The Sacramento Kings have given fans another reason to squint at the injury report, and this one involves two of the most recognizable names on the roster.
Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk both showed up at shootaround before Sacramento’s preseason game against the Trail Blazers, but neither took part in the on-court work and neither was in uniform. That left their availability in question again, and it comes after both players were already absent from the last two preseason games.
For Sabonis, the situation has only gotten stranger. He played just 10 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 5th, and barring a surprise change he appears headed for another missed preseason game.
The timing matters because the Kings also announced that Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud will each be out for a minimum of two weeks, which leaves Sacramento thin at center. That opens the door to a simple explanation: the Kings may just be protecting Sabonis in case he’s the only healthy center left once the regular season arrives.
But this is Sacramento, and nothing ever feels entirely simple.
GM Scott Perry would reportedly like to move on from Sabonis as soon as possible, but the market hasn’t produced the type of offers the Kings want. Sacramento is said to be holding firm on getting positive value back for the big man, who remains a major offensive force and the best rebounder in the NBA at his best.
The issue is his salary, which takes up over 27% of the cap. Teams would probably line up more aggressively if he could protect the rim or shoot consistently, but even with his current game, he’d bring value on a smaller deal.
There is interest around the league, though it remains unclear whether Sacramento will keep him at least through this season to help Darius Acuff Jr. settle into creating at the NBA level. With Zach LaVine’s deal set to expire this summer, the Kings will have more flexibility then, which only adds to the questions hanging over Sabonis right now.
There is also the possibility that the Kings are simply trying to avoid unnecessary risk. Still, these are important reps for Sabonis and Acuff Jr., and sitting him solely out of injury caution would mean cutting into development time.
If a trade is already in motion, that would change the picture entirely, but as usual with this team, the outside world can only guess. For now, the expectation is that Sabonis will be back by the start of the regular season, but this is something to watch over the next few weeks.
Monk’s case feels just as murky.
He has been a constant source of ball-handling, scoring, shooting, and energy for Sacramento since arriving as a free agent, and the Kings could use that presence right now. With Ben Simmons in the starting lineup, the bench looks short on playmaking options, and Monk should be the first candidate to fill that need. He’s also spent the last two seasons in trade rumors, and even after solid production his minutes were reduced last year, leaving him in a strange spot with the franchise.
There has been reporting that Monk has been dealing with ankle soreness, but he has looked active when seen on the court and has been engaged with teammates at recent shootarounds. He has also said he has been asked to take on a bigger leadership role with the young Kings, which makes his limited preseason availability even harder to read. Monk did participate in shootaround, while dressed, for Sacramento’s October 10th matchup with the Golden State Warriors, though he was never expected to play.
His absence is especially notable because the Kings could use his shooting and secondary playmaking next to Acuff Jr. this preseason. After spending much of last season as the odd man out, plenty of fans would probably just like to see Monk back on the floor. That has fueled another round of questions: is Sacramento lowering expectations for a possible trade package and quietly exploring the market, or is Monk really hurt?
The lack of clarity is what keeps pulling attention back to the Kings. Around the league, teams such as the Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miami Heat are playing full preseason rotations, even with more to lose if a starter gets hurt.
Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton are also playing after Achilles tears. Add in James Ham’s comment about certain players choosing not to participate in preseason, and it’s easy to see why fans are asking what exactly is happening behind the scenes in Sacramento.
Maybe all of this is harmless. Maybe it isn’t. But the Kings have reached the point where even preseason absences feel loaded.
In Other News...
Zach LaVine Has One Last Chance To Change His Kings Story
Ben Simmons is back in the NBA with Sacramento after stepping away for a season to focus on his mental and physical health, and his arrival adds another layer to a Kings roster that already has plenty of career-crossroads energy around it. Zach LaVine is in the same kind of prove-it space, still trying to reset the conversation around his game and his place in the league while sharing a locker room with another veteran trying to rebuild a reputation.
For LaVine, the timing matters because his Kings run has not gone the way either side wanted, and every stretch from here carries extra weight for how the rest of his stint is remembered. Sacramento is looking for signs that he can still be part of something meaningful here, but the larger question hanging over the season is whether there is enough time left for him to change the story before the next chapter arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Add Two Wings With A Chance To Earn More Than Stockton
The Kings kept their camp pipeline moving by adding a pair of wings on Exhibit 10 deals, giving Aaron Nkrumah and Damari Monsanto a path to stick in Sacramento while also setting them up for a possible bonus if they head to Stockton. Nkrumah arrives as an undrafted Tennessee State product who has been working his way through the pro ranks, while Monsanto comes in after spending last season in the G League following his time at UTSA.
Monsantos fit in the organization has been building for a while, since Stockton had already secured his returning rights before this signing. For Sacramento, the move is another low-risk look at two perimeter players who can spend training camp around the club, compete for a deeper opportunity and at minimum give the Kings minor league affiliate a couple of useful names to monitor when the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Precious Achiuwa Is Giving The Kings A Tough Rotation Decision
Precious Achiuwa has quickly become one of the more useful pieces in Sacramentos early-season picture, the kind of frontcourt option coaches value because he can cover different spots and help on the defensive end. His preseason stretch gave the Kings a real look at what he can do when asked to shoulder more responsibility, and the early returns made it hard to ignore how well he fit when the roster was thin.
Now the challenge is figuring out where he lands once the lineup is healthier again. Achiuwa has done enough to stay in the conversation, and his ability to bounce between positions gives Sacramento more flexibility than it had before, but that versatility also complicates the rotation math. For a team trying to settle its bench group, he has made himself tough to take out of the picture. [Read more 🡒]