The Kings disturbed by the approach of the “trade deadline”?

After the exchange between OG Anunoby and the Quickley-Barrett pair between Raptors and Knicks, the Pacers may have launched in earnest the start of major maneuvers as the trade deadline approaches with the arrival of Pascal Siakam to Indianapolis. The market could still be shaken up between now and February 8, the deadline for making trades, since several high-caliber players could pack their bags like a Dejounte Murray or a Zach LaVine.

Actors of the “trade deadline” two years ago with the departures of Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield to the Pacers to bring in Domantas Sabonis, the Kings could once again move the lines of their workforce to try to make it take another step forward . Except that while waiting for possible leads to be resolved, the players' brains seem to be wondering.

The series of four defeats for Mike Brown's men raises the question: are the players disturbed by the approach of February 8? For Kevin Huerter and Harrison Barnes, mentioned among the potential players on departure, this additional pressure as the end of January approaches is part of the game.

“This is a team that is trying to improve and looking for ways to become legitimate title contenders. I think for the most part all teams have a lot of names on the table except for a small handful of guys. “It’s part of the game in the NBA and the contract I signed,” slipped Kevin Huerter.

Stay professional, whatever happens

Harrison Barnes knows something about it having been traded… in the middle of a game! It was precisely during his transfer from the Mavs to the Kings in February 2019.

“It’s a billion-dollar business,” he recalled. “We get paid to do a job and this kind of thing is part of it. Everyone here is professional and we try to win matches. As long as players wear the Sacramento Kings uniform, they will have to respect a certain level of play.”

After a third loss against Phoenix on Tuesday, Malik Monk admitted that the pressure was perhaps exerted unconsciously in the minds of certain players. ” It's a good question. I really can't speak for others. It may be weighing on some people, but I haven't heard anything. I've spoken to everyone and they seem confident, so it's all good,” he confided.

Big deadlines to come

His coach, Mike Brown, also agreed that the situation could weigh on players likely to pack their bags overnight.

“Everyone is human, so everyone feels it in one way or another,” did he declare. “We can talk about it as much as we want, but at the end of the day, rumors and speculation are everywhere as the trade deadline approaches, every year, for all teams. It's part of our job. We have to deal with it and continue to move forward as best we can.”.

The schedule will not make it easier for the Kings in their quest for stability with a view to returning to victory, since after hosting Atlanta this Monday, Sacramento will begin a seven-game road trip!

A series which will end just before the trade deadline… For Domantas Sabonis, the time is not to look for someone responsible or to pull each other in the paws, but rather for sacred union.

“We don’t really talk about it. I don't think we've talked about it once this year. Maybe someone mentioned it the day we played Toronto, but other than that, it's not something we think about.”he added. ” Everyone is well. This is what characterizes this locker room. We are all united. We all like each other and we know what we have to do.”