Sacramento Kings Forward Domantas Sabonis Subject Of Trade Talk

Something is not right in Sacramento. After finally reaching the playoffs in 2022–23 for the first time since the 2006–07 season, the Kings have regressed each year since. While they have presumably more talent than they did three years ago, the Kings have stumbled out of the gate with a 3–9 record. It is clear that changes need to be made, and one of those rumored changes involves All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis. 

Although still putting up double-double numbers, Sabonis’ point production has fallen off by four points from last season, averaging just 15 points per game. While his scoring numbers have taken a dip, the three-time All-Star is still doing exactly what the Kings need him to do on both ends of the floor. And yet, due to the team underperforming, rumors of Sabonis’s name on the trade block have started to appear at a high rate. With a pair of elite scorers in Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, on paper, this trio should be able to carry the Kings to at least a top-eight seed. Unfortunately, games aren’t won on paper. 

The real question is whether moving Sabonis would actually solve anything. Yes, his defensive limitations have been well-documented due to his limited shot blocking ability and his struggles switching out on smaller, quicker forwards. But the Kings’ inability to stop the opposition isn’t all Sabonis’s fault. Without an elite rim protector, Sacramento gives up too many easy hoops, and the team’s second-leading defensive rebounder is 37-year-old guard Russell Westbrook.

Offensively, LaVine and DeRozan both need the ball in their hands to be effective, and while Sabonis is a willing passer, averaging seven assists during his five seasons in Sacramento (he is only connecting on 3.7 dimes this season), operating best out of the pick and roll and post, this crowds the half-court offensively.  

So where could Sabonis land? Teams like the Lakers have been rumored to have interest, looking for a versatile big man who can facilitate and rebound. The Pelicans might see him as a frontcourt partner for Zion Williamson. Even playoff hopefuls like the Suns would take him in a heartbeat as an upgrade at center. But here's the problem: what would Sacramento get back? Most interested teams would likely offer expiring contracts, mid-level prospects, and protected picks, not exactly the haul that moves the needle for a franchise desperate to end two decades of mediocrity. Unless the Kings can land a defensive anchor or a young star in return, trading Sabonis might just shuffle the deck without improving the hand.

Blowing up a trio that’s been together less than a full season feels premature, as chemistry takes time, and the switch from Mike Brown to Doug Christie suggests Sacramento is still figuring out its identity. The Kings need to ask themselves: Is patience the smarter play, or will standing pat cost them another year of irrelevance?