In an effort to clear salary, the Kings have reportedly traded guard Nik Stauskas and fowards Carl Landry and Jason Thompson to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Kings will receive international players in the deal, which was first reported by by Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
The deal will also reportedly see the Kings and 76ers swap several first round picks.
Sacramento is trading Jason Thompson and Carl Landry as part of a salary dump to the Philadelphia 76ers, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2015
The Kings are sending Nik Stauskus to the 76ers as part of the deal too, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2015
Sacramento is clearing the space for a pursuit in free agency, league sources tell Yahoo. Stauskas had been pursued by several teams.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2015
Sources: 76ers sending the rights of oveseas players to Kings. Philly wanted Stauskas and will take on Thompson/Landry salaries.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2015
Sixers will receive a protected 1st-round pick from the Kings, and swap rights w/ Sacto in the 1st round of two other drafts, sources say.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) July 2, 2015
The move clears more than $16 million in salary cap space for the Kings next season. Stauskas is owed $2.8 million next season, Landry $6.5 million and Thompson $6.4 million.
Sacramento has been pursuing free-agent guards Rajon Rondo, Wesley Matthews and Monta Ellis, among others, to join DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay. Now they have space to add possibly two of those players.
The Kings, after completing this trade, will have the salary-cap space to outbid Indiana for a free agent they've long coveted: Monta Ellis
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 2, 2015
The Kings clearing the salary cap space to pursue free agents Rajon Rondo and Wes Matthews, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2015
Stauskas struggled after being drafted by the Kings eighth overall last year, but it was a difficult season for any rookie as the team fired two coaches and had a front-office shake-up. Thompson just completed his seventh season and was Sacramento's longest-tenured player. Landry, an eight-year veteran, has battled injuries since coming to Sacramento two years ago.
While Thompson has long wanted out of Sacramento and Landry has had trouble staying on the court, parting ways with Stauskas after just one season surely stings. Stauskas averaged 4.4 points while shooting 36.5 percent from the floor and never showed signs of transitioning to the NBA after a stellar career at Michigan.
The Kings didn't do much to help Stauskas succeed, either. They fired Michael Malone after an 11-13 start, dismissed Tyrone Corbin after he went 7-21 and then hired George Karl, who is still trying to win over Cousins and the rest of the locker room.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
