SACRAMENTO -- The clock is ticking. With less than 24 hours remaining before the NBA's trade deadline, it's still quiet in Sacramento. They have been in on plenty of conversations, but so far, nothing has materialized.
The team's needs have been clear for a while. Sacramento would like a long term solution at the small forward position and they have also been in the market for a conventional backup point guard, although Yogi Ferrell has played very well as of late.
While the team has been quiet, here are some bread crumbs to follow as the Feb. 7 3 pm EST deadline quickly approached.
Assets
Sacramento isn't looking to break up their young core, but with players developing and restricted free agency on the horizon, sources tell NBC Sports that Willie Cauley-Stein might be the one young rotational player the Kings would listen on.
The 25-year-old center is averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and minutes played. His qualifying offer this summer is just over $6.2 million, but he has a cap hold of over $14 million.
It's possible the Kings wait until this summer and see what kind of offer the 7-footer gets as a restricted free agent, but then they risk losing him for nothing.
Sports
In addition to Cauley-Stein, the Kings have four veteran players that are on expiring contracts totalling nearly $37 million, including Zach Randolph ($11.7 million), Iman Shumpert ($11 million), Kosta Koufos ($8.7 million) and Ben McLemore ($5.5 million). Sacramento is also an estimated $11 million under the NBA's salary cap.
Just Missed
According to sources, the Kings kicked the tires on Detroit's Stanley Johnson before he was shipped to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for center Thon Maker.
A change of scenery might do Johnson well after three-plus seasons with the Pistons. Like Cauley-Stein, Johnson is a restricted free agent this summer.
At 6-foot-7, 245 pounds, Johnson has the size the Kings are looking for at the wing, although he's struggled to transition his game from the college level to the pros.
Targets
NBC Sports California can confirm that the Kings have held discussions on and off with Washington regarding Otto Porter for a while. So far, the Wizards have been reluctant to give up the 6-foot-8 small forward, despite their precarious salary cap position.
With the Wizards spiraling out of playoff contention and John Wall's torn Achilles tendon setting the team back even further, keep an eye on this situation.
Porter is owed $26 million this season and $27.3 million next year. He has a player option at $28.5 million for the 2020-21 season. Sacramento has the ability to save Washington millions in luxury tax dollars this season and even more next year and they have a few intriguing assets to sweeten the deal.
If the price doesn't come down for Porter or Washington completely pulls him off the market, Sacramento might turn their sights to the Maverick's Harrison Barnes.
According to sources, the two teams have held discussions on the 6-foot-8 small forward. He's owed $24.1 million this season and has a player option for next year at $25.1 million.
Barnes isn't the defender that Porter is, but he's averaging 17.8 points this season on 39 percent shooting from long range.
Nothing is imminent on either front, but things can change quickly this time of year.
