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The Sacramento Kings are approaching a breaking point. At 3–10 with no signs of a turnaround, the franchise may be headed for a full reset — and Domantas Sabonis could be the first major domino to fall. I broke down why the All-Star center sits at the center of the Kings’ potential fire sale and what his market really looks like in today’s landscape.
The Sacramento Kings are running out of rope. At 3–10 with little sign of turning things around, the franchise has stumbled into the type of early-season spiral that forces difficult conversations. A frustrated coaching staff, a roster built around veterans who aren’t producing, and a new general manager in Scott Perry all point to one conclusion: Sacramento is inching toward a fire sale. And if that happens, Domantas Sabonis is likely the first major piece to fall.
Why Sabonis Is the Early Focal Point
It’s rare for a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA big man to hit the trade rumor mill before Thanksgiving, but this is where the Kings find themselves. They control their own draft pick, they’re not competitive, and their most promising long-term pieces — Keegan Murray and rookie Nique Clifford — are not yet ready to lift the franchise. Turning toward the future is the logical path.
NBA insider Sam Amick reinforced that outlook on The Carmichael Dave Show, reporting that rival teams have already begun to monitor Sabonis’ availability.
“There are at least a few teams that have raised their hand to say, ‘Yeah, he’s somebody we’d want to talk about,’” Amick said.
The interest isn’t surprising. Sabonis is 29 and remains one of the league’s most productive rebounders and an elite offensive hub. Since arriving in Sacramento during the 2021–22 Haliburton trade, he has posted 19.1 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game while finishing top-eight in MVP voting twice.
But this season has been rough. Sabonis is averaging 17.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game — his lowest scoring output since 2018–19 — while shooting 49.5% from the field and just 17–21% from three depending on the sample window. His efficiency has fallen off, and Sacramento hasn’t built its offense around his strengths like it did in previous seasons. That combination has made his trade market harder to gauge.
The Complicated Reality of Trading Sabonis
Despite multiple teams expressing interest, executives agree Sabonis is not a universal fit. His value depends entirely on whether a franchise is willing to build its system around a non-shooting facilitator at the center position. He thrives when he’s the offensive hub, surrounded by spacing, cutters, and guards who work off his playmaking.
Amick explained the challenge clearly:
“I don’t think he has a robust market… You have to really decide that you’re committing to a system that supports his skill set… You need Sabonis to be the hub.”
That narrows the field significantly — and salary only tightens the squeeze. Sabonis is earning $42.3 million this season and is owed another $94.1 million over the following two years. Teams can’t match that money without giving up a real asset, and only a handful of contenders or upward-climbing teams have both the roster structure and motivation to pursue him.
Still, Sabonis is Sacramento’s most valuable trade chip. Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Doug McDermott could all emerge in trade rumors, but none would net the type of return needed to accelerate a rebuild. LaVine’s deal is hard to move, DeRozan’s contract expires next season, and Monk profiles as more of a value role player than a franchise-shifting asset.
The Beginning of the End?
Sacramento has made the playoffs only once in 20 years, and its brief 2023 revival now feels like an outlier. With little evidence that this roster can climb out of a 3–10 hole in a loaded Western Conference, the Kings are approaching a decision they’ve avoided for years.
If they pull the trigger on a rebuild — and every sign suggests that moment is near — Domantas Sabonis will be the first domino to fall. Not because he’s the problem, but because he’s the only asset capable of delivering the meaningful return Sacramento needs to start over.
Jalon Dixon Jalon Dixon is a multi-platform sports journalist and content creator specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage. He blends writing, podcasting, and video analysis to deliver accessible, in-depth perspectives on basketball and beyond. More about Jalon Dixon
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