Domantas Sabonis is back in Sacramento for another season, beard and all, and he’s treating the summer trade chatter like noise. That’s probably the smartest play available to him, because the Kings are still the ones holding the cards - and they still haven’t found a deal worth making.
The rumor mill has been loud enough that anyone following the NBA knows Sacramento has explored moving Sabonis. The source of those talks is no mystery, either. The Kings have had semi-serious conversations with teams such as the Raptors and Hornets, but nothing has gotten across the finish line.
That makes sense for two big reasons. One is the contract.
Any team trading for Sabonis would be taking on a deal worth nearly $100 million over the next two seasons, and that’s a steep price for a center who doesn’t defend well. The other issue is Sacramento’s stance.
The Kings are still asking for a massive return, and the rest of the league apparently doesn’t agree with that valuation.
So where does that leave Sabonis? For now, right where he is.
He’s under contract through the summer of 2028, and a move before then looks highly improbable unless the Kings soften their demands. It’s not impossible, but it’s not the most likely outcome either.
Sabonis also knows the roster direction in Sacramento is already shifting around him. The Kings currently have two sophomore centers in Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell, and they’re betting heavily on both. On top of that, there are reportedly plans to pursue Jalen Duren if he becomes available.
All of that puts Sabonis in a pretty comfortable spot. If Sacramento somehow lands the trade it wants, he still gets paid and would presumably head to a contender.
If the Kings keep him, he still gets the money and more time in Sactown before reaching the open market. Either way, the big man comes out fine.
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Domantas Sabonis changing agents has only added another layer to a summer of chatter around the Kings center, especially with Sacramento already linked to trade discussions that could reshape its frontcourt. A report surfaced that the Kings floated Sabonis to Detroit in a deal centered on Jalen Duren, a proposal the Pistons turned down, which is the kind of move that immediately tells you how highly opposing teams are valuing their young big men.
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Now under a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings, Simmons is trying to revive a career that has been defined as much by debate as by production. For Kings fans, the interest is obvious: can a player with his track record and versatility become a useful piece in the right setting, and can he do it while finally putting the old storylines behind him? [Read more 🡒]
Kings Suddenly Face A Harsh Choice With Their Veteran Core
The Kings offseason plans just got a lot more complicated after Detroit locked up center Jalen Duren on a five-year extension, ending any realistic hope Sacramento had of prying him loose. Duren had been a player the Kings were aiming to acquire, and his new deal, which came together after a weight clause was removed from the negotiations, effectively resets part of the market for Sacramentos front office as it weighs what comes next.
Now the Kings are being pushed back toward their own veteran core and the harder question that comes with it. Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and DeAndre Hunter remain central to the conversation, but with Duren no longer in play, Sacramento has to decide whether to stay committed to that group or pivot in another direction. [Read more 🡒]