A rumor about the Charlotte Hornets being on the verge of completing a trade for Sacramento Kings veteran big man Domantas Sabonis surfaced online, but a Kings insider quickly slammed the brakes. Matt George of Sactown Sports 1140 didn’t mince words, calling the whole idea “not true or accurate” when talking about Sabonis and the Hornets.
Trade Talk: Dead on Arrival
George went further, confirming what many might have suspected: Sacramento and Charlotte haven’t even been talking trade since way before the NBA Draft. So if you heard whispers of Sabonis rocking a Hornets jersey, you can put those dreams to bed. This wasn’t just a casual dismissal, either. It was a full-on shutdown from someone who knows the Kings’ inner workings, making it clear this rumored deal was dead on arrival.
Sabonis’s Rough Road to Return
It’s no secret Sabonis has been battling. The guy is coming off a lost season, playing a career-low 19 games because he needed knee surgery. And get this: he even opted out of Lithuania’s FIBA World Cup qualifying window, focusing entirely on getting back to form for the 2026-27 campaign. You know that’s a serious commitment to recovery, and it makes you wonder about the rush to trade a three-time All-Star still rehabbing and clearly committed to his comeback.
Hornets’ Offseason Shake-Up and a Playoff Dream
Speaking of rushing, Charlotte has been busy. They’ve made massive changes this offseason, sending star point guard LaMelo Ball packing to the Minnesota Timberwolves and veteran wing Miles Bridges off to the Phoenix Suns. This is a team that hasn’t seen the playoffs since 2016, a ridiculously long time for any franchise, and you can practically *feel* their hunger to get back to contention. A 44-38 finish last season definitely fueled some optimism for a brighter future, and a healthy Sabonis, a proven 10-year veteran and double-double machine, would absolutely boost their chances of finally ending that drought.
Kings Playing It Cool
But for now, it sounds like the Kings aren’t feeling the pressure to move their guy. Why would they? They have a three-time All-Star who, when healthy, can dominate. So while Hornets fans might be dreaming of Sabonis leading their charge, it looks like Sacramento is content to wait and see what their big man brings to the table once he’s 100 percent.
So, no Sabonis in Charlotte, at least not right now, and that’s a tough pill for some fans to swallow. Hornets fans, you’re still on the hunt for that piece to finally break the playoff drought, and the Kings are holding tight to their recovering star. Get ready to see how these teams navigate the rest of the offseason and into the new campaign, because things are always buzzing in the league!
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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