The Sacramento Kings have had a busy offseason since coming under new management and finishing out that they are remaining in California and now the team is looking for more depth on the roster behind DeMarcus Cousins and the main option appears to be Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov.
The team wants to sign Cousins long-term and they also want to add a backup player behind him, but since they are in a tight salary cap situation, the only way to pull off the deal will be with a sign and trade and in clearing cap space with another deal. The Sacramento Bee reports that the team likes Mozgov for the role and that they could make a big move to sign him, including using John Salmons and his $7.5 million salary (an almost expiring deal) to get some more room under the cap. Salmons is owed just $1 million if he is bought out and the team may look to pull the trigger, as they only have Cole Aldrich on the roster right now.
The Kings opted not to use the amnesty clause on Salmons when they had the chance and one reason may have been to wait for this moment to try and make a deal for Mozgov. The team has been looking at a number of deals already his offseason after missing out on Monta Ellis and Andre Iguodala as free agents and after struggling last season, Salmons could be on his way out of town.
The Kings signed rookie Ray McCallum and they will still have space on the roster for Mozgov if they want to make a move and a sign and trade could be the best way to get things done. The Kings originally were rumored to be looking at a trade with Jimmer Fredette and Chuck Hayes to the Cleveland Cavaliers and more reports have come out that a deal to the Milwaukee Bucks is also an option. The team drafted Fredette with high hopes, but so far he has been a disappointment and they feel that a new start for both sides may be the best move to make.
Fredette's $2.4 million salary makes him a nice piece since it is an expiring contract and since Hayes is due over $11 million on his deal, he is another target that the Kings may want to move. Fredette averaged 7.4 points, 1.5 assists and 1.1 rebounds last season and his move to another team like the Nuggets for Mozgov along with Salmons could be good for all the parties involved.
The Kings signed Carl Landry back this offseason as well after he was part of the Kevin Martin deal to the Houston Rockets a couple years ago that sent Tracy McGrady to the New York Knicks and now he is back with the team on a four-year, $27 million deal after spending time with the Warriors. He decided to opt out of his two-year, $8 million deal with Golden State and now he is back with the Kings after 10.8 points and six rebounds off the bench last season.
