Less than 15 games into the season, the Sacramento Kings are already reshaping its roster, acquiring forward Derrick Williams in exchange for forward Luc Richard Mbah A Moute.

The Kings making a trade shouldn’t really surprise people because many outlets reported them being the most aggressive team looking for a trade this season.

General Manager Pete D’Alessandro made it known that he was looking to acquire prospects and picks for his veteran players. Derrick Williams, 22, fits what D’Alessandro was looking for.

Williams was the second overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He hasn’t lived up to the hype yet so far, but he’s a very talented and athletic player.

The Kings acquired Mbah a Moute in the off-season in exchange for two second round picks, hoping to improve team defense. However, when the opportunity to acquire Derrick Williams came up, the Kings didn’t hesitate to trade away Mbah a Moute. The team views Derrick Wiliams as a long-term solution to the rebuilding process, while Mbah a Moute was viewed merely as a stop-gap player.

Part of Williams’ struggles with Minnesota was he didn’t really have a set position in the NBA. He’s not quick enough to play small forward but not big enough to play power forward at the NBA level. D’Alessandro and Head Coach Michael Malone view him as a long-term fit at small forward.

One area where Williams can help this team is his supreme athleticism. With guard Ben McLemore and Wiliams on the floor, the Kings become one of the most athletic teams in the league. This is a fresh change from the sluggish John Salmons and Travis Outlaw.

Despite trading for Williams, the Kings are not done. Considering this is D’Alessandro’s first year as the GM, he inherited most of the roster. He wants his own players and will trade any player that he inherited, such as Marcus Thornton, Jason Thompson, or John Salmons. The players who could be viewed as untouchables are DeMarcus Cousins and 2013 first-round pick Ben McLemore. Everyone else is fair game.

Kings fans should be excited about this trade. Assuming Derrick Williams pans out and can become a legitimate small forward, next year’s lineup could be Isaiah Thomas, Ben McLemore, Derrick Williams, Jason Thompson, and DeMarcus Cousins. Plus, the Kings figure to have a very high draft pick in next year’s loaded NBA draft.

This is a big change from recent years. Instead of acquiring cash considerations under the Maloof regime, Kings fans are starting to see an influx of talent via trades under their new ownership.

To read more about West Coast sports, visit westcoastbeat.wordpress.com. Follow the blog online. We welcome all comments and questions.