James Ham: I checked in with a very high-ranking source, league source, someone that is not on the peripheral, someone who is in the know and who has a very good grasp on what’s happening in Sacramento. And the answer came pretty quickly. According to my source, there was no conversation between the Kings and the Charlotte Hornets regarding Domantas Sabonis at the trade deadline. That is, according to my source, not accurate. In addition, the idea that the Kings would trade Sabonis in a straight salary dump, as Evan Sidery intimated, was completely shot down as well. A trade like that would cost at least one first-round pick, and possibly two, according to my source.
One longshot scenario that does get mentioned by rival team strategists is an Embiid-for-Domantas Sabonis swap with Sacramento … but even longshot might be underselling it. Both former All-Star big men could probably use a fresh start, but there’s just no getting around the fact that Embiid, at 32, seems incapable of holding up for a deep playoff run. Which certainly shortens the list of potential suitors. — 5/13/2026 marcstein.substack.com
Draymond Green on Bam Adebayo, LaMelo Ball incident: Before Bam exit that game, he was working Diabte… if Bam Adebayo doesn’t get hurt, LaMelo Ball don’t get fined. Let’s take it a step farther, I’m happy they didn’t suspend LaMelo for a game because you can’t suspend him just because he got hurt. We saw the same thing when Domantas Sabonis grabbed my ankle and nothing happened. You can’t have it both ways. Was it an intentional trip? To me, he grabbed and pulled him. Yes it was an intentional trip. Was he intentionally trying to hurt him? No. I don’t think LaMelo is thinking ‘I’m bout to grab Bam ankle, he’s gonna fall on his ass and hurt his back.’ — 4/17/2026 YouTube
MrBuckBuck: Draymond Greebln says LaMelo Ball doesn’t deserve a suspension since Sabonis wasn’t suspended for grabbing his ankle. “We saw the same thing when Sabonis grabbed my ankle and nothing happened.” — 4/17/2026 x.com
Despite the setback and persistent trade rumors, Sabonis, who is signed through the 2027-28 season, remains focused on his return to elite form. “There’s a lot of uncertainty. I don’t know what that feels like, but I can control what I control, and that is getting back to that All-NBA player that I know I can be,” he noted. Addressing his future in Sacramento, he added, “I always want to get better as a player, no matter where I am, but I’m very happy here, you all know that. In things like this, you just have to focus on my knee, my rehab, getting back to the player I am.” — 4/14/2026 EuroHoops.net
James Ham: “I’ll have a better knee than before.” -Domantas Sabonis on his recovery — 4/13/2026 Twitter @James_HamNBA
James Ham: “I’m very happy here, you all know that.” -Domantas Sabonis on an uncertain future — 4/13/2026 Twitter @James_HamNBA
Michael Scotto: Reporting on Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine, who sources say is expected to exercise his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, along with potential offseason trade candidates Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and Malik Monk with host @ChrisShearnYES on @YESNetwork . — 4/3/2026 Twitter @MikeAScotto
It is not seen as a certainty, according to one source briefed on the process, that the Kings will try again in the offseason to trade Domantas Sabonis after fielding in-season trade offers for the former All-Star big man. There are scenarios, I’m told, that would steer Sacramento toward keeping Sabonis — who has two seasons left on his contract after this one — that depend on how the Kings fare in May’s draft lottery and whom they are able to select in a draft headlined by Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer. — 2/24/2026 marcstein.substack.com
Dallas, by contrast, was unable to generate the first-round pick it was seeking in trade talks for Daniel Gafford. Neither, sources say, could Sacramento with Domantas Sabonis. — 2/22/2026 marcstein.substack.com
Yossi Gozlan: Kings now down to 12 active players including two-ways. They have an open standard & two-way roster spot to fill for help. They’ll also qualify for a hardship extension soon with Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, & De’Andre Hunter out for the year + Dylan Cardwell out for a while. — 2/20/2026 x.com