Fresh Domantas Sabonis Trade Rumors Reveal Kings' Asking Price Amid Bulls, Suns Links
The Sacramento Kings reportedly want a first-round draft pick in return for Domantas Sabonis, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
"In trade talks involving Sabonis, the Kings told at least one interested team that they'd like a first-round pick in return, HoopsHype has learned. Over the next two seasons, Sabonis is owed a combined $94.08 million."
Sam Amick of The Athletic previously connected Sabonis with the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 23, Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls, with the Raps' interest perceived to be the strongest.
"Meanwhile, big man Domantas Sabonis is still worth monitoring in the weeks ahead. When Toronto rolled through town on Wednesday, it wasn't all that hard to imagine him putting on a Raptors jersey sometime soon. While Washington, Phoenix and Chicago are known to have had some interest in Sabonis, league sources confirmed reports that Toronto is a legitimate possibility as we approach the deadline."
On Wednesday, Scotto expressed pessimism on a potential Sabonis trade involving the Wizards or Suns, but he also spoke more about whether the Raptors could get involved.
"Regarding Toronto's interest in Sabonis, Raptors swingmen RJ Barrett and Ochai Agbaji have been discussed in those trade talks, league sources told HoopsHype. Kings general manager Scott Perry drafted Barrett when the two were with the Knicks. Agbaji, meanwhile, has been a trade candidate, as previously reported by HoopsHype in December, with the Raptors having explored using him to duck below the luxury tax in previous trade talks for Suns center Nick Richards.
"Sacramento has been resistant to Jakob Poeltl due to ongoing back issues and Immanuel Quickley due to his long-term contract in trade talks for Sabonis, HoopsHype has learned."
Sabonis, who turns 30 years old on May 3, is a three-time All-Star, three-time rebounding champion and two-time All-NBA player. He's spent his last four-plus seasons with the Kings after being traded from the Indiana Pacers in Feb. 2022. Sabonis helped break the Kings' 16-season playoff drought in 2023, when the team won 48 games and earned the Western Conference's No. 3 seed.
The Kings lost in the play-in tournament each of the next two years, going 46-36 and then 40-42. The bottom has fallen out in Sacramento now, though, with the team scuffling through a 12-36 season. That has obviously led to trade rumors and the potential that this core could be broken up.
This has been a tough year for Sabonis, who missed 27 contests after suffering a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. Thankfully, he returned to the court on Jan. 16 and has remained in the lineup. Sabonis was on a minutes restriction at first, but that has since been lifted.
For the season, he's averaged 15.5 points on 53.9 percent shooting, 11.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
Sabonis is signed through the 2027-28 season on a four-year, $186 million extension. We will soon find out whether he remains with the Kings or heads elsewhere this year with the Feb. 5 trade deadline looming large.
