In order to completely understand the moves a team makes the timeline of events must be listed as well.
Pre Draft
No moves made pre draft
Draft
Trade up from 13 to 6 by shipping out Kevin Huerter, a 2025 SRP, and a 2027 FRP swap for Seth Curry and Cody Martin
Explanation: Going up from 13 to 6 allows the Kings to select the wing they want to be a long term answer.
Pick 6 the Kings select Cody Williams
Pick 45 the Kings select Jamal Shead
Kings view Williams as a perfect compliment to Fox, Sabonis, and Keegan so they go up and select him.
Free Agency
The obvious most important and first thing the Kings do is resign Malik Monk to a maximum 4 year 78 million dollar deal. This does include a player option in the final year.
The Kings needing to decrease payroll trade off Chris Duarte and Davion Mitchell to the Jazz in a 3 team deal that includes sending Sasha Vezenkov to the Spurs. It costs the Kings a 2029 FRP swap to the Jazz. They also receive a 2029 SRP from the Spurs.
After comfortably getting below the luxury line the Kings are able to split their MLE by signing Russell Westbrook to a 3 year 17 million dollar deal. It starts at 5.4 million and includes a team option on the final season.
The other part of the MLE includes signing Naji Marshall to a 3 year deal worth 24 million dollar deal that includes a player option in the final year. This begins at 7.4 million, the rest of the MLE available.
Kings also resign Alex Len to a 1 year minimum contract.
Resigning Kessler Edwards to a 2 year contract worth the minimum with the final year being a player option.
Start of Season
Starting lineup:
De'Aaron Fox
Keon Ellis
Cody Martin
Keegan Murray
Damontas Sabonis
The bench got a little better this offseason by adding Westbrook and Cody Williams but also by moving Barnes to the bench. Monk is still the standout 6 man who helps close games. Trey Lyles is still solid getting the majority of the backup center minutes.
During the season
The starting lineup doesn't work as planned causing Mike Brown to begin shuffling the lineups. He tries starting Naji Marshall instead of Cody Martin before switching to rookie Cody Williams before finally going back to Harrison Barnes in the starting lineup. This helps but the team struggles to make it into the top 6 and instead fight for a spot in the playin all year. Seth Curry has a few standout moments but mostly doesn't get the run time to make a big impact. Barnes is shopped at the deadline as well.