NBA Trade Rumors: Kings’ Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Davion Mitchell Available

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJanuary 5, 2024

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The Sacramento Kings have reportedly made Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter and Davion Mitchell available for trade, per Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, who provided more information.

“The Kings have been calling opposing front offices to gauge the value of packaging Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Not exactly the youthful tandem that came back from New York, and Sacramento won’t consider moving sophomore sharpshooter Keegan Murray, sources said.

“But Sacramento has third-year guard Davion Mitchell available for trade, and the Kings hold future picks beyond this year’s first rounder owed to Atlanta to help facilitate any deal before next month’s deadline. Huerter, it should be noted, was recently moved to Mike Brown’s bench in exchange for Chris Duarte.”

The Kings, who made the playoffs last year for the first time in 17 seasons, are in position for another postseason run thanks to a 20-13 record, good enough for fifth in the Western Conference. Now it appears the team could be looking to make moves in advance of the Feb. 8 trade deadline in hopes of another playoff push.

Barnes is taking a career-low 7.8 field goal attempts per game as he becomes less of a focal point in the Kings’ offense. He’s still shot well (48.3 percent from the field, 39.9 percent from three) en route to averaging 11.3 points in 30.0 minutes per game.

The 31-year-old is in his sixth season in Sacramento, who re-signed with the team on a three-year, $54 million contract last offseason.

Huerter, a 25-year-old wing in his fifth NBA season, has seen his playing time dip from 29.4 MPG last year to 23.7 this year. It’s been a tough year for the former Atlanta Hawk, as he’s averaging 9.9 points on just 41.8 percent shooting.

He’s been capable of better play (15.2 PPG, 48.5 percent shooting in 2022-23) but has since fallen out of the starting lineup in favor of Chris Duarte. Huerter is on the second year of a four-season, $65 million contract.

Mitchell joined the team as the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft out of Baylor. Unfortunately, playing time has been hard to come by, and he’s seen it steadily decrease over his three seasons.

This year, Mitchell is averaging just 13.2 minutes per game, shooting only 36.7 percent from the field while averaging 3.7 PPG. Like Huerter, the 25-year-old is capable of better play, as he shot 45.4 percent the year before.

It’s possible changes of scenery will be better for all three players. In the interim, though, they remain Kings with the trade deadline looming in one month.