The Sacramento Kings are looking to improve their roster heading into the 2013-14 NBA season and reports indicated that they are looking to trade for Josh Smith and Rajon Rondo.
Marc Stein of ESPN reported that the Kings and the Detroit Pistons have resumed talks about a potential trade that would send the veteran forward to Sacramento this summer.
Sources indicated that the Kings are planning to package Derrick Williams or Jason Terry with Jason Thompson, but Pistons coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy is demanding for valuable assets in any trade for the high-flying forward.
Reports said that the Kings are now trying to find a third team to facilitate a trade for Smith, but no deal is imminent at this point. Analysts are still unsure how Smith will mesh up with Kings stars DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay, but Stein noted that coach Mike Malone wants to acquire the 28-year-old forward to improve their defense.
"Sources say the Kings continue to give the addition of Smith serious consideration, largely because the discussions to date have not required them to part with any players in their long-term plans and would also add a versatile and athletic defender to a roster that badly needs one, given how much Kings coach Mike Malone is known to preach defense," Stein wrote.
Another reason why the Kings are pushing for a trade for Smith is their long-standing pursuit of superstar point guard Rondo, who could be traded before the start of next season.
The Kings have been chasing Rondo for the past several months, but they want a long-term commitment from the All-Star point guard before striking a deal. The Kings are reportedly convinced that acquiring Smith, who is a close friend of Rondo, will help convince the 28-year-old point guard to play in Sacramento.
"Another potential bonus is Smith's close relationship with Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, whom Sacramento has been targeting in trade talks for some time," Stein wrote.
Boston.com reported that the Houston Rockets are also pursuing Rondo, but the Kings have the upper hand at this point because they have the assets that could entice the Celtics to part ways with the former Kentucky standout.
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