Domantas Sabonis may be headed toward the end of his run in Sacramento, and the warning signs are getting harder to ignore.
The Kings have spent most of the summer on the sidelines while the NBA trade market has been buzzing around them. Other teams made the loud moves.
Sacramento mostly stayed quiet, with the exception of waiving veteran swingman DeMar DeRozan. Now, the biggest question hanging over the franchise is whether Sabonis is the next major piece to go.
A recent change in representation has only added fuel to that possibility. Brian Windhorst pointed to Sabonis hiring Aaron Mintz from CAA, noting that Mintz and his group helped execute the trade for Trae Young away from Atlanta and the trade for Walker Kessler away from the Jazz.
“I do think it’s somewhat interesting that he changed agents this offseason,” said Windhorst on the Hoop Collective. “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?”
On its own, an agent switch doesn’t guarantee anything. In this case, though, the move lands in the middle of a lot of other signs pointing in the same direction.
Sabonis is 30, the Kings are rebuilding, and Sacramento still has not offered him an extension. He has two years left on his deal, worth more than $93 million.
Anthony Slater added that the Kings have not shown interest in starting extension talks.
“Sabonis is extension eligible, and the Kings are not interested in having that conversation,” added Anthony Slater. “Sabonis and Scott Perry have a very transparent relationship, and there have been several trade talks with Sabonis with several Eastern Conference teams over the last calendar year.
It hasn’t come to fruition. Sabonis is recommitting to the Kings for now, but I think we all know where this is going.
The representation switch might be about trying to expedite that process.”
Sabonis has been the centerpiece in Sacramento since arriving in the 2022 trade. Over his last four and a half seasons, he has averaged 19.0 points, 13.1 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks while shooting 59.3% from the field. Even with that production, the Kings never got where they wanted in the postseason, and the roster around him has continued to lose the core that defined the “light the beam era.”
That leaves Sabonis in a tough spot, and the feeling now is that he may want out before long. He is a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, still in his prime, and there would be no shortage of teams willing to at least listen.
The Warriors and Raptors were mentioned as possible landing spots, and Sabonis’ desire to win and have a meaningful role makes the fit easy to imagine. But Sacramento still controls the situation, and whatever happens next will depend on how the Kings value him and whether they decide to finally move on.
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 🡒]
Domantas Sabonis Still Holds One Huge Key To The Kings' Future
Domantas Sabonis is moving along faster than expected in his recovery from a torn meniscus, and the Kings are planning with the hope that hell be ready for the 2026-27 NBA season as their starting center. Even with the questions that have followed him in Sacramento, his offensive impact still matters a great deal, especially for a team that has spent the last few seasons trying to define its core and sort out the frontcourt around him.
The bigger issue is what comes next. Sacramento has other young big men in the pipeline, and Sabonis long-term fit is still very much a live conversation because of the defense concerns and the contract value attached to him. For now, though, his return remains one of the clearest reasons the Kings can keep a door open on their future instead of having to make a hard decision before theyre ready. [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 🡒]