Domantas Sabonis has moved from trade rumor to the center of the Kings’ next big decision, and this time he appears to be steering the conversation himself.
Sacramento has been clearing the deck since Scott Perry took over as general manager, steadily moving out players tied to the “Beam Team Era” and the messy stretch that followed. The latest major exit was DeMar DeRozan, who was waived, had his remaining contract stretched, and then landed with the Nuggets. That move opened up room for Sacramento to add a couple of veteran minimum contracts.
Zach LaVine and Sabonis are the next names hanging over the roster, but their situations are not the same. LaVine could be dealt near the trade deadline, though the Kings are more likely to simply ride out his deal, which has one year left. Sabonis is the far bigger question, because his contract runs longer and keeps Sacramento stuck financially for two more expensive seasons.
The idea of trading Sabonis has been out there since before last season. What has changed is the gap between what he wants and what the Kings are willing to offer. Sacramento has made it clear it is not giving him the massive extension he wants, and Sabonis answered by bringing in a new agent with an eye toward getting him to a team that will pay it.
Even with all that, Sabonis still matters as a player. He remains a top 20 big man in the NBA, with the kind of scoring, rebounding, and passing that can shape an offense.
The other side of that equation is just as obvious: he “couldn't defend the rim if he got a stepladder.” That mismatch with where the Kings are headed is something both sides seem to understand.
So the question is no longer whether Sacramento would consider moving him. It’s whether the Kings can find a team that wants Sabonis and a return package they can live with.
With Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, and Precious Achiuwa on hand, Sacramento has depth at center. What it would really want back is another point guard and some draft picks.
In Other News...
Former Kings Voice Grant Napear May Not Be Done Fighting Yet
Grant Napears legal battle with Bonneville International Corp. took another turn this week when the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals backed the companys decision to fire the longtime Kings broadcaster after his All Lives Matter tweet stirred controversy. Napear had argued that his rights were violated when the company cut ties with him, but the appellate court upheld the dismissal of his case, leaving the former voice of Sacramento basketball with another setback in a dispute that has already stretched on for years.
Even so, the fight may not be finished. Napears attorney is now weighing whether to push the case further, including the possibility of asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take it up. For Kings fans who remember Napears years behind the microphone, the broader question is no longer about his broadcast past but about whether this legal challenge has one more stop left in it. [Read more 🡒]
Malik Monk Just Became A Serious Kings Trade Deadline Question
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That uncertainty only grows because general manager Scott Perry has already shown a willingness to ask big questions about the roster, including attempts to move Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine in search of high returns. Monk remains one of the Kings most reliable bench weapons, which is why his name in trade talks carries real weight in Sacramento, and why the next few days could say plenty about how aggressively the team wants to reshape itself. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Offseason Suddenly Feels Like The Start Of A Real Reset
The Kings 2026 offseason has started to look less like a quick patch job and more like the opening stage of a genuine reset. Sacramento added Ben Simmons on a one-year veteran minimum deal, kept Precious Achiuwa on a two-year contract, and used a premium draft spot on Darius Acuff Jr. with the seventh overall pick, all while cutting payroll by waiving DeMar DeRozan. The message is hard to miss: the front office is leaning into youth and flexibility as it tries to reshape the roster around a different timeline.
What makes this summer even more notable is that the changes already made may not be the last ones. The Kings are still open to moving Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, which would push the overhaul deeper and strip even more of the old core from the roster. For a team that has spent years trying to balance competitiveness with long-term direction, the offseason now feels like it could settle into something far more dramatic than a simple retool. [Read more 🡒]