Los Angeles Lakers fans will get a glimpse of Keon Ellis, one of the franchise’s reported trade targets, during their Pacific Division clash against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.
Incidentally, Ellis made just his second start of the season on Saturday, finishing with 21 points, three steals and two blocks in the Kings’ 113-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The 3-and-D wing got a rare start due to an injury to Keegan Murray, who has been diagnosed with a mild calf strain.
With Murray expected to miss at least a week of action, Ellis is likely to start again on Sunday in the away clash against the Lakers.
Lakers Trade Target: Keon Ellis
Ellis, averaging 17.1 minutes, has not been utilized consistently by Kings head coach Doug Christie this season, leading many to believe that his days in Sacramento are numbered. A part of that reason is his impending free agency, which was set in motion after the Kings did not offer him a contract extension last offseason.
Despite not finding a steady role in Sacramento, scouts around the league are fascinated with Ellis’ talents. A career 41.8% three-pointer shooter, he has showcased the ability to be an elite perimeter defender in his four seasons with the Kings.
Due to Ellis’ contract situation, the Kings have a relatively low asking price for him in a potential trade, per The Athletic’s Dan Woike. The Kings would be willing to part with Ellis for a restricted first-round pick, a price the Lakers can match.
Why Lakers Love Keon Ellis
Woike’s report added that the Lakers “won’t be alone in their pursuit” of Ellis, and a whole bunch of teams will target the Kings wing ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline.
One NBA GM relayed the same sentiment to Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney.
“At least half the league has asked about him,” the GM said about Ellis. “The Lakers tend to get talked about more, but everyone loves him.”
The exec highlighted that despite Ellis’ erratic season, his expiring contract ($2.3M) and his ability to be a plug-and-play piece make him a fascinating prospect.
“He has not even played that great this season, but he has a couple things going for him that are pushing his market,” the GM said of Ellis. “One, he is plug-and-play. Everybody needs another guy who can knock down shots and defend on the perimeter.
“Two, he is cheap. He makes ($2.3) million. You can take a guy off the end of your bench, put a couple of second-round picks in the deal and come away with a guy who would be in anyone’s rotation right now.”
The Kings (8-23) could reportedly hold a fire sale of their roster ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, making Ellis possibly available.
Besides Ellis, other Lakers trade targets reportedly include Miami Heat’s Andrew Wiggins and New Orleans Pelicans‘ Herb Jones. They could also target the Dallas Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford to shore up their rim protection, per several insiders.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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