some kind of noise in the West.
