Kings considering Leaky Black promotion after Nique Clifford trade

The Kings’ next roster addition could already be in their locker room.

Sacramento is considering elevating Leaky Black from his two-way contract after agreeing to trade Nique Clifford to the Thunder, according to James Ham of The Kings Beat.

Ham reported that the Kings plan to spend a few days weighing their options, with a Black promotion “definitely on the table.”

The Clifford deal leaves Sacramento with 13 players on standard contracts. According to Ham, the Kings have 14 days to get back to 14, giving them some time to decide how to use the opening.

There’s also more financial room to work with. As salary cap analyst Keith Smith outlined, the trade puts the Kings approximately $6.4 million below the luxury tax and creates a trade exception worth about $3.3 million.

Sacramento is receiving two second-round picks for Clifford, the Jazz’s 2028 selection and the Timberwolves’ 2030 pick. The second-year wing had fallen out of the rotation after playing regularly as a rookie.

For Black, the move could provide an opportunity to secure a standard roster spot. For the Kings, it offers a chance to reward someone already in the organization while preserving room below the tax.

That doesn’t mean a decision has been made. Ham’s reporting indicates the Kings intend to consider their choices.

But after moving one young wing, they could use the resulting opening to make a bigger commitment to another.