The Sacramento Kings are fielding significant trade interest for forwards Keegan Murray and Keon Ellis, according to Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee.
Murray, 24, just completed his third year, starting all 76 games while averaging 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds in 34.3 minutes per game. He shot 44.4% from the field and 34.3% from three-point range.
Ellis, 25, also played a key role this past season. He appeared in 80 games and made 28 starts, contributing 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He shot an efficient 48.9% from the floor and 43.3% from beyond the arc.
Both players are entering the final year of their rookie-scale contracts. Murray is set to earn approximately $11 million in 2025–26, while Ellis will make $2.3 million.
Teams around the league are intrigued by the pair’s defensive potential and versatility. Murray, a 6-foot-8 wing, has shown flashes as a two-way forward capable of switching across multiple positions. Ellis has emerged as a reliable perimeter defender with strong shooting efficiency.
Despite the growing market, Sacramento has shown hesitation in engaging seriously. Anderson reported that the franchise remains “reluctant to part with either player given their age, versatility and defensive abilities.”
Following the departures of head coach Mike Brown and All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox earlier this year, the Kings are undergoing a retooling phase under new head coach Doug Christie. The front office is expected to explore roster changes this offseason after missing the playoffs for the second straight year.
Sacramento finished the 2024–25 season with a 40–42 record, good for 9th in the Western Conference. The team was eliminated in the play-in tournament by the Dallas Mavericks.
