The Kings’ next move keeps pointing back to Domantas Sabonis, and the latest idea has him landing in a four-team blockbuster that would send RJ Barrett out of Toronto.
Sacramento is still sorting through a messy situation. The team is not expected to be a contender this season, but it is clearly looking to add pieces while also opening the door to a bigger reset. Sabonis’ summer decision to hire a new agent only added fuel to the speculation.
“I do think it’s somewhat interesting that he changed agents this offseason," ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said. "He hired Aaron Mintz from CAA.
This last year, Mintz and his group executed the trade for Trae Young away from Atlanta. They executed the trade for Walker Kessler away from [the Jazz ].
Domantas Sabonis just hired him. At the risk of parodying myself, why would he do that?”
That line of thinking gained more traction when reports surfaced that Sacramento had explored a deal with Detroit for Jalen Duren.
“There was a trade on the table from the Kings for Jalen Duren. They were willing to offer Domantas Sabonis to the Pistons but that's not what the Pistons want. They want to bring Jalen Duren back and secure him on a long term deal," ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel stated.
From there, Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale mapped out a huge four-team trade that would move Sabonis to the Raptors and send Barrett to Charlotte.
Under Favale’s proposal, the deal would look like this:
“Charlotte Hornets Receive: RJ Barrett. Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Pat Connaughton, Toronto's 2029 second-round pick, $3.8 million cash (via Charlotte).
Sacramento Kings Receive: Royce O'Neale, Jakob Poeltl, Tidjane Salaün, 2027 first-round pick (least favorable of Denver, L.A. Clippers, Oklahoma City and Toronto, via Toronto), Orlando's 2028 second-round pick (via Charlotte), Toronto's 2029 second-round pick, Phoenix's 2031 second-round pick (via Charlotte).
Toronto Raptors Receive: Domantas Sabonis,” Favale wrote.
It is a massive swing, and Toronto would come away with a major frontcourt addition in Sabonis. The Raptors would have to part with Barrett, but the framework suggests a return that could make the price worth paying.
In Other News...
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Duren and the Pistons had spent months working through a stalemate over the terms, with the sides never quite landing in the same place. Duren had been seeking a full max deal, but he ultimately accepted Detroits standing offer, giving the franchise the clarity it wanted and the kind of long-term commitment it has been building around. [Read more 🡒]
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The pressure only grows because of what happened in the postseason in May, when his play invited more scrutiny than praise. Opponents will keep testing him, and the Pistons need to see a stronger all-around version of Duren after a full offseason of work. For Detroit, this is the point where his talent has to match the investment, and every step he takes from here will be measured against it. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Just Made Their Biggest Jalen Duren Bet Yet
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The timing also underscores how much Detroit is willing to overlook some uneven moments from last spring. Durens postseason production dipped from what he showed during the regular season, but the Pistons are still moving forward with him as a foundational piece. For a team trying to accelerate toward championship contention, this is the kind of long-term decision that says a lot about where the front office thinks the ceiling really is. [Read more 🡒]