Lakers face fierce competition! At least 10 teams are pursuing Ellis, Kings demand a late first-round draft pick

On January 23rd Beijing time, sources from the league and teams revealed that veteran guard Keon Ellis of the Kings continues to attract strong interest from multiple teams,with approximately 10 teams pursuing the 26-year-old player. This deal is nearly guaranteed to close before the trade deadline, possibly much earlier. Previous reports showed the Lakers are highly interested in Ellis. It seems the Purple and Gold will now face stiff rivalry.

Despite Ellis’s highly valued “3-and-D” skill set, Kings head coach Christy has benched him in the last two games.Sources say the Kings are aiming to receive a late first-round draft pick in exchange for him.

Meanwhile, the future movements of big man Sabonis remain closely watched in the coming weeks. When the Raptors visit the Kings, it’s easy to imagine Sabonis soon donning a Raptors jersey. Although the Wizards, Suns, and Bulls have shown interest in Sabonis, league insiders have confirmed earlier reports that the Toronto Raptors are indeed a serious potential destination as the trade deadline approaches.

It’s worth noting that Raptors player RJ Barrett is earning $27.7 million this season and $29.6 million next season. He was the third overall pick in the 2019 draft, selected from Duke University by the current Kings GM Scott Perry, who was then the GM for the Knicks. Before the game, these two old acquaintances warmly embraced and had a lengthy conversation at the Golden 1 Center.

As for DeMar DeRozan, there are reports that following Warriors player Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear on Monday night ruling him out for the rest of the season, DeRozan could be considered as a replacement option for the Warriors. However, a Kings insider stated that the Warriors have shown no interest in the 36-year-old guard. As widely reported, the Golden State Warriors remain keenly interested in New Orleans Pelicans player Trey Murphy III; the question is whether the Pelicans will change their stance to facilitate the trade, similar to the situation with Pelicans player Herb Jones.