Keon Ellis is emerging as one of the more tossed-around names on the trade market ahead of the February 5 deadline.
Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line report that Sacramento has ramped up conversations involving the Kings guard, with the team sorting through multiple trade constructions.
Some of those scenarios could include Ellis being paired with a higher-salaried veteran such as Malik Monk or DeMar DeRozan.
Ellis is viewed as a classic three-and-D target. He owns a career three-point percentage above 41 percent, plays with defensive edge, and carries a team-friendly $2.3 million cap hit.
His role in Sacramento has fluctuated, and there are questions about his size and ability to handle bigger guards — but around the league, he is seen as an appealing plug-and-play piece. The Kings are believed to be seeking a late first-round pick.
It seems interest has been pretty broad, with roughly 14 teams checking in. That list reportedly includes the Pacers, Celtics, Knicks, both LA clubs, the Bucks, Warriors and Cavaliers.
From the Cavs’ perspective, any pursuit would require creative salary matching due to their second-apron constraints. Lonzo Ball and De’Andre Hunter are among the Cavs names that have surfaced in broader deadline conversations, with Hunter in particular viewed as a potential outgoing piece.
Ellis becomes extension-eligible on February 9 and could reach unrestricted free agency this summer if no deal is reached. That adds a little urgency to things as far as Sacramento is concerned.
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