Several teams have reportedly contacted the Sacramento Kings to inquire about fourth-year guard Keon Ellis, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
Kings Fielding Trade Offers For Veterans
After a 41-point loss to a Ja Morant-less Memphis Grizzlies squad, league sources told Fischer that Sacramento is willing to listen to offers for multiple players on the roster, especially deals for veteran stars.
“The King who appears to hold the most immediate trade value: Keon Ellis. More than half the league has called on him, one source with knowledge of the situation told The Stein Line,” Fischer wrote.
However, Fischer noted that two players in particular are off limits.
“Just don’t get your hopes up about your favorite team acquiring the recently re-signed Keegan Murray. … or last June’s prized first-round pick Nique Clifford. Sources say both will be off the table in upcoming trade talks,” he added.
Murray signed a five-year, $140 million rookie contract extension with the Kings last month, while Clifford has been utilized as a reserve in his rookie season after spending three years at Colorado and two at Colorado State.
As for Ellis, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard went undrafted out of Alabama in 2022 and signed a two-way contract with the Kings. He averaged just 1.5 points off the bench in 16 games of his rookie 2022-23 campaign.
Keon Ellis Had Breakout Year Last Season
In 80 games (28 starts) last season, Ellis averaged career highs of 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 24.4 minutes per contest while shooting career bests of 48.9% from the floor and 84.9% from the foul line.
Per Basketball Reference, Ellis finished fifth in steals (121), eighth in 3-point percentage (43.4%), fifth in true shooting percentage (66.4%), and 11th in defensive box plus/minus (2.0).
In Sacramento’s 109-108 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 18, 2024, he recorded a career-high 33 points on 9-of-17 (52.9%) shooting from the field and 9-of-15 (60%) from beyond the arc.
Ellis, who entered the game averaging 5.3 points per game last season, made his first six 3s in the first half and became the fifth player in franchise history to make nine 3-pointers in a game.
Through 16 appearances (two starts) this season, Ellis is averaging 6.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 18.1 minutes per outing, with a shooting line of 44.0/42.4/70.0.
According to Spotrac, the second two-way deal that Ellis signed in July 2023 was converted into a three-year, $5.1 million rest-of-season contract in Feb. 2024.
His $2.3 million team option for this season becomes fully guaranteed on Jan. 10.
