Domantas Sabonis Has Concerns For The Future Of The Kings

Kings are facing a long rebuild as Domantas Sabonis questions his loyalty.

4 Min Read

Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

After watching his coach and co-star depart from the franchise, NBA big man Domantas Sabonis has some questions about what comes next. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Sabonis’ loyalty to the Kings is under doubt after an underachieving season.

“League sources said Sabonis, who has three more seasons and a combined $140.3 million left on his current deal, is expected to seek clarity about the organization’s plan in the offseason. Just as Fox wanted to know whose voice mattered most on key decisions, and who the team’s owner might be trusting the most as counsel, Sabonis is known to have similar questions.”

Sabonis, 28, was drafted 11th overall in 2016. After five years with the Indiana Pacers, he was traded to the Kings in 2022 in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson.

Initially, Sabonis had a lot of success in Sacramento, and even helped to lead them to the playoffs with averages of 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game on 61.5% shooting. After losing to the Warriors in the first round, however, the Kings never got that far again.

Today, they are ninth in the West at 32-29 and while Sabonis is still on the roster, it might not be much longer before he follows De’Aaron’s lead and forces his way out of town. After everything that’s happened over the years, some might say it’s long overdue.

The turning point for the Kings was after losing the play-in tournament to the Pelicans last year. The defeat led the Kings to sign DeMar DeRozan over the summer, but not even his arrival could prevent them from another disappointing season.

After a 13-18 start, the franchise decided to part ways with their longtime head coach, Mike Brown, and things were never the same after that. Eventually, the Kings were forced to trade De’Aaron Fox and now he’s on the Spurs with no regrets.

According to Fox, it was letting go of Mike Brown that convinced him to leave and it seems the same could be true for Sabonis. With averages of 19.5 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game on 46.8% shooting, Sabonis has been playing his role to perfection but without a trusted coach and a viable co-star, the Kings just don’t have enough to keep up with the league’s top teams.

Currently, Sabonis still has four years and $178 million left on his deal but it’s unlikely that he’ll play out the rest of it in Sacramento. As the Kings lean toward another rebuild, it seems inevitable that Domantas will be traded to a place where he can play more meaningful basketball. The question is, which team would make the best fit?

With James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and a chest of assets, the Clippers are one team that could benefit from a big like Sabonis, who can rebound and stretch the floor in the backcourt. There’s also a team like the Memphis Grizzlies, who could become title favorites in the West with his presence next to Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Only time will tell where Sabonis ends up but at 28 years old, the guy is just entering his prime and he could make a huge difference in the right situation.

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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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