The NBA's trade deadline is almost here and the there is a lot of chatter around the league. With a bevy of cap space and even more in expiring contracts, the Sacramento continues to come up in conversations.
On the Lowe Post Podcast, ESPN's Zach Lowe and Kevin Arnovitz held a long discussion on the Kings and where they may spend their assets leading up to the Feb. 7 deadline.
Both Lowe and Arnovitz agreed that a trade to acquire Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes makes a lot of sense for the Kings.
"Do you now get a max guy, bring him in, a guy who's got years left, who's still relatively young and make that a key piece of your future?," Arnovitz asked.
What would it take to get a player like Barnes? They didn't go into that question, but they did focus on why Sacramento might make a move for a young player on a big money deal.
"You can have all the cap space in the world in Sacramento in any given year, you're not going to get those guys voluntarily," Arnovitz said. "But you can (through trade). You've got a better culture, you've got a team that's interest, great young players. Bring in a guy who's of that ilk. You've got the money and just acquire it that way."
Barnes, who makes $24.1 million this season and has a player option for $25.1 million next season, would help fill the need for a versatile forward. He can play either the three or the four and at 26-years-old, he fits the player arc of the Kings current roster.
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In his third season with the Mavs, Barnes is averaging 17.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 32.5 minutes per game. He's shooting just 40.6 percent from the field, but he's knocking down 39 percent from behind the arc on 6.4 attempts per game.
The Kings have $11 million in available cap space and another $37 million in expiring contracts between Zach Randolph, Iman Shumpert, Kosta Koufos and Ben McLemore.
"If they did nothing, I would be absolutely blown away," Lowe said. "If only because they are the only team with cap space of any meaningful amount. And so at the very least, they will act as a third team facilitator by taking on some money."
Washington's Otto Porter was discussed as well, but according to Arnovitz, he isn't as available as many around the league believe.
In addition to trade banter, Lowe and Arnovitz also threw some love towards Sacramento's young duo of Harry Giles and Marvin Bagley.
"By the way, have you not watched Harry Giles work out of the high post and pass the basketball and do all kinds of skilled big man things?," Arnovitz said. "Zach, I am on the Harry Giles wagon."
"I'm becoming a believer in the Bagley-Giles frontcourt," Lowe responded.
Over the next four days, the Kings are likely to come up in plenty of rumors. It should be an interesting week in Sacramento.
