According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Sacramento Kings are a player away from being a legitimate threat in the Western Conference. The team’s strong performance this season, with De’Aaron Fox on the court, has been impressive. In games where Fox has played, the Kings have won 6 out of 7 and have a +13.7 point differential per 100 possessions.

However, as Charania notes, the Kings are likely to be aggressive at the deadline in order to acquire that missing piece. This could involve making trades for star players such as Pascal Siakam or Zach Lavine. While there may be some concerns about the perception of Sacramento as a destination for free agents, Williams is confident that winning will change that perception.

“You ever been to Sacramento, Shams?… Great basketball environment, but nobody’s going,” said Williams during an interview on Fanduel’s Run it Back podcast. However, Williams also acknowledged that winning can help change perceptions and make Sacramento more attractive to potential free agents and trade targets.

Charania believes that the Kings will need to overpay for any top free agent they want to acquire in order to make them interested in coming to Sacramento. However, he also notes that depending on who becomes available closer to the trade deadline, the Kings may have a chance at acquiring any of these players through trades.

Ultimately, whether or not Sacramento can make a trade and acquire a top player remains to be seen. But with their strong performance so far this season and their determination to improve their roster at all costs, they are definitely a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.