After back-to-back top-10 MVP finishes and All-NBA Third Team selections, Sacramento Kings center top star was largely overlooked in this year’s awards voting.
he earned only four All-NBA Third Team votes despite averaging 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game while shooting 59.0% from the field, 41.7% from three, and 75.4% from the free-throw line. His strong individual performance was overshadowed by Sacramento’s disappointing 40-42 record and another early exit in the play-in tournament, marking their second straight season missing the playoffs.
With new general manager Scott Perry now leading the front office, the Kings are expected to have an active offseason. While trading veteran star is unlikely, the idea has been floated as a potential reset move for Sacramento. Still, moving him would be far more complicated than it might seem.
On The Lowe Post, The Athletic’s John Hollinger discussed the Kings’ offseason outlook and the difficulty of dealing Sabonis.
“You have to gauge if there’s even a market for Sabonis,” Hollinger said. “And I think the answer may come quickly — probably not. That renegotiate-and-extend deal they gave him was overly ambitious. He’s set to make $43.6 million this coming season.
“Sabonis is a productive player, an All-Star, and very durable. But I’m not sure he’s the kind of guy most front offices are eager to build around. At this point, the Kings may just have to make the most of the current situation.”
Domantas Sabonis remains a divisive figure, largely because his unique skill set makes it difficult for teams—including the Kings—to build effectively around him. While comparisons are often drawn to the Nuggets’ success with Nikola Jokić, a fellow playmaking big man, the gap in talent is so vast that the comparison doesn’t hold much weight.
Should Sacramento explore trading Sabonis this offseason, they’ll likely discover that no other team values him as highly as they do. That disparity in perception is the biggest hurdle when it comes to moving any player.