The Sacramento Kings are having a horrible season and are shaping up to be major sellers once trade season hits. With that organization heading for a fire sale, the Lakers need to take advantage and explore deals for players that can improve their team.
The Sacramento Kings are reportedly willing to trade anyone on their roster except for Keegan Murray and Nique Clifford, per @JakeLFischer
That means players like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, Keon Ellis, Malik Monk, and even Russell Westbrook could be available… pic.twitter.com/l1vVlB8EaC
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 23, 2025
According to Jake Fischer, the Kings are willing to trade anyone on their roster except Keegan Murray and Nique Clifford. With so many talented players potentially available, Sacramento suddenly looks like the perfect place for the Lakers to poach playoff-ready help. Here are five Kings players Los Angeles should target.
1. Keon Ellis
Keon Ellis is the cleanest fit on Sacramento’s roster, and maybe the cleanest fit the Lakers could find anywhere in the league. LA desperately needs help on its perimeter defense, especially a point-of-attack defender. Ellis would instantly be one of their best. He slides over screens, stays attached to lead scorers, and never over-gambles. He also has the ability to guard bigger players, making him useful in multiple lineups.
Offensively, he’s the ideal low-usage spacer—catch-and-shoot ready, comfortable in the corner, and fully content letting the stars drive everything. The key is matchups: in a playoff series against OKC, Minnesota, or Denver, Ellis covers the kinds of guards LA currently has no answer for. He’s essentially a younger version of Marcus Smart with more off-ball offense.
2. Malik Monk
The Lakers have the worst bench scoring in the NBA. Malik Monk solves that problem right away, being one of the league’s best instant-offense guards. He can create his own shot, run second-unit pick-and-roll, and hit momentum threes that flip a quarter. His confidence and shotmaking also take pressure off the other stars.
Monk already showed in his first LA stint how easily he can thrive in this environment. He’s played with LeBron and already has a natural chemistry with Austin Reaves — two Arkansas kids who just understand each other. Now the Lakers would be getting him in an even better version of the role he once held.
3. Dennis Schröder
Dennis Schröder is the best 2-way guard on this list. He brings structure, reliable ball-handling, pace, screen navigation, and veteran decision-making. His ability to pressure the rim is something the Lakers could use on the second unit.
On defense, he competes like every possession matters, which makes him valuable in playoff situations even if his shot isn’t falling. He was also a key contributor in the playoffs for two separate stints with the Lakers, so sliding back into the mix would be seamless.
4. Precious Achiuwa
Precious Achiuwa brings something the Lakers don’t have enough of at the center position: defensive versatility. He switches across three positions, contests at the rim, rebounds in traffic, and plays with relentless energy. The Lakers’ backup frontcourt is inconsistent, and Achiuwa gives them a weapon for matchups that demand mobility. He’s not a shooter, so he doesn’t fit every lineup, but in games where LA needs athletic defense and physicality, he would be invaluable. He’s the ideal “change of pace” big behind Ayton.
5. Doug McDermott
Every team could use more shooting, and Doug McDermott provides just that. He changes the shape of a defense simply by running around screens. Luka and LeBron thrive with players who relocate, cut, and force defenders into mistakes, and McDermott lives in those actions. He’s the type of player who resembles JJ Redick’s playstyle. He’s essentially a more reliable version of Dalton Knecht. Knecht has more upside and more scoring versatility, but the Lakers need someone they can count on right now.
What About the Big Names?
The big names are exactly that. Big names, not much game. They don’t fit what the Lakers actually need. Zach LaVine demands the ball and gives back points on defense. DeMar DeRozan shrinks the floor, especially with Ayton on the court. Domantas Sabonis needs touches and can’t share the paint with LA’s current center. And Russell Westbrook is Russell Westbrook. And this is without considering any of their contract. The Lakers need players who would improve their title chances.
Bottom Line
This isn’t about chasing headlines—it’s about building a roster that can win deep in the playoffs. These aren’t flashy moves, but they’re the kind of moves that elevate a contender. If the Lakers want to maximize their chances of winning now, Sacramento might be where the missing pieces are waiting.
