7 Biggest Trades in Sacramento Kings History, Ranked

The Sacramento Kings had perenially short championship basketball odds after going on several deep playoff runs in the 2000s.

Some of the deals they made helped them improve their NBA odds of winning games.

With that said, what are the seven biggest trades in Sacramento Kings history? Let’s find out.

7 Biggest Sacramento Kings Trades in Team History

1. Oscar Robertson for Flynn Robinson and Charlie Paulk

The then-Cincinnati Royals dealt Oscar Robertson to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1970, as Robertson and Lew Alcindor (presently known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) formed one of the best duos in NBA history, winning a championship together in 1971.

Robertson had 176 of his 181 triple-doubles as a member of the Royals. He held the NBA’s record for the most triple-doubles for over 47 years.  

2. Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe for Chris Webber

Chris Webber helped elevate the Kings in a deep Western Conference as soon as he was acquired from the Washington Wizards in 1998.

He finished with MVP votes in each of his first five seasons in Sacramento and helped the Kings push Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and the Los Angeles Lakers to seven games in the 2002 Western Conference finals.

Webber averaged 24.3 points on 51.3% shooting, 10.9 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in that thrilling series.

3. Rights to Billy Owens for Mitch Richmond and Les Jepsen

Mitch Richmond was traded from the Golden State Warriors to Sacramento in 1991, as he was nothing but a bucket during his time with the Kings.

Richmond averaged no less than 21.9 points per game and made five All-NBA teams while rocking a Kings jersey.

4. Jason Williams and Nick Anderson for Mike Bibby and Brent Price

Jason “White Chocolate” Williams was insanely popular due to his crazy handles and playmaking skills, but Mike Bibby helped the Kings get to the Western Conference finals following this trade with the Vancouver Grizzlies in 2001.

Bibby put up at least 19 points in every game of the legendary Kings-Lakers series in 2002.

5. DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi for Tyreke Evans, Buddy Hield, Langston Galloway, First-Round Pick, and Second-Round Pick

DeMarcus Cousins was averaging nearly 28 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists at the time he was dealt in 2017.

However, the Kings weren’t winning many games, so they traded their franchise player to the New Orleans Pelicans to pair Cousins with Anthony Davis.

Cousins suffered a torn Achilles injury after his time in Sacramento and was never the same after that, but Kings fans got to see the Kentucky product grow into a superstar talent right before their eyes.

6. Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson for Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, Second-Round Pick

Many fans and media members thought the Kings made a major mistake trading Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers in 2022.

However, Domantas Sabonis has become a triple-double machine in Sacramento, as he helped bring the Kings back to their first playoff appearance in 17 years in 2023.

Sabonis has been named to two All-NBA teams since coming to Sacramento.

7. De’Aaron Fox, Jordan McLaughlin, and Kevin Huerter for Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, Thee First-Round Picks, and Three Second-Round Picks

De’Aaron Fox was a homegrown star who developed a nice relationship with the Sacramento fans. 

The speedy, shifty guard helped change the culture of a franchise that was used to losing, earning the Clutch Player of the Year award in 2023.

He was dealt to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team deal featuring the Chicago Bulls, as the Kings acquired high-flyer Zach LaVine.

LaVine could help the Kings keep their winning ways going after the Fox era.