The Sacramento Kings were in a much different position a month ago. Instead of winning nine of their last 11 games, there was internal friction as their season was spiraling.

Since then, head coach Mike Brown was fired and replaced by interim Doug Christie. Also, all of the national scuttlebutt around De’Aaron Fox potentially forcing his way out of Sacramento has died off entirely.

What happened? Well, Christie helped galvanize a locker room, bringing a group together that was teetering on collapse.

The Kings’ advanced metrics post-coaching change suggest that buy-in has been restored:

118.4 offensive rating (5th)

110.8 defensive rating (6th)

+7.6 net rating (4th)

Sacramento joins the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics as the only teams ranked in the top-six in both offensive and defensive rating over the last three weeks.

As the Kings are locked in on both ends of the court, surging up the Western Conference standings currently slotted as the No. 8 seed, they remain one of the most active teams around the NBA in trade talks.

Since the offseason, Sacramento has been canvassing the trade market utilizing two players totaling over $20 million in salary: Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles. Recently, the Kings have checked in with the Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz utilizing this framework, a league source confirmed to me.

The Kings appear to have a plan in place to improve their roster ahead of the February 6th NBA trade deadline. Sacramento has kept dialogue going lately with the Nets and Jazz centered on two potential targets: Cam Johnson and John Collins.

This season, Johnson is averaging 19.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 42.6% on three-pointers. Meanwhile, Collins is posting resurgent numbers in Utah: 17.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 43.8 3PT%, 63.2 true shooting percentage.

For both Brooklyn and Utah, who have let it be known they want to tank for generational 2025 NBA Draft prospect Cooper Flagg at Duke, they have strong trade interest forming on both players.

Sacramento’s aggressive nature in trade talks has ramped up lately, especially as it relates to Johnson and Collins, but they are also being smart in how they approach the market.

Up to this point, Sacramento has shown no willingness to include Keegan Murray or Devin Carter in trade talks with Brooklyn for Johnson, per source. This is notable, because Brooklyn is well-known to be holding out for a strong return package in any trade involving their improved veteran wing.

Johnson appears to be Sacramento’s Plan A option, but if another team beats out their offer, they are poised to pivot rather quickly.

Keep a very close eye on the Kings’ interest in Collins, who will cost significantly less than Johnson while not sacrificing any of their premium young core members in Murray and Carter.

Utah and Sacramento have indeed held exploratory trade talks about Collins, which would include sending Huerter out as the primary salary. And even though the Jazz hope to acquire a first-round pick for Collins, the market hasn’t proven strong in that facet.

Sacramento can avoid the luxury tax while acquiring Collins by including Huerter and Lyles alongside what would likely become second-round draft capital and/or a protected future first-round pick swap. Collins holds a player option for next season, but the early read is he will opt-in at $26.5 million due to the limited market of teams with cap space in the summer.

If the Kings were to acquire Collins, here is how their rotation could potentially look:

Starters = De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, John Collins, Domantas Sabonis

Second Unit = Devin Carter, Keon Ellis, Malik Monk, Alex Len

For the Kings, it now becomes a preferred preference between Johnson and Collins. Are they willing to pay a heavier price to acquire Johnson, who barely makes over $20 million annually through the 2026-27 season? If not, the Jazz are ready to talk business as it relates to Collins.

One thing is certain as the time ticks down until February 6th: Sacramento is preparing to finally make an important mid-season trade.

For years, the Kings have been patient waiting for the right opportunity. Now, that opportunity is knocking rather loudly for Kings general manager Monte McNair.