The trade and how it works
*Not included in the graphic is draft compensation. Kings receive two second round picks from the 76ers in the 2020 draft, via the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks (per RealGM). The Suns receive three unprotected first round picks via Philly in 2021, 2023, and 2025.
The reason why this is a 3-team trade is that the Sixers don’t have the assets to get Booker, not without giving up Tobias Harris and it’s doubtful the Suns would want an overpaid Harris plus picks for Booker.
According to TradeNBA, this trade doesn’t work, mainly to do the Kings not having enough salary cap space to complete the trade. However, it uses this season’s salary cap and not what it will be this offseason.
There are two things that need to be considered. The first being Buddy Hield‘s contract extension will kick in and the first year on that will be $24.4 million and then decreases in value each year after. The second is that the Kings will have at least $37.7 million coming off their salary cap with Kent Bazemore, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Alex Len, Yogi Ferrell, Harry Giles in the last year of their respective contracts.
That’s not including Jabari Parker‘s player option and Nemanja Bjelica nonguaranteed final year of his deal. If both of those player’s deals come off the books, then the King will have $51.4 million come off their books before they re-sign Bogdanovic (assuming they can convince him to re-sign with them).