Report: Kings looked to trade for NBA stars before firing Brown

Report: Kings looked to trade for NBA stars before firing Brown originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It appears the Kings were trying to add more firepower before launch coach Mike Brown.

After a slow start to the 2024-25 NBA season, Sacramento inquired about trading four NBA stars before parting ways with Brown, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported on Mondayciting league sources.

“As the losses mounted through November and December — 14 of their last 20 — and the Kings fell further and further back in the Western Conference, the front office began looking for answers,” Shelburne wrote.

“The Kings inquired about Chicago’s Zach LaVine, New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram, Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas and Washington’s Kyle Kuzma, league sources said. They were looking at smaller moves, ‘just to change things up,’ as one source put it. They even asked Brown, whether there were actions to be taken with the roster or staff that could help, sources said.”

A team can never have enough stars, and Brown, Shelburne wrote, was open to any positive additions the Kings could make.

But either way, Sacramento needed — and still needs — more to reach the promised land.

The Kings formed the trio of De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis last summer after bringing in the mid-major maestro through a three-team sign-and-trade deal. Sacramento (13-19) has not played as well as many expected this season and is currently the Western Conference’s No. 12 seed that begins play on Monday.

The Kings could use any help they can get from here — especially with Doug Christie serving as interim coach.

Any of Bulls’ LaVine, Pelicans’ Ingram, Nets’ Thomas, and Wizards’ Kuzma would be interesting candidates for salvage the Kings’ frustrating season. However, it is uncertain whether Sacramento will kick the wheels on the quartet again before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

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