Why Sacramento Kings Are Listed ‘Worst Landing Spot’ For Jimmy Butler Trade, The Reason Is Simple
The Sacramento Kings are turning a corner. While the move to fire Mike Brown was ridiculed, it’s seemingly paying off now. Seven wins in a row later, and it’s becoming more clear why the club moved on from a decision-maker that recently won Coach of the Year. Doug Christie, the team’s interim head coach, has been superb since stepping into the new role and looks to be well on his way to removing the interim tag. Evidently, what was once a spinning cycle of trade rumors for the Kings has calmed. No, they no longer need to acquire a star player, and blowing it up and selling the roster would be quite absurd.
Sacramento is still a playoff-level team. They’re figuring the season out in real-time. While the Kings have turned the corner, they still seem to be a tier or two away from being a legitimate contender. They’re a playoff squad, but they can’t quite take down a true contender in a seven-game series. One superstar is available on the trade market, though, that being Jimmy Butler.
However, Bleacher Report is sending out a strong message — the Kings should stay away from the Miami Heat forward. Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler. Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Along with Butler being an aging star and well beyond his prime, he simply doesn’t provide what the Kings need. He’s not going to be the top option for a team like Sacramento and lead them to the NBA Finals like he did the Heat in his prime.
If Sacramento targets a superstar or star in a trade, that player better have one good quality: 3-point shooting. “Today, Sacramento is a team without a defensive anchor (though it’s near the top 10 in defensive efficiency this season). In his mid-30s and as a wing, it’s too much to ask of Butler to be that,” Bleacher Report wrote. “And the trickier issue might be on the other end. Butler is often on the ball and doesn’t shoot threes in volume. The Kings are in dire need of additional three-point shooting, and Butler just wouldn’t provide that.” In short, the Kings either need to stand pat and embrace a playoff run, albeit a difficult one, or be patient to land a star player who can help fit into the system and provide what the team needs.
