There was a time when Domantas Sabonis was talked about like one of the most reliable bigs in the NBA, and The Athletic’s latest ranking says that reputation still has some life left in it. The publication slotted the Sacramento Kings center at No. 13 among big men, a reminder that the league hasn’t completely forgotten what he brings when he’s healthy.
That part matters, because Sabonis has spent the last stretch fighting a very different conversation. Last season, injuries kept him on the bench for most of the year, and the narrative around him shifted fast. Instead of the elite scorer, rebounder, and facilitator who piled up double-doubles and kept the offense moving, he became a talking point for his contract.
And that contract is a big one. Over the next two seasons, Sabonis is set to make roughly $94 million.
At 30, coming back from a torn meniscus, and without much defensive value, his estimated worth over that same span is pegged at $50 million to $60 million. That gap has become the headline.
Still, the Kings are expecting him back on the floor soon. In the 2026 offseason, Sabonis’ recovery is reportedly ahead of where it was originally expected to be, and he should be ready for training camp. Barring anything unexpected, he’ll open the 2026-2027 season as Sacramento’s starting center.
That’s his opening to reset the conversation. The defense likely won’t change much - Sabonis isn’t suddenly turning into a rim protector - but the offense still gives him a real lane to matter. With Dylan Cardwell handling the defense, Sabonis could slide to power forward and lean harder into the parts of his game that have always made him dangerous.
The Kings also have Maxime Raynaud in the mix, which only adds to the sense that Sabonis is no longer the long-term center solution for this roster. Eventually, Sacramento will either move him or watch him leave in free agency. With Cardwell and Raynaud rising, plus Jonathan Mogbo on a two-way contract, Sabonis doesn’t really fit the rebuild.
But while he’s still there, the Kings can still use him the right way. And if he gets back to being the player The Athletic just ranked among the league’s top 20 bigs, that trade for Tyrese Haliburton won’t feel so distant after all.
In Other News...
Kings Young Core Is Already Creating A Training Camp Question
The Kings young group has already spent part of the offseason trying to get ahead of training camp, gathering for open gym runs hosted by former assistant coach Rico Hines. Darius Acuff Jr., Emanuel Sharp, Nique Clifford, Alex Karaban and Dylan Cardwell were among the players taking part, with the sessions giving Sacramento a glimpse of how the next wave is trying to fit together before camp even opens.
What stood out most was the voluntary nature of it all, the kind of extra work that can matter when a roster is still sorting out who belongs in the rotation. Sharp drew attention for his shooting, while Acuffs playmaking looked like a piece the Kings could eventually use, but the bigger question now is how much of that chemistry can carry into a more competitive setting when the real evaluation begins. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Future May Depend On One Rookie Wing Taking A Real Step
The Kings enter the 2026-27 season with a few young pieces to sort through, but Alex Karaban is the rookie wing whose growth may carry the most weight. Sacramento used the 29th overall pick on Karaban, betting on a player with size and shooting ability who fits neatly into a future wing rotation that also includes other young names like Darius Acuff Jr. and Emanuel Sharp.
Karabans development this season is about more than just minutes for a first-year player. If he settles in and looks like a real piece, it could help clarify how Sacramento builds out the roster and where it can afford to be patient. If he stalls, the Kings may have to keep searching for answers on the wing, which makes his progress one of the more important storylines on the board. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Suddenly Have A Serious Sabonis Problem
Domantas Sabonis has become a familiar face in Sacramento since arriving as one of the Kings central pieces, but his offseason suddenly carries a different kind of weight. The All-Star big man recently changed agents to Aaron Mintz, a move that tends to make front offices pay close attention, especially when the player in question is already one of the most important names on the roster.
The Kings also have not offered Sabonis a contract extension, and there have been trade discussions with Eastern Conference teams, which adds a layer of uncertainty to a situation that was already worth watching. Sabonis is still in Sacramento for now, but the combination of the agent change, the lack of extension talks and outside interest has fueled the sense that his future with the team may not stay settled for long. [Read more 🡒]