It doesn’t appear the Kings want to swap big man for big man in a potential Domantas Sabonis trade with the Toronto Raptors.
Sacramento, who reportedly has discussed a Sabonis trade with the Raptors, is not interested in taking on the $103 million ($81.2M guaranteed) remaining on veteran center Jakob Poeltl’s contract with Toronto that runs through the 2029-30 NBA season, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported in a story published Tuesday, citing team and league sources.
Amick adds that a potential deal with the Raptors likely is contingent on Toronto finding a new home for Poeltl, who would need to be moved to clear room for Sabonis’ $42.3 million salary this season. If the Raptors are unable to reroute Poeltl to another team, the discussions between Sacramento and Toronto likely would have to wait until the offseason.
Poeltl, a 7-foot big man in his 10th NBA season, is averaging 9.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on 69.3-percent shooting from the field in 21 games this season while dealing with a lingering back injury.
Sabonis has played just 18 games (14 starts) this season due to rib, knee and back injuries, and is averaging 15.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game on 54.2-percent shooting from the field and 18.5 percent from 3-point range in what, so far, has been his worst season, statistically, since the 2018-19 campaign with the Indiana Pacers.
Amick reported on Jan. 23 that there were four teams, including the Raptors, Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards, who expressed interest in a Sabonis trade, but it’s unclear, with Thursday’s deadline less than 48 hours away, if any of the other three teams remain interested.
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