“There has been buzz all summer long about the Sixers looking to potentially move one of, if not both, Andre Drummond and Kelly Oubre.” That was NBA insider Jake Fischer dropping truth on a recent Bleacher Report livestream—real smoke from Philly’s side, all about carving out cap space for restricted free agent Quentin Grimes. But when Sacramento’s name got slapped onto the Kelly Oubre portion of that buzz, it turned into pure speculation. Whispers of a potential Dario Saric-for-Oubre swap gained traction, sparking excitement among fans and analysts. Yet, as the NBA offseason winds down and training camps loom, the Sacramento Kings remain a hot topic in trade rumors—until a local source slammed the door shut.

The Kings opted for stability this offseason, avoiding a roster overhaul. They added Dennis Schroder, acquired Saric from Denver, drafted Nique Clifford, and retained DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk. Still, the roster tilts guard-heavy, lacking size and versatility at the wing and forward positions. Oubre, with his streaky scoring and defensive upside, seemed like a logical target, especially as Philadelphia looked to clear space to re-sign Quentin Grimes. The pieces aligned—until they didn’t.

On The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross, Dave dropped the cold bucket of truth on the Oubre speculation, “I have been told that that is just completely and totally fabricated. Like, no, no, no talks at all. No talks. None. Zero made up. If it came from anywhere, I’m not saying it did come from Philly, but it didn’t come from out here. It’s that’s that’s that’s silly pants.”

That’s about as definitive as it gets. Nothing real between Sacramento and Philadelphia. For fans holding out hope that Oubre could be the Kings’ missing defensive piece, that quote slams the door. Whether the noise came from Philly’s side or pure media fantasy, Sacramento isn’t entertaining it.

The original trade concept likely stems from Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey, who listed the Kings as a logical landing spot for Oubre, after the Philadelphia 76ers’ shopping Oubre in an effort to free up cap space made headlines. Oubre is on an $8.2 million expiring contract. In his proposal, Sacramento would send Saric to Philadelphia in a straight swap.

Oubre’s fit in Sacramento checks a lot of boxes. He’s a 7’2” wingspan, and has averaged over 15 points per game for seven straight seasons. Last year with the Sixers, he put up 15.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 1.5 SPG, even while shooting an underwhelming 29.3% from three. Saric, who came over from Denver in the Valanciunas deal, is on a $5.4 million expiring deal. He’d fill a need for Philly and open the door for Sacramento to get a much-needed two-way forward. But it’s important to clarify that Bailey was not reporting this as active trade discussions; he was proposing hypotheticals based on team needs and cap logistics.

So where did the fire come from? Likely, Jake Fischer’s earlier report, “If they are able to find a deal for one of these two guys [Drummond and Oubre] as we get closer to camp, that would open up some wiggle room for Philadelphia to be able to pay Grimes a little bit more.” That statement is real. But it says nothing about Sacramento’s involvement. The Kings’ name was attached through speculation, not sourced reporting. Carmichael Dave made that distinction crystal clear. And when it comes to local sourcing, few voices are more dialed in than Dave on Sacramento radio.

And it’s not just Oubre. The Kings have been looped into several player rumors this summer, including sign-and-trade whispers involving Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga. That conversation, while more layered, appears to be fizzling too.

Kuminga’s future still uncertain

Golden State’s standoff with Jonathan Kuminga has been dragging on for months. The Warriors offered him a two-year, $45 million deal with a team option, a short-term, team-friendly offer that gives them trade flexibility and no long-term commitment. Kuminga hasn’t signed it. And according to multiple reports, he has no intention of doing so.

He’s been more interested in the $7.99 million qualifying offer, a one-year deal that gives him the right to veto any trade and hit unrestricted free agency next summer. He’s betting on himself. The Warriors, meanwhile, want to retain leverage and avoid losing him for nothing. But they’re running out of time. The Oct. 1 deadline to accept the qualifying offer is coming fast.

This same dance has played out across the league. Cam Thomas did the exact same thing in Brooklyn. Offered a two-year, $30 million deal with a team option, Thomas declined, bet on himself, and took the one-year QO to hit the open market next summer.

The Kings were one of the few teams to express legitimate interest in Kuminga. Their front office made exploratory calls. But the Warriors never budged. They’ve shut down all sign-and-trade offers, unwilling to make a move unless they get a young asset and draft compensation back. Sacramento wasn’t meeting that price.

The Warriors, meanwhile, have nine players under contract. They’ve essentially frozen all offseason business while waiting on Kuminga’s decision. Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II are expected signings but none are official. The front office is stalled. Workouts are happening without resolution. Camp is three weeks away. “Kuminga signing the qualifying offer remains the anticipated outcome,” Poole wrote. “Meanwhile, Al Horford and the rest of the veterans in Golden State’s waiting room are quietly pleading for clarity.”

At this point, all signs point to Kuminga playing out the year in Golden State, with frustration bubbling just under the surface. He’s not part of the Warriors’ long-term core. He knows it. They know it. But without the right trade package, he’s stuck.

With training camp opening Sept. 29, Sacramento’s roster is most likely set. If there’s another move to come, it’s not Oubre. And it’s not Kuminga not yet, anyway. The Kings have a talented guard rotation and two All-Stars in De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. But their frontcourt still lacks depth and defensive versatility. Clifford and Keegan Murray help, but it’s not enough for a deep playoff run. The Oubre fit made sense on paper, but as Dave said, “silly pants.” The noise around Sacramento continue,s but don’t expect Monte McNair to chase ghosts.