Three teams are interested in Domantas Sabonis as the Sacramento Kings remain open for business, according to Sam Amick.
“Teams like Washington, the Phoenix Suns and Chicago have shown significant interest in the past and are still believed to be on his short list of possible suitors, but Sabonis is prepared to remain in a Kings jersey for the foreseeable future.”
Most of the recent reports about Sabonis continue to attach the idea that he probably isn’t going anywhere.
But whether a trade with Sabonis actually happens or not is anyone’s guess. He is owed $94 million over the next two seasons. He is averaging 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals this season, but has only played in 11 games due to a meniscus injury.
The Kings could use him on the court right now (depending on your point of view on the unintentional tank) as the team is currently 28th in rebounding.
What I do know is the Kings should definitely be in the market for more Bulls players as we continue to build out Chicago West. Right???
Monday is when NBA trade season technically begins. You can view the players who become eligible for trade here.
Vucevic, P-Will and filler for Domas! Collect all the Bulls!!!!!!!!!
I love Sabonis. He literally never takes a game off (and rarely even a play), and really puts his body (head included) on the line every single game.
He is exactly what many people here claim to be what the fans want. A blue collar, team oriented guy who puts the team above personal accolades, works hard on both sides of the floor and gives a damn. Despite fitting that profile, I have seen plenty of fans ragging on him for what he is not.
And I predict that if or when we’ll have a team full of young, hardworking prospects with so-called upside, many fans will complain as well, even those who are now fully on board with a full rebuild. It’s the nature of fans, I suppose.
Anyway, I hope Domas will be somewhere where he can shine again. That most likely won’t be here.
This.
What King’s fans want most is to win and to at least be building towards sustained winning.
18 of the last 20 seasons the Kings have been under .500. I could care less who plays for this team, just start producing results and development and wins.
Domas like Fox will be greatly appreciated when he is bringing it every nite for another team and his next few replacements prove to be nothing close to his effort and production .
I love aspects of Sabonis but he also isn’t on the level of being a pedestal player. Much like Crap Lavine he also is getting paid more than teams value what he does. Not his fault btw for signing the contract.
He is a system player that while talented isn’t exactly the pure double double machine people think he is. When you get your own rebound on a soft out back 3 times in a row 3 times that’s 9 rebounds. Many of his stat lines don’t add up if you watch the game vs just box score it at then end.
18 points on 9 of 20 shooting and 13 rebounds 11 of which were offensive aren’t the filling stat calories that lime says they should be.
I agree just like every other player that has worn a sac uniform he will perform better once he’s with a competent coaching staff again and teammates who aren’t counting down the days to be gone.
But he also did want to be rid of Mike Brown which meant he was good with being rid of Fox who was the only teammate he’s had that played to his strengths.
In his 5 years here he’s average 19 points on 8 of 13 shooting while pulling in 32% of available defensive rebounds. His limitations with defense and offensive output exist, but he has made the most out of his ability through consistent effort. He gives his all even if he doesn’t have it all.
I do appreciate his effort and his work on the court. Just don’t think and have never thought of him as a great player. He’s another in a long line of players in Sacramento who are great but aren’t going to be another teams #1. But we are paying him like he is, which makes his trade value nil.
Ridiculous comment. When’s the last time Domas had 20 shots, not to mention shot 9 for 20. Probably only has 20+ shots like 3 times in 4 yrs, lol. 11 of his rebounds are offensive boards? lol Are we even talking about the same team or player, cause not sure exactly what it is you’re talking about….
Clearly not.
Well said, it’s sad to see a majority of fans turn on him.
What you said is true, but he is also a very difficult player to build a team around. While I really like Sabonis and appreciate his playstyle and hard work, I never wanted to trade for him in the first place because of the fact that its nearly impossible to build a contender with him as a core piece.
This.
It’s comical that the Bulls want Domas. These two franchises should just continually trade high floor-low cieling players who have next to no playoff history back and forth on a yearly basis.
A trade centered around Domas and Vuc makes absolute sense for both these goofy franchises.
On a serious note, 12/15 is a day and a half away. Let the blow up begin.
Additional context from Amick’s report:
“For Sabonis’ part, league sources say the 29-year-old big man has heeded that call for patience. His contract runs through the 2027-28 season, with a combined $94 million owed in the next two seasons, meaning his market is inevitably limited by the sheer magnitude of the money owed.
Teams like Washington, the Phoenix Suns and Chicago have shown significant interest in the past and are still believed to be on his short list of possible suitors, but Sabonis is prepared to remain in a Kings jersey for the foreseeable future. He has been out since Nov. 19 with a partial tear of his left meniscus and was scheduled to be re-evaluated within the next week.”
Where once we had the SunKings we now have the Bull(shit)Kings
I don’t really buy any of these teams having real interest in Domas to the point where a deal is feasible for each team.
With that said, I ran a few scenarios through Fanspo:
If the Suns want to put more talent around Booker and they decide Domas is that guy, Jalen Green, Nick Richards, and Rasheer Fleming works salary-wise. I’d be willing to send them Carter as well but SAC would have to take on another contract, like Mark Williams.
Phoenix would definitely be better but they would be short on rostered players and since they would be consolidating salary, they wouldn’t see any cap relief from the move and might find it difficult to sign another player, I don’t know all the ins-and-outs when it comes to an over-the-cap team like PHX signing a player mid-season when certain exceptions may or may not be applicable. It’s not exactly an exciting move for either team, but it does raise the talent floor in PHX – a long term pairing of Domas and Maluach might work well as they cover each other’s weaknesses a bit, but spacing would be an issue unless they come up with a good system or gameplan to alleviate those concerns. If Booker wasn’t so stuck to PHX this wouldn’t make sense, but since Booker won’t be going anywhere and wants to try to win in PHX, its not the most ridiculous way to add great front court player for the next several years.
The Kings would be getting a promising young prospect in Fleming and a tradeable asset in Jalen Green (here the Kings go adding ANOTHER SG to the roster). Richards and Williams are expirings. Draft compensation would likely need to be included as well, but who really knows how each team values their respective picks (PHX doesn’t have much in tradeable draft assets so they might find it hard to let go of anything else).
Personally, I’d do it simply for the forced reset and to get a better look at Green and Fleming. It would be selling low on Domas, but TBH I don’t much care for trying to extract max value in every deal as that is why most deals still don’t get done even if they benefit all involved.
Washington doesn’t make any sense for a landing spot, but is the easiest to make a trade work as they could send back either McCollum or Middleton and then just about anyone on their roster not named Sarr or Kispert (personally, I’d love to get Coulibaly but Carrington would suffice) and they have plenty of picks and/or swaps to balance any trade. I just don’t see why Washington would want Domas unless they feel like they need to add some high-level strength & rebounding next to Sarr.
Chicago, god…I hate being ChicagoWest. IF the Bulls trade Vuc, maybe to GSW for Kuminga (which works straight-up salary-wise), then it might make sense for CHI to add Domas. Domas and Saric works for Coby White, Kevin Huerter, and Javon Carter. The Kings would need to be okay with giving White an extension as his deal expires this year.
If White is off the table or the SAC isn’t interest in acquiring him and giving him an extension, CHI could use draft assets instead (which they have plenty of), the Bulls could put in Ayo Dosunmu and Isaac Okoro instead of White and the Kings could add Eubanks to the Domas and Saric salaries. Ayo would also need an extension and would most likely only be extended if Keon Ellis is traded. Kings would need to get real draft capital back in this scenario for it to make sense as they essentially be giving Domas away.
I agree, it’s kind of bogus how every GM’s ego gets in the way as they attempt to squeeze out every drop possible. Can’t ever accept a even deal, or losing even…always have to win the trade. Sometimes it’s about fit, and doing what’s right based on the goals of your team. Not trying to win on percentage points based on a Trade Win calculator, lol.
I would like the deal if the Suns had some 1sts to include. Or get Gillespie in exchange for them taking Schroder, but then the money wouldn’t work so it’s a no go lol
I really can’t think of another 3 teams that have worse assets to offer than the Bulls, Suns and Wiz.
There is nothing on the Bulls or Suns worthy of Sabonis.
Unless the Wiz are willing to include any combo of Sarr, Bilal, George, Tre, or Bub, I’m not listening. Newsflash: They won’t offer any of those prospects.
My butt pulled offer if no picks are included (BOLD are a must):
Sabonis, Monk, Ellis, Saric, McDermott for Middleton (expiring), Sarr, Bub, Bilal, Kispert
Again…it ain’t happening.
Given Sabonis’s contract, I’m not sure you’re getting anything of value back for him. Maybe a heavily protected 1st round pick or a couple seconds and mediocre player. Mayyyyybe a mid tier younger prospect. Sadly, I don’t think Sabonis is very palatable to most franchises with the number of years and amount of money left on his contract. I’ve mentioned this before but I think people should prepare themselves to be seriously underwhelmed by any Sabonis trade package return.
I guess I don’t feel his contract is that bad. There are worse players who make more money than him. He’s a top 30 NBA player and he’s the 28th highest paid player in the league.
I feel what may limit his market is his weakness on defense, but there are teams out there that can hide him or pair him with a defending big. He’d be excellent in places like Memphis, San Antonio, Miami, Cleveland, Orlando, or Golden State.
To his return in trade, you are probably right. Just a few years ago he came to Sac for a excellent prospect and contract filler (Buddy). That’s where I can squint and see a team like Washington having interest. Maybe they play him next to Sarr and in return send the expirings of CJ and/or Middleton to go with someone like George or Bub?
Yeah I think that Washington trade feels like it might be possible. Bub or George back feels about the right. Plus salary relief of course.
I think the ship has sailed on any real contender being interested in Sabonis. Phoenix/Chicago/Washington feels like the type of team that might want him. I just don’t think any of those teams you listed above save Golden State would have any interest because of his playoff shortcomings.
King’s fans are always in denial about the actual worth of their players. Domas is on an onerous contract and requires a specific fit and players around him to accentuate what he does best. He’s not a malleable player that can just fit anywhere.
I’d argue that KM has more worth given his smaller per yr salary and malleability.
Just because King’s fans love and appreciate Domas, doesn’t mean GMs view him in the same way; NBA analysts certainly don’t.
You know me I respect your comments. Before looking at some trades what do you think of Mark Williams? Could he start at center for the Kings? Also Green? He is only 23 and fits the Kings rebuild. I guess I’m looking at a Sabonis trade involving Green and Williams plus at least a first and two seconds. Hopefully two firsts.
Meh. Williams is a middle of the road center. Serviceable, yes, but not an noteworthy player. He doesn’t rebound or protect the paint at an elite level. He’d have as much impact on the Kings as Holmes did.
As to Green, I see him as a younger, less efficient, version of LaVine. His career shooting numbers are below the league average (34% from three, 42% from the field) and he really doesn’t defend. He’s a black hole on offense that will put up eye popping offense stats at times but his team will hover around 35 wins. Vivek probably loves the idea of Green.
Also, PHX doesn’t have any picks to trade. Their cupboard is bare.
Thanks that does that.
Williams is solid, part of the reason they are doing well this year. I would be concerned with the injury history though.
So the Hali led Pacers reached the finals last year…and Fox, HB, and Mike Brown are currently in the Emirates NBA Cup final game this year… interesting…
Sorry not really related to Sabonis but the Kangz continue to squander talent that does great elsewhere.
Just get rid of Sabonis and tank this into the ground Kangz, there is no other good option.
Asinine Trade Idea:
Bucks Get:
LaVine
Ellis
McDermott
Kings get:
Kuzma
Portis
G Harris
C Anthony
2026 pick (ATL holds right to swap)
2027 pick (NOP holds rights to swap)
2031 pick (unprotected)
2032 pick (unprotected)
I know, I know – but the Bucks seem to be the only team interested in LaVine.
Why the Kings do it?
Kings will take on the salaries of Kuzma and Portis + filler for LaVine. The Kings trade Ellis as sweetener for all of the picks. Ellis isn’t in the Kings future rebuild timeline and would likely need to overpay to keep him. Why not trade him now while his contract is small and he has value for a contender? In return, the Kings get a treasure trove of picks. The 2026 pick is projected mid to late first round in a very deep 2026 draft. 2027 pick will basically be the Bucks’ pick, since NOP is currently the worst team in the league and the pick will likely not be swapped to NOP. 2031 pick will be outside of Giannis’ timeline and around when the Bucks are thinking of blowing things up. Pair that pick with the MIN 2031 pick and these picks add more pieces to accelerate the rebuild, when we will likely have a nice 2026 pick probably several more lottery picks. If the rebuild goes well, the 2031 and 2032 picks could accelerate the Kings from the “learning how to win” stage into contenders fast, if they turn out to be good picks.
Why the Bucks do this?
They shed bad the bad contracts of Portis/Kuzma. Portis is often injured, and Kuzma can’t shoot threes. Adding quality players to surround Giannis, who can actually hit the 3 and stay on the court will help the Bucks potentially deep into the playoffs in the short term.
Really don’t think Sabonis or LaVine are getting traded during season with those contracts. But hopefully some others will. Kings closing deals doesn’t seem to happen.
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