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Domantas Sabonis reportedly wants out of Sacramento, and the Kings could move him if they find a deal that makes sense. The three-time All-Star is reportedly unhappy and his name has also been frequently involved in trade rumors in the last few months.
Sports Illustrated insider Chris Mannix met the report with sarcasm and a pointed question about the franchise’s appeal to a player in his prime.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported that Sabonis wants out of Sacramento on “The Hoop Collective.” He shared his blunt assessment on Sabonis’ situation on the Kings roster. “Quite frankly, Sabonis wants out of there, and if they can move him, they would,” MacMahon said. “So he’s not happy. It’s a bad situation.”
The report surfaced while the Kings were still searching for their first win of the season. They finally got one Monday night, beating the Dallas Mavericks 115-100 on the road, but at 1-6 they share the worst record in the Western Conference with the LA Clippers and Utah Jazz.
Mannix began with that report before turning his attention to the franchise itself. “I saw some report that like Domantas Sabonis wants out. No kidding. No kidding. I’m shocked by that. I’m shocked by that,” Mannix said sarcastically. “Who at this point wants to be in Sacramento?”
“Mannix said some rookies and younger players may be more accepting of Sacramento’s situation because they are early in their careers. But for Sabonis, he added, ‘If you’re a Sabonis and you are in your prime, hell no. Hell no.’”
Sabonis’ run in Sacramento began on a high note. He came over from the Indiana Pacers in 2022 as part of the deal that sent Tyrese Haliburton the other way, and the following season he helped the Kings snap a 16-year playoff drought.
Last season looked nothing like that. A knee injury that required meniscus surgery limited Sabonis to 19 games, and Sacramento finished 22-60.
Sabonis’ name came up again and again in trade talk during the offseason. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported in June that Sacramento and the Charlotte Hornets had talked about a Sabonis trade ahead of the draft, conversations he said were “widely described as exploratory.”
MacMahon added that Sacramento had looked into a trade that would bring back Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, but Detroit had no interest in moving him for Sabonis.
On the court, Sabonis averaged 16.0 points, 15.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists through the first six games, before Monday’s win. He added 9 points on 4-of-4 shooting, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 31 minutes at Dallas.
Sabonis is due $45.5 million in 2026-27 and $48.6 million in 2027-28, about $94 million guaranteed in all. For now, he remains on Sacramento’s roster, and the Kings, who MacMahon reported would move him if they could, have yet to make a deal.