When the Sacramento Kings pulled off a sign-and-trade to acquire top star, their intention was to become a serious contender in the Western Conference. However, that plan fell short, as the team missed the playoffs for a second consecutive year — marking the 18th time in 19 seasons they’ve failed to qualify.
Now, with a new front office and largely overhauled coaching staff, the Kings are looking to reshape their roster. Still, last summer’s veteran star’s trade has created a clear timeline — the team can’t afford to delay its return to competitiveness much longer.
To acquire DeMar DeRozan, the Kings had to give up Harrison Barnes, Chris Duarte, a couple of second-round picks, and most notably, a 2031 first-round pick swap—sent to the San Antonio Spurs.
A pick swap allows the receiving team—in this case, the Spurs—to choose between their own draft position and the other team’s. So if the Kings end up picking 19th and the Spurs 29th in the 2031 NBA Draft, San Antonio can opt to swap and move up ten spots.
For the Kings, the key is to ensure they’re the better team by that time, so the pick swap isn’t in the Spurs’ favor. That gives Sacramento about six years to build a stronger roster than San Antonio.
But that won’t be easy. Right now, the Kings appear directionless and lack highly valuable trade assets. The Spurs, on the other hand, have a stockpile of draft picks, a promising young core, and a generational talent in Victor Wembanyama.
Ultimately, the DeRozan trade hasn’t delivered the results Sacramento hoped for. To minimize the long-term consequences, the Kings need to complete their rebuild or retooling process before the 2030–31 season begins.