Barely a year into his tenure as head of basketball operations for the Sacramento Kings, general manager Monte McNair is feeling the pressure to net a big fish.
The Kings are interested in pursuing a blockbuster deal for either the Toronto Raptors' Pascal Siakam or the Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons, sources told the Sacramento Bee's Jason Anderson.
The 27-year-old Siakam, a one-time All-NBA second-team selection and the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2019, doesn't want to be traded from Toronto, a source told Anderson. Still, newly extended Raptors boss Masai Ujiri - now vice chairman and president of the organization - is reportedly listening to offers for the Cameroonian power forward.
Simmons, 25, has been the subject of trade rumors since the start of last season when the three-time All-Star's name was attached to potential deals centered around then-Houston Rockets star James Harden.
A shaky 2021 playoff run by Simmons has added to the expectations that the forward could use a fresh start. The 76ers have reportedly been engaged in trade talks with multiple teams regarding the former No. 1 overall pick.
The Kings haven't qualified for the playoffs - or even posted a winning record - since 2006, the longest active postseason drought in the NBA. Sacramento finished 31-41 in each of the past two pandemic-shortened seasons.
