Lakers Eye Kings Guard Keon Ellis as Kings Seek Protected First-Round Pick
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League insiders say the Sacramento Kings are asking for a protected first-round pick in exchange for guard Keon Ellis, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike.
Ellis, who turns 26 in January, is earning $2.3 million this season and owns a career 41.8% mark from three-point range. His low salary and reputation as a capable defender make him attractive to teams that have limited cap flexibility.
Evaluators, however, are split on the fourth-year guard’s true impact. One executive described Ellis as “maybe the most divisive player in the league,” noting that rival scouts like his upside while Kings coaches Mike Brown and Doug Christie have been reluctant to rely on him. After starting 28 games and averaging 24.4 minutes last season, Ellis has logged only two starts and 17.6 minutes per game in 2025-26.
Some skeptics believe his defense focuses more on forcing turnovers than on consistently containing opponents, while others question whether his 6-foot-3 frame can handle bigger guards. Any team trading for Ellis would also face the risk of losing him in July; he hits unrestricted free agency unless an extension is reached after he becomes eligible on Feb. 9.
The Los Angeles Lakers are among the clubs weighing Ellis as a target for additional backcourt defense. Other names on their radar, per Woike, include Pelicans forward Herbert Jones, Heat forward Andrew Wiggins, Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., Nets guard Terance Mann, Hornets wing Josh Green, and Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu. Availability and cost remain uncertain for many of those players.
Los Angeles controls only one tradable first-round pick—either in 2031 or 2032—plus a 2032 second-rounder and several possible first-round swap options. Rookie swingman Dalton Knecht, selected in the first round in 2024, has seen his trade value dip after sliding out of head coach JJ Redick’s regular rotation.
Source: HoopsRumors
