Domantas Sabonis’ season is officially over as it was reported today that the Kings center underwent season-ending surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee. Sabonis had suffered the injury early in the season and subsequently missed 27 games before returning to action in a limited capacity. With Sacramento’s season going nowhere fast, it makes sense for Sabonis to focus on getting his knee healthy for the future instead of continuing to try to fight through any pain. The Kings recently did the same thing with Zach Lavine as well.
We’ve seen Sabonis be a veritable iron man over the last three seasons, playing through multiple ailments including a broken thumb, but this season has been a nightmare for both Sabonis and the Kings, and he ended up playing just 19 games. Sabonis was a big name in trade rumors leading up to the deadline, and it’s possible we’ve seen him play his last game with the Kings if those trade talks heat up once again this summer. If this is how it ends, it’s an ignoble end to a player who once brought so much hope to this franchise.
In other injury news, the Kings also announced that rookie center Dylan Cardwell suffered an ankle injury in practice and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. Cardwell, an undrafted rookie from Auburn, has been a bright spot in an otherwise bleak season, averaging 5.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 21.2 minutes per game. Cardwell recently signed a multi-year standard NBA contract with the Kings after being promoted from a two-way contract. With no Sabonis or Cardwell, we can expect the Kings to give fellow rookie Maxime Raynaud plenty of playing time down the stretch.
Keegan Murray, who hasn’t played since January 4th after suffering an ankle sprain, did return to practice in full and hopes to return to action for the Kings in tomorrow’s game against the Orlando Magic. Murray has also played just 19 games this season, but hopefully can be a bit more active down the stretch. De’Andre Hunter also returned to practice after missing the last few games after getting poked in the eye and should be available in the near future.
The Kings have 26 games remaining and currently sport the NBA’s worst record at 12-44. For all our sakes, this season can’t end soon enough.
When I travel across the nation I get a lot of sympathy from basketball and baseball fans.
Aaanndd the hits just keep on coming. I was afraid this would happen. And Cardwell out too. Best wishes for full and speedy recovery to both. Now, let’s fire up that tank.
I have no doubt that if the Kings were sniffing playoffs, Domas would still be lacing them up, because he’s that kind of tough dude. Rest up big fella.
Anyone know what kind of rehab timeline a torn meniscus takes? Depending on severity I’ve read everything from 3-6 months to 9-12 months.
Kings are now down to 12 rostered bodies for the remainder of the season. 8 is the minimum needed to dress, but they do have two 2-way fellas. It still would be nice to add an extra 2-way guy, especially if the Kings buyout Westbrook (pretty please!)
I tore the meniscus in my right knee when I was 23 y/o. The recovery time I’m sure varies from person to person but it took a full 18 months for the discomfort from the injury and the surgery to completely disappear for me. I’m not a professional athlete, though, and that’ll certainly be a factor for Domas (good or bad, I’m not certain). After my recovery, though, my knee actually felt stronger and better than before the injury.
I know originally the report was a “partial tear” back in November. From my understanding there are 3 grades of meniscus tears, with 3 being the worst and requiring surgery. Since he went under the knife today I’m assuming he was a grade 3, but maybe it was just a precautionary grade 1 or 2 that they want to properly repair?
Do you recall what grade tear you had?
Mine was a grade 3 flap tear, which I think is one of the more severe types.
Ouch. In your experience could have have played some basketball like Domas has or were you laid out on your butt after you tore it?
No, definitely could not play basketball, at least not well. The first year after the surgery was misery. Putting any pressure on the knee was painful. Going up and down stairs, or even stepping down from the sidewalk, was miserable. Hopefully my experience is atypical but meniscus injuries can definitely be tricky. It was a meniscus tear that effectively ended the CWebb that we knew, for example.
Damn, Dylan out too???
This upcoming draft will be so fun to watch LOL!
I
EDIT: It’s from a parody account.
I got to stop falling for these fake news stories. When your a Kings fan your conditioned to believe everything negative about this team.
For sure. It’s just too bad these kind of fake stories are allowed to persist. Although the account is labeled parody, it could (should?) have legal consequences for spreading information that could be detrimental to the parties involved.
OK, I took the bait. But the premise remains the same and it could impact a player’s decision.
I can’t blame the guy for not wanting to play in Sacramento. Utah though, they have some good talent and might be much more competitive next year if they were to actually try and win games.
I expect a larger market/better team to win the lottery this draft. Atlanta via New Orleans, Brooklyn, Chicago, etc.
Oh Im most certain that the kings will somehow slip to 4th or 5th if they have the worst record. I got my money on Brooklyn or Chicago, with would be the ultimate Kangz scenario if it were the Bulls.
If it’s the Bulls, he’ll likely become a King around the time he turns 30.
yes and scores a ton, plays no defense and does not make his team better. Perfect.
Utah’s roster if you look at it looks solid, wonder how many Kings players would make that roster at full strength
There are red flags around Peterson. Brad Beal or Edwards?
and the team with the worst record rarely gets top pick- that would require worst record + picking that right combo ping pong ball.-14% chance of that. Teams jump from the not bottom 4 spots all the time and this displaces one of the bottom four. Worst case is to drop down 4 places unless one of the bottom four gets the right ball.
Honestly, while Peterson may be the next Ant, Boozer the next Malone, AJ the next PG3 and Wilson the next Tatum or something, I would rather have Flemings over all of them. The Kings won’t do that and actually and would be sort of dumb to do it, so if the Kings don’t get the #1, 2 or 3 picks this is not the end of the world.
Everybody needs a good PG- Flemings, Wagler, Brown. .
I like Flemings because he plays very good defense, along with being a good PG and scorer. It’s what the Kimgs need at the PG position.
They need talent everywhere, so they should improve noayyer where they end up in the lottery.
Caleb Wilson would be really nice, too.
Flemings reminds me of bigger Fox. Doesn’t play as fast but is a better defender.
Yeah im certainly not a Peterson guy. Something about him seems off but I do think he’ll be a very good player.
Dybansta had been my guy since the season began followed by Wilson and Flemings.
Kansas has played 26 games this year. Peterson has played 15 of those games, but he’s only played 30+ minutes in six of them.
He can’t make it thru a college season.
It seems like he plays when he wants to. Coach Bill Self seemed bewildered when he took himself out the game last night.
I’m not thrilled about watching Sacramento.
Watch with you eyes closed and the sound on mute.
This is the NIL working against the NBA. He can earn $4-$5 million staying another year in college or at least use that as leverage. But I also think this is where having Doug as the coach hurts the team in this kind of chatter (if true). I doubt a top player wants to go to a team coached by a guy who would find it difficult to be hired by a good college program. The Kings may need to do something about this and find someone with the credentials to go from rebuild to playoff team.
Okay murraytant. Question to you or anyone whom would like to comment. If you had a choice in this years draft would you pick a point guard or power forward? IMO point guards should be considered first. As a coach I would rather have a point guard over a big man any day. He runs the floor, sets the offense and touches the ball more than anyone else on the team.With that I have my reservations on Peterson. Like you I would prefer Kingston Flemings. It would be hard to not take Dybansta but in the long run you have to take a player that runs the show as a future on your team. In another item I like the Kings second round pick at #31.With this draft you have a good chance to get a good player. What say you? We also could bundle our seconds and waybe move up a couple spots if there is a player we want.
PS Kingston the name. Look at the first five letters. What does that spell?
Kangz?
I get thr Phlegm part- but all I see are Lemmings
I think you have to pick the best player regardless of position, this team is bereft of talent
Having said that if get the first pick and Peterson is that guy if you can get another top 5 pick in this years draft and another young promising player and or draft capital would you not listen to such an offer?
I’m also afraid of Perry and the front offices (Vivek anyone) decision making powers. The term wrestling defeat out of the jaws of victory comes to mind here
Kansas has played 26 games this year. Peterson has played 15 of those games, but he’s only played 30+ minutes in six of them.
Totally agree, thats why I’d deal the pick and get more assets rather than passing on the best player, can we say Marvin Bagley, that’s what Atlanta did
Tell the league nothing every option is open and see what you get offered
This front office does not have the respect or cred to make off book decisions, the Celtics and Spurs and Thunder do as they have a record of making smart decisions, I don’t wouldn’t trust Vivek, Perry et al to organize a piss up in a brewery
So, is there a lingering surgery DeMar also needs that he’ll miss the rest of the season for?
He’ll be out with a hairline restoration. Going to Turkey, will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks.
Buy-out-ititous?
Bballhellinoma?
I’m afraid Vivwreck is going to use these injuries as an excuse for why this team’s record is so bad this season. It’s a contributing factor but this team is terrible and very poorly constructed.
With all these players going down, I look forward to seeing Doug McDermott get more minutes!
Dougie McTank commander it’s your time to shine! What a re-sign haters, who’s laughing now.
With Domas and Cardwell out, the Kings should sign a young big man to a 10 day soon. Ulrich Chomche, if healthy, is athletic and only 20. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is a former Thunder prospect which is a good place to look for talent.
Signing people costs money. Kings are around $1M below the tax and a typical 10 day costs around $70-100K, depending on years of experience.
IMO, the best option is to negotiate a buyout of one of the minimum deals, specifically Westbrook or McDermott, and use the created cap space to get roster help. I’m shocked Russ hasn’t asked for that, or maybe he has and the Kings haven’t obliged yet. Russ has 9 days remaining, if released, to find a new team an qualify for a playoff roster.
A player with 5 years experience like JRE would have a rest of season contract of roughly $828k. Which would still give the Kings enough money to sign a two way player to a rest of season deal at roughly $194k while staying just under the luxury tax.
2-ways don’t count against the cap so I’m thinking the only reason that haven’t added a 3rd 2-way guy is because someone is a cheap ass owner.
They could technically fit any pro-rated vet-mimimum deal for the final 15th roster spot, but that hasn’t happened either.
Should they buy out a guy, then they’d have to add a regular rostered player to get back to 14. I’m beginning to think they won’t buyout anyone because that would force them to spend to near the tax.
Again, the only reason I can figure they haven’t done anything is because someone doesn’t want to cut the check.
Why would Russ leave he gets all the playing time he wants, gets to jack shots up at will
Title chase. Houston need a PG.
Hope surgery goes well and has a good recovery
This is good actually. Get it fixed properly, this season is tanked. Let the young guys play. Heal up Domas.
Think I may have season ending surgery on my fandom…
Ha! Kfan, FTW.
Makes sense, you have been having fan spasms and seeing the Kings has you weak in the knees and perhaps incontinent. My Kings fandom likewise, is in hospice.
I am in with a group of guys and we split the season tickets. The rumblings have escalated and I will be surprised if we renew this year or next. Even if they draft Peterson, AJ, Boozer, Flemings, Acuiff, etc. They will still return with Domas, DeRozan and Lavine and DC as the HC and SP as the GM. They have told us that it will take two seasons. Not having the expense of two seasons of tickets is a significant savings. That they will figure it out with a rookie, any rookie, is illogical. I have a large screen (120″ w/projector) to watch games on at home. I can serve beer/wine/cocktails at a more reasonable cost and parking is included. Oh, and with League Pass I can watch other teams when the Kings, Kangz.
I have a suspicion in this era of high scoring, free-flowing offenses; this team may set some season low in scoring if DeMar has one of his 1-10 shooting nights, and Russ is clanking 3’s. Who else will score?
The lottery odds
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