Domantas Sabonis, the star big man who led the Sacramento Kings to the playoffs in 2023, might be looking for a way out as his team steadily declines and looks like a “safe pick” for the league’s new relegation zone this season. Just under four years ago, Sabonis was the cornerstone of a Kings team ready to build a winning culture, but things have gone south fast, and now the bottom three records face worse odds for the No. 1 pick. Whether he has explicitly asked or not, if the Kings make Sabonis available, teams should be ready to jump.
The Kings’ Steep Dive Has Sabonis On The Block
Since joining the Kings over five years ago, Sabonis has put up serious numbers, averaging 18.9 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. He’s even led the league in rebounds per game in four of the last five seasons, including this one. Yeah, he comes with defensive concerns, but the 2022-23 Kings proved you could build around that. Now, after making the playoffs in 2023, the team has just gotten worse. It’s early in this season, but Sacramento is already looking like a lock for that new relegation zone, which makes getting a high draft pick even harder. So, if Sabonis is on the move, who is going to step up?
Contenders Line Up For Sabonis’ Talent
Two teams, the Atlanta Hawks and the Golden State Warriors, immediately jump out as potential landing spots. The Hawks, despite having a roster loaded with length and athleticism, have been just mediocre in rebounding over the last two seasons. Sabonis brings that brute strength and sheer size they need. Imagine his passing paired with Jalen Johnson’s, creating one of the most dynamic playmaking frontcourts in the league. Plus, their perimeter athletes, like Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, could definitely help cover those defensive concerns Sabonis carries. Yeah, they would lose some leadership and three-point shooting with CJ McCollum and a solid defender in Luguentz Dort, but with Kingston Flemings already looking ready and Aaron Wiggins boosting guard depth, it might be worth it. For the Kings, it’s mostly about snagging a top-eight protected 2029 first-round pick, with McCollum and Dort potentially mentoring Darius Acuff.
Then you have the Golden State Warriors. Even with a better-than-expected start to their season, the Warriors look like an ideal fit for Sabonis. Chasing another title with Stephen Curry means making big moves, and that means trading Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler. The logical play is bundling Green’s salary, who becomes trade-eligible on December 15, with Kristaps Porziņģis’ contract, which was practically designed for trades. Will Richard would also be essential to make the math work. But think about it, Sabonis is a dramatic upgrade over Green in scoring and rebounding, and he is at least as good a passer. The fit with Yaxel Lendeborg? Easy to imagine. Curry’s off-ball movement around those two interior hubs would be insane. For Sacramento, they would get a top-four protected 2032 first-round pick along with Green, Porziņģis, and Richard.
It’s a wild time when a star putting up incredible numbers on the boards is already looking like a trade piece just weeks into the season. Teams are clearly ready to make big moves, and we’re all watching to see if Sabonis gets his fresh start.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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