Carmelo Anthony watch: A royal answer to a taxing problem

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 8: Vlade Divac and owner of the Sacramento Kings, Vivek Ranadivé, talk before a preseason game between the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers on October 8, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 11: Terrance Ferguson #23 of the OKC Thunder poses for a photo during the 2017 NBA Rookie Shoot on August 11, 2017 at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Circumventing the addition of a first round pick:

Sending Terrance Ferguson with Carmelo Anthony to the Kings would fulfill Sacramento’s need for wing depth with defensive potential. Plus it might also allow the Thunder to offer a second round draft pick instead of a valuable first.

Gaining a young producing asset is the equivalent of a solid draft pick, so the Kings gain in that regard.

For OKC, although neither Johnson or Ferguson have big contracts, every dollar over the cap threshold is multiplied by a repeater tax factor, so it can make a massive difference to the bottom line.

There will be those who prefer not to give up on Terrance Ferguson quite yet. If the Vegas performances were any indication, TFerg appears to be a long way from being a regular contributor to the varsity rotation.

The question that needs to be asked is whether saving money plus keeping a first round pick in the year when high schoolers are likely to be reintroduced to the mix makes sense. Moreover, could Hamidou Diallo replace Ferguson in the rotation and potentially have a higher ceiling?

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