REVEALED: HOW KEON ELLIS’ $2.3M CONTRACT BECAME THE LEAGUE’S ULTIMATE TRADE LEVERAGE TOOL
The Los Angeles Lakers are high on Keon Ellis as Sacramento demands a first-round pick. Inside the NBA's weirdest trade war.
The Lakers always get attention, and everyone loves an underdog story. Keon Ellis from the Kings is one: an overlooked guy from a football-focused school who wasn't drafted but worked hard to find his place in the NBA.
He's in his fourth year with Sacramento. They started him as a two-way player and moved him to a regular contract. He got better each year, scoring 8.3 points and shooting well from three (43.3%) last season. Plus, he became known as a tough defender.
But now, the Kings are struggling (6-22) after trying to build a playoff team. So, people are noticing Ellis, not just for his defence or shooting, but because many teams want to trade for him once the Kings start selling off players from this disappointing season. Surprisingly, Ellis is a popular name on the trade market.
One NBA GM said, Almost everyone in the league has asked about him. The Lakers are often mentioned, but…
The Strange Case of Keon Ellis This Season
What makes the Ellis interest even weirder is that he's had minor injuries, and his role has decreased this year. He's only averaging 5.3 points, shooting 39.5% from the field and 35.6% from three. His shooting is the worst it's ever been, and he's playing fewer minutes (17.3 per game) compared to last year (24.4).
Yet, the Lakers have him high on their trade list this winter, and so do others. The Kings hope this interest will get them a first-round pick in return.
The GM said, He's not a star or going to be one, and he hasn't even played great this season. But he has a couple of things going for him that are boosting his value. First, he fits in anywhere. Every team needs someone who can shoot and defend.
Second, he's cheap at $2.3 million. You could trade a player from the end of your bench and some second-round picks to get a guy who would be in almost any team's rotation.
Lakers, Knicks, and Others Interested
Ellis is a free agent after this season, which can be a drawback in a trade. But since his salary is low and a team would get his Bird rights in a trade, they could re-sign him next summer without affecting their salary cap. That's the Lakers' plan.
For other teams, Ellis is a chance to improve their roster without breaking the league's spending rules. So, even though he's not playing as well this season, Ellis is still wanted. He's the rare player who appeals to both coaches and accountants.
Besides the Lakers, teams like the Knicks, Magic, Heat, and Trail Blazers are interested in Ellis. Others are or will be involved, which could drive up the price to a first-round pick.
The GM said, It's hard to imagine giving up a first-rounder for him, and I don't think it will go that high. But the Kings are right to ask for it, and maybe someone will bite in the end.
JUSTIN ALLGAIER SNAGS DARLINGTON WIN TO EXTEND NASCAR O’REILLY AUTO PARTS LEAD
Justin Allgaier wins the Help a Hero 200 at Darlington, extending his NASCAR points lead to a massive 52 points.
Justin Allgaier came out swinging at Darlington Raceway on March 21, snagging the win in the Help a Hero 200 and pushing even further ahead in the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series standings. Right now, he’s the guy everyone’s chasing. With six races down out of 33, the points race is starting to take shape, and Allgaier’s making clear separation at the front.
He’s sitting on 306 points, with two wins, four top-fives, and five top-10s. That kind of consistency gives him a solid 52-point lead over second place, so there’s room to breathe for now.
Jesse Love has 254 points and hasn’t snagged a win yet, but his three top-fives and five top-10 finishes keep him in the conversation. He’s hanging tough, but Allgaier is starting to pull away.
Carson Kvapil rides in third at 222 points. He’s still hunting for his first win, but he’s got two top-fives and three top-10s to show for his efforts. Sheldon Creed sits right behind at 218, with one win on the board plus three top-fives and four top-10s. Austin Hill rounds out the top five with 210 points, one win, and a pole.
Further down, the fight for playoff spots is getting more heated. Six through ten is all about staying consistent, and nobody’s cruising yet.
Sammy Smith sits sixth with 192 points. He’s got three top-fives and five top-10s – solid numbers. Corey Day is right behind in seventh, 188 points, also with five top-10s and two top-fives. Brandon Jones holds eighth at 170, with one top-five and two top-10s.
Parker Retzlaff is ninth, just a point behind Jones at 169. Rajah Caruth snags the last spot in the top ten, with 151 points and three top-10s.
Just outside the cutoff, Sam Mayer is at 149 points in 11th, with two poles but only one top-five and three top-10s. Taylor Grey fills out the playoff field in 12th with 132 points, picking up one pole and one top-10.
Past the cutoff, it’s getting crowded. William Sawalich sits 13th at 119, Brennan Poole at 116, Jeb Burton at 115, Anthony Alfredo at 113, and Ryan Sieg at 105. Then you’ve got Patrick Staropoli with 95, Blaine Perkins at 88, Jeremy Clements at 83, Josh Bilicki at 81, Nick Sanchez at 77, and a pack of others in the low 70s.
Allgaier’s Darlington win pours some fuel on his hot streak, but the season’s barely started. With 27 races still on the schedule, drivers have plenty of time and tracks to make moves. Every stage point, every finish matters, and the top 12 playoff spots are up for grabs. Allgaier’s lead looks comfy now, but in NASCAR, things can flip overnight.
DODGERS STAND FIRM ON ROKI SASAKI STARTING ROLE DESPITE BRUTAL SPRING TRAINING
Roki Sasaki faces a 2.70 WHIP crisis, but the Dodgers believe his velocity and new cutter will secure his rotation spot.
Roki Sasaki hasn’t had the smoothest spring training for the Dodgers. He’s started three games, and his stats look rough: a 13.50 ERA, a 2.70 WHIP, and just 10 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. Yeah, that’s not what you want to see heading toward Opening Day.
Last year, Sasaki struggled as a starter until an injury sidelined him. The Dodgers shifted him to the bullpen, and he actually turned things around. He played a huge part in their 2025 World Series run, so you know the talent’s there.
Even with the shaky preseason, the Dodgers and Sasaki both still see him as a starter. It’s been bumpier than anyone hoped, but it’s only spring training, so there’s time for him to settle in once the real games begin.
Fabian Ardaya from The Athletic didn’t sugarcoat the situation when he weighed in. He pointed out that the Dodgers have to think about what would happen if Sasaki melts down in a regular-season game, especially early on. That kind of disaster inning could put the bullpen in a tough spot for days. But Ardaya also reminded everyone that the Dodgers can handle some struggles, especially during April and May. They survived a similar situation last year, and they still believe that Sasaki will develop best by pitching in big league games, even if it means taking a few lumps.
It’s a luxury for the Dodgers, but Ardaya said the team needs to keep an eye on not just Sasaki’s performance but also how much patience they have for him if he keeps faltering.
So, what about moving Sasaki back to the bullpen? Ardaya addressed that too. He said the Dodgers wouldn’t make that switch right away, not unless things really go off the rails as a starter or some other circumstances force their hand later in the season. But even as a reliever, Sasaki needs to get his fastball command under control. Without that, he’s just not going to be effective, whether he’s pitching one inning or six.
The bottom line: The Dodgers are sticking with Sasaki as a starter. GM Brandon Gomes made that clear back in January. He said Sasaki looks strong, his velocity is solid, and he’s getting better with his cutter and two-seam. Gomes believes that once Sasaki fully develops his arsenal, he’ll be tough for hitters, especially as he works through the lineup a third time.
So despite the rocky start and doubts, the Dodgers want Sasaki to be a starting pitcher. Now it’s up to him to prove he can handle it.
