The two ONLY untouchable players for the Sacramento Kings

The start of the season for the Sacramento Kings has been alarming. With a record of 4-13, the California franchise is going through one of its worst recent beginnings, despite the surprising victory against the Denver Nuggets last weekend. In this context, DeMar DeRozan has publicly denounced the team's situation with strong words, while his name—and that of other teammates—is starting to be rumored in NBA circles.

According to Jake Fischer, a journalist from Bleacher Report, the management of the Kings is considering the possibility of entertaining offers for almost the entire roster. Currently, only Keegan Murray and Nique Clifford are listed as untouchable players.

Clifford was selected in the first round of this year's Draft at position 24, while Murray joined Sacramento as a lottery choice in 2022, being the fourth overall pick.

Profile of the two protected players

Keegan Murray has established himself as a versatile forward capable of contributing at both ends of the court. He is a scorer with an outside shooting range, excelling in defense as well, making an impact from the perimeter to the post. This season, he has raised his average to 15 points per game, although struggling from beyond the arc, shooting below 30%.

On the other hand, Nique Clifford, a 1.96-meter shooting guard, has carved out a spot in the rotation with over 17 minutes per game, although his offensive contribution is still low, with 4.4 points per game. His physical strength and defensive aggressiveness have allowed him to handle tough matchups consistently.

With the exception of these two players, any other player could be part of discussions: DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, among others. With this scenario, the Kings are emerging as one of the most relevant news spots as the trade deadline approaches in a couple of months.