Despite exploring the trade market for Domantas Sabonis prior to the Feb. 5 deadline, the Sacramento Kings may not be eager to put the three-time All-Star on the table again this summer.
Per NBA insider Marc Stein, it’s “not seen as a certainty” that the Kings will attempt to trade Sabonis in the offseason.
Stein did note one big factor that could impact the Kings’ thinking is how the lottery plays out:
“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.”
There were several teams reportedly interested in Sabonis prior to the deadline, including the Toronto Raptors Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls.
Per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Sacramento was seeking a first-round pick in exchange for Sabonis.
After no deal materialized, the Kings shut down Sabonis so he could undergo season-ending knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He is owed $94.1 million over the final two years of his current contract.
The Kings, who won at least 40 games in each of the past three seasons, currently own the NBA’s worst record at 13-46. They lost a franchise-record 16 consecutive games prior to Monday’s 123-114 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Sacramento hasn’t picked in the top 10 of the draft since taking Keegan Murray No. 4 overall in 2022.
Since the NBA adopted the lottery formula in 1985, the Kings have only won the top pick once in 1989. They were reportedly one ball away from getting the top choice in 2025 and the right to select Cooper Flagg.
Sabonis is in his fifth season with the Kings after being acquired from the Indiana Pacers in February 2022 as part of the Tyrese Haliburton trade. He has averaged 19.0 points, 13.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game in 265 games with Sacramento.