After losing the play-in game to the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings didn’t waste any time making yet another major change to their basketball operations team. Monte McNair is out as the Kings general manager, and it was by mutual agreement, according to ESPN.
The Kings have completely restructured over the last few months, firing head coach Mike Brown and trading star point guard De’Aaron Fox. It’s fair to wonder if Sacramento will also look to move elite big man Domantas Sabonis next.
While Sabonis is on contract through the 2027-28 season, he’ll be 29 years old next season and doesn’t appear to be a part of a core alongside Zach LaVine (30) and DeMar DeRozan (35) that can realistically compete in the Western Conference moving forward.
If the Kings do end up putting Sabonis on the trade block, here are the best possible trade destinations.
Portland Trail Blazers
This connection may seem obvious, but Portland should be first in line for Sabonis. Domantas’s dad, Arvydas, was a Blazers legend in the 90’s and Domantas chose to play college ball at Gonzaga in the Pacific Northwest. The Blazers have the combination of expiring contracts to match Sabonis’s large contract (DeAndre Ayton, Anfernee Simons) and have exciting assets, including a young center prospect in Donovan Clingan and intriguing athletes like Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson.
Portland could easily rebuild its offense to play through Sabonis and utilize some of the big, athletic wings already on the roster as cutters and handoff partners.
From the Kings perspective, getting back prospects with high ceilings and potentially valuable future draft picks would be a big win. This is an ideal fit for both teams.
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Orlando Magic
This might not be the cleanest fit. The Magic value physical, long, defensive-minded players over everything else, even at the cost of shooting the ball at dreadful percentages. Sabonis doesn’t fit that identity at all. But if Orlando were willing to zag a bit and address the offensive side of the ball (27th in offensive rating this season), Sabonis could get Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero some easier buckets. Orlando’s roster is about to get expensive, so acquiring another star via trade now may be the only real avenue to make the leap to title contention.
The Magic have enough sizable contracts, future draft picks, and prospects (Anthony Black) to put together a solid trade package. A frontcourt of Wagner, Banchero and Sabonis could give Boston’s star trio a real run for their money.
One thing is for certain: If the Kings do make Sabonis available for trade, there will be no shortage of suitors for the star big man.
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