The Detroit Pistons Delon Wright traded to the Sacramento Kings for Cory Joseph, and two second-round draft selections (2021 and 2024).
This trade was executed just minutes after the Sacramento Kings big win on Wednesday night over the HOT Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks were winners of 8 of their previous 9 games before losing to the Kings last night 110-108.
Sacramento Kings postgame crew of Jim Kozimor, and Kayte Christensen were breaking down the Kings win when the news of the CoJo trade broke LIVE on air. Even the infamous trade-breaker himself, ‘Woj’, was taken by surprise when the trade broke while he was LIVE on air with Scott Van Pelt on ESPN.
Delon Wright Traded to the Sacramento Kings
What does the 28-year-old, 6’5″ 185 lbs, Delon Wright add to the Kings? His per-game averages this season are 29.2 minutes, 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5 assists. Wright is shooting 46.4% FG, 34.8% 3pt FG, 78.9% free throws.
Wright is under contract next season as well, where he will be slated to make 8.5 million dollars. This addition will complicate the re-signing of Richaun Holmes, salary-wise. There are still moves to be made before the NBA trade deadline Thursday 3/25, as well as the offseason.
My Takes
As of today, Thursday 3/25/2021, the Sacramento Kings have a record of 19-25. They have gone 4-1 over their previous 5 games.
In the NBA western conference standings the Kings currently sit at 12th place, only 3 games back of the 10th seed Golden State Warriors (22-22). The Kings play the Warriors TONIGHT in the second game of a back to back for the Kings. Steph Curry will be out of the game due to injury. The outcome of this game COULD be a BIG shake up in the western conference ‘play-in’ scene.
Some Kings fans and media members would instead point at the stat of the Kings being only 2 or so games back of a top 5 WORST record in the NBA. Nothing wrong with that, I’d be down for Jalen Suggs or Cade Cunningham next to Fox and Haliburton!
Currently though, I think the Kings have more to gain from a potential play-in push, and experience, rather than ‘tanking’. I say this less than 3 hours away from the 3/25 NBA trade deadline.
I personally think this Wright move is GREAT for the Kings. This is a sign the Kings are making a run at the playoff ‘play-in’ this season, as well as setting themselves up for next season! Delon Wright helps us NOW.
This also sets the Kings up to have Haliburton and Fox be the two main ball handlers. Luke Walton has said that he wants to have at least one of those two on the floor at all times.
I do not think the Kings need to add another point guard to the roster. Players are so ‘fluid’ in today’s NBA … being REQUIRED to handle the ball, guard multiple positions, shoot, etc. Wright adds that element to the Kings, where CoJo did not.
The Kings will miss the presence of CoJo as a leader in the locker room and especially to the Kings young players. Tyrese Haliburton even went as far as to say as CoJo has been a ‘big brother’ to him since his arrival in Sactown.
This move makes the Kings better now, and in the future. It also sets a precedent that they are willing to make some upgrades, change and take ACTION. I am excited to see what Kings general manager Monte McNair has in store for the future!
What Do YOU Think?
Let me know what you think about this trade, the future, the past, the present, WHATEVER … on my Twitter @sactowncrown
Go Kings!
-Tom Witt
Tom Witt Writes 