The Sacramento Kings may be exploring major moves as they drift toward a potential roster reset this NBA season and beyond. But their most valuable trade chip isn’t Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, or DeMar DeRozan. It’s Keon Ellis, and the reasoning may be as much financial as it is on-court.
NBA Trade Rumors: Kings Could Make Keon Ellis Available
Formerly an undrafted free agent out of Alabama in 2022, Ellis has risen in the ranks with the Kings. Originally a two-way player, he was impressive enough in his limited minutes to earn a spot on the roster and a three-year contract, and became an important piece as his usage and production began to grow.
The Kings are reportedly gearing up for a full rebuild and plan to explore trades for Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and others, per @CarmichaelDave
(h/t @RTNBA ) pic.twitter.com/9avSJKM5zb
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 11, 2025
In 2024-25, Ellis bumped his scoring average up to 8.3 points per game on 43% three-point shooting. But he was and is mostly known for his lockdown defense, as his 1.5 steals ranked 11th in the league last season.
But for a reason unknown to Kings fans and NBA fans alike, Ellis has seen a major drop in his usage this year. His minutes per game average is down to 16.6 from 24.4, and his minutes are sporadic. In the team’s last four games, he has played 5, 23, 7, and 6 minutes. This has caused his scoring average to regress back down to 5.7 per, despite him shooting with nearly the safe efficiency that he always has.
Low-Cost, High Production Will Entice Rival Franchises
The change in minutes won’t deter rival NBA franchises from trying to pry Keon Ellis away from Sacramento, though. There have been reports regarding calls being to the Kings and gauging their interest in a deal, and some say that Ellis is a more valuable piece than the “stars” on the roster who may be on the trade block.
With Sacramento already having picked up his team option, Ellis is now in the final year of a deal worth only about $2.3 million, making him one of the league’s biggest bargains.
LaVine, Others Will Be Tougher To Move With Large Contracts
In stark contrast, LaVine is earning close to $47 million, Sabonis is making roughly $42 million, and DeRozan sits in the $24–25 million range. Those massive contracts limit the number of teams that can realistically participate in trade talks, whereas Ellis’s tiny cap hit makes him plug-and-play for virtually any contender or rebuilding team.
In a league where financial flexibility matters as much as talent, Ellis’s expiring, low-cost deal is exactly the kind of asset front offices covet. It allows them to add a high-impact role player without long-term financial commitment, though any team that trades for Ellis would likely be quick to getting a multi-year deal done.
