4 Main Suitors for Kings' Trade Candidate Keon Ellis

The Sacramento Kings are in sell-mode, but for some reason, a team that is going into a rebuild is apparently willing to move promising young 3-and-D guard Keon Ellis. The 25-year-old is a versatile defender on the perimeter who has been knocking down threes at a rate of better than 41% in each of the last three seasons.

His minutes are down this season, and the Kings are taking calls on him, confirms insider Marc Stein. Ellis will be an unrestricted free agent after the season unless there's a change of heart and the Kings start negotiating an extension when he's eligible in February after the trade deadline.

In the meantime, until then, Ellis will be an in-demand player on the trade market, and insider Evan Sidery suggests that there will be four main suitors for him.

Keon Ellis will generate a very strong trade market as the Kings prepare to be one of the top deadline sellers.

The Lakers, Rockets, Timberwolves, and Warriors are among the contending teams expected to show interest in the versatile 3-and-D guard during trade season. pic.twitter.com/OXvIh62uOw
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) November 28, 2025

LA Lakers

They're off to a tremendous start to the season at 14-4, but they still could stand to use some improvement on the defensive side of the ball. The Lakers currently rank 15th on the NBA in defensive rating. They've been strongly linked to interest in Ellis, and adding an elite perimeter defender like that would take this team up a notch.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets will get a close-up view of Ellis, as the Kings visit Houston this week. Any team that considers itself a true contender can always use a bolstering of their perimeter defense, and Ellis would be another nice piece for the Rockets. A recent trade proposal pitched by the All NBA Podcast (h/t Fadeaway World) suggested that the Rockets send Josh Okogie, the injured Fred VanVleet, and a 2027 first-round pick to SacTown in exchange for Ellis and Malik Monk.

Golden State Warriors

Another team that's been linked to Ellis, the Warriors are in great need to supplement their perimeter defense. Opponents often exploit their inability to stop drives to the basket due to a lack of elite perimeter stoppers. Ellis would be a huge boost here.

Minnesota Timberwolves

A 3-and-D man is not really what Minnesota needs at this point. They rank fourth in the NBA in three-point percentage, and with the likes of Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards, the T-Wolves aren't exactly lacking in perimeter defense either. While they are in need of is help at point guard, Ellis doesn't really fit the bill, as that is not his true position. This is the only team on this list that doesn't make a whole lot of sense here.