NBA free agency: Sacramento Kings’ salary cap space, top targets and trade possibilities

The NBA’s summer free agency frenzy is about to begin. The Kings could be major players in the free agent and trade markets or they could choose to keep last season’s roster largely intact for another run at the playoffs.

Teams can start negotiating with free agents beginning at 3 p.m. Friday. The wheeling and dealing will be fast and furious with a wave of new deals reached in the first minutes of free agency, but contracts can’t be signed until the moratorium ends at 9:01 a.m. July 6.

The Kings could have nearly $35 million to spend if they renounce the rights to their own free agents, including Harrison Barnes, Terence Davis and Trey Lyles. A league source told The Sacramento Bee on Thursday the Kings have extended $1.8 million qualifying offers to two-way players Keon Ellis and Neemias Queta, who will be restricted free agents.

The Houston Rockets have the most buying power with $60.9 million in salary cap space followed by the San Antonio Spurs ($38.6 million), Kings ($34.8 million) and Indiana Pacers ($30.4 million).

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant and Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton have been identified as potential targets for Sacramento. However, Grant, Green and Middleton are expected to remain with their current teams, and the Rockets are rumored to be the top suitor for Kuzma after reports linked him to the Kings earlier this week.

The Kings have the best odds of signing Green (+200) and the second-best odds of signing Grant (+300) and Middleton (+500) if they leave their current teams, according to updated odds from SportsBetting.ag.

The Kings could also use their cap space in a trade. They have reportedly shown trade interest in Toronto Raptors forwards OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam. Toronto has been reluctant to part ways with the Anunoby and Siakam, but with reports suggesting Fred Van Vleet is headed to Houston, the Raptors might consider a rebuild. The same could be true for the Blazers if they end up trading Damian Lillard.

Sacramento cleared cap space in a draft day trade that sent 24^th overall pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper and veteran center Richaun Holmes to the Dallas Mavericks, but they will lose much of that financial flexibility if they bring back Barnes. In recent days, ESPN 1320’s James Ham and Sactown Sports 1140’s Carmichael Dave reported the Kings have restarted contract talks with Barnes after weeks of silence between the two parties.

There is also a possibility the Kings will use some of their newfound cap space to renegotiate and extend the contract of All-Star center Domantas Sabonis.

The Kings are looking to build on last season’s success after going to the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. General manager Monte McNair wouldn’t comment on free agency goals Tuesday when he held a news conference to introduce second-round draft picks Colby Jones and Jalen Slawson.

A league source told The Bee the Kings are exercising their team option on 22-year-old forward Kessler Edwards. Sacramento has eight players under contract for next season: De’Aaron Fox ($32.6 million), Sabonis ($22 million), Kevin Huerter ($15.7 million), Malik Monk ($9.9 million), Keegan Murray ($8.4 million), Davion Mitchell ($5 million), P.J. Dozier ($2.4 million) and Edwards ($1.9 million).