TRADE: Raptors & Kings Pull Off Deal

The Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings have pulled off a three-player deal, with the Raptors sending Jalen McDaniels to the West Coast in return for Davion Mitchell and Sasha Vezenkov.

The Raptors are sending Jalen McDaniels to the Kings in the deal, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/7wsl5cI2sx

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2024

The Kings are also sending the Raptors the 45th pick in the second round of the NBA Draft Thursday night.

Point guard Davion Mitchell was the No. 9 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and had a promising rookie season in Sacramento, averaging 11.5 points with 4.2 assists while playing over 27 minutes per game. But his usage and production diminished the past two seasons, sliding to only 5.3 points and 1.9 assists by this past year, in only 15 minutes a night. 

Mitchell's defense is his calling card however, as in his freshman year at Baylor, he won the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award, NABC Defensive Player of the Year award and the Lefty Driesell Award as the top defensive player in the nation. He'll provide the Raptors a much-needed perimeter defender.

Vezenkov is a 28-year-old from Cyprus who was drafted in 2017, but just came over to the NBA this past season and received only 12 minutes per game.

For the Kings, this trade allows them to get under the tax, and perhaps could also be a precursor to an even bigger move coming soon. McDaniels was an afterthought for the Raptors, and has one season and $4.7 million left on his contract.

Photo: © Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports