Why the Kevin Huerter Trade was Good for the Sacramento Kings?

Posted on by Jack Marks

The Sacramento Kings recently announced that Kevin Huerter has been acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Justin Holiday, Maurice Harkless, and a future first-round draught selection. The Atlanta Hawks have been active in the trade market throughout free agency. The Kings, who have now missed the playoffs for 16 straight seasons, have been trying to turn things around this offseason.

The Kings began doing this in the middle of the 2021–22 season when they acquired All-Star Domantas Sabonis through trade, and they have since continued to do so after selecting Mike Brown as their new head coach.

Kevin Huerter Sacramento Kings

The Kings also made a move on the first day of free agency, signing De’Aaron Fox’s old colleague at Kentucky, Malik Monk, with the fourth selection in this year’s draught, giving some much-needed scoring depth on the wings. Sacramento needs to add shooting, shooting, and a little more shooting, according to McNair, who is entering his third season as the Kings’ general manager.

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Sacramento Kings make a statement with Kevin Huerter trade

Given that Kevin Huerter is on a reasonable deal and can be an immediate source of scoring for them in any rotation, trading for him made a tonne of sense for Sacramento, as they still needed some more depth out on the perimeter and on the wings. In the exchange, the Kings handed up nothing that would harm them.

Holiday and Harkless, two seasoned players who are approaching the final year of their contracts, really didn’t have a clear or, to be honest, vital spot in the planned rotation. Sacramento still retains its first-round pick in 2023, regardless of how the upcoming season plays out. Huerter, on the other hand, helps the Kings.

Sacramento was 29th as a team in catch-and-shoot 3-pointers made per game (7.8) and drained them at a 35.8 percent clip, which was 22nd. Huerter shot 41.9 percent on roughly two catch-and-shoot threes per game for the Hawks last year. The Kings now have effective 3-point shooters to surround offensive guard De’Aaron Fox and big man Domantas Sabonis after adding Huerter, forward Harrison Barnes, and forward Malik Monk to the mix.

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