Domantas Sabonis is putting up big numbers for the Sacramento Kings, but his future with the club is the story dominating the headlines. The 30-year-old centre is leading the league in rebounding and shooting at a career-best rate, yet reports suggest he is unhappy in Sacramento and the Kings could move him before the trade deadline. Add in a knee problem that kept him out of Sunday’s game against Miami, and it has been a turbulent week for one of the NBA’s most productive big men.
Here is the latest news on Domantas Sabonis, his form, his fitness and the trade talk around him.
Sabonis ruled out against Miami with knee soreness
The most recent development came on Sunday, 8 November. Sabonis was a late addition to the Kings’ injury report with left knee soreness and was ultimately ruled out of the home game against the Miami Heat. It was his first missed game of the season.
With fellow centre Maxime Raynaud also out with a knee injury, the Kings turned to Dylan Cardwell, who made just the second start of his NBA career. Sacramento lost the game 114-108, and the question of how long the knee soreness will keep Sabonis out remains unanswered.
The good news for Kings fans is that the absence is not expected to be a long one. Reports on Monday indicated Sabonis was set to return for Tuesday’s game against the Orlando Magic, with Cardwell likely heading back to the bench. His status was listed as questionable, but the expectation is that he will be back in the starting line-up.
Leading the league in rebounding
On the court, Sabonis has been excellent this season. He is averaging 15.3 points, 14.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game while shooting 67.9 percent from the field. That rebounding mark leads the entire NBA, and his efficiency is a reminder of the player he was before injuries derailed last season.
There is, however, one striking change in his game. Sabonis is taking only around nine shots per game, his fewest attempts since his second season in the league.
The reason is the arrival of rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr., who has taken on a huge offensive role. Acuff was taking 23.6 shots per game at one point, and the Kings’ offence now runs through the young guard far more than through their veteran centre.
The trade rumours around Sabonis
The biggest talking point has been a report from ESPN’s Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective podcast on 1 November. MacMahon said Sabonis is unhappy in Sacramento and wants out, adding that the Kings would trade him if they could find the right deal.
The report came after a separate claim that Sabonis did not enjoy playing alongside the ball-dominant Acuff. That suggestion was quickly pushed back. A team source told Sacramento reporter Brenden Nunes that the idea of a rift between the two players “could not be farther from the truth”, and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on 6 November that Sabonis has made an effort to support the rookie and that any perceived feud is “a nonstory”.
Windhorst did add, though, that a trade could benefit both Sabonis and the Kings. No trade has been announced and no fresh negotiations have been reported, but the situation is one to watch as the season develops.
Why a trade would be difficult
Moving Sabonis would not be simple. He is owed around $45 million this season and $48.6 million next season, the final two years of the four-year, $186 million extension he signed in Sacramento. That is a huge salary for any team to take on.
He is also coming off a season in which a knee injury limited him to just 19 games, and the Kings’ dreadful 0-6 start at the time of the first reports did nothing to help his market value. The Kings were 1-8 after Friday’s 124-109 defeat to San Antonio, in which Sabonis had 17 points and 12 rebounds while Acuff scored 22 points with eight assists.
Even so, his production shows he is still highly effective, and a contender needing rebounding and passing could see him as a valuable addition if the price is right.
What Sabonis means to the Kings
Sabonis, the son of Lithuanian great Arvydas Sabonis, has been one of the most consistent big men of his generation. A three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, he has led the league in rebounding before and is one of the best passing centres in the game.
For the Kings, he is both a leader on the court and a major asset. With the team in the middle of a rebuild and the February trade deadline still months away, the next few weeks are likely to show how keen Sacramento is to resolve his future, and whether a deal that suits both sides can be found.
For now, the focus is on his fitness. If Sabonis returns against Orlando as expected, the Kings will have their best rebounder back for a winnable home game. Whether he is still in Sacramento by the end of the season is a different question, and one that will follow him until the deadline passes. For more celebrity and sports news, visit the Celebrity Hub homepage.