The moment Domantas Sabonis stepped on the court to take on the Memphis Grizzlies, he didn't know if it might be his last game with the Sacramento Kings. It wasn't. If it had been, Sabonis put on a performance so good that it looked like the Beam Team Era was back for one more night.
Sacramento is in a tough spot right now. They know they cannot continue with their roster in the current shape it's in if they want to be remotely relevant. At the same time, they're stuck with three rough contracts for players who have proven to be difficult to trade.
One of those players is Domantas Sabonis. The All-Star center can be an impressive piece of an offensive structure that runs through him. That's not enough to win games, particularly when he isn't really consistent or effective on defense. The Kings need more from a starting center.
While the Kings' plan to move Sabonis before the 2026 trade deadline didn't pan out, progress is still being made on the rebuild. In the meantime, Sacramento should put Sabonis to work. Based on his performance against the Grizzlies, he still has some of that Beam Team magic left.
Sabonis went to work against Memphis
It was one of those performances when a veteran hits the court and reminds the entire league exactly who he is. Sabonis played 24+ minutes and collected 24 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, and one steal. That is the Sabonis who got signed to such a huge contract in the first place.
With all the talk of the Kings needing to move on from him, and they definitely do, it's also important that fans don't forget how good a player he can be. Considering Sabonis isn't going anywhere before the offseason at this point, the Kings should figure out how he fits into the roster.
Simply benching him would be a waste, and buying him out is a bad idea with how big his contract is. All the Kings need to do is get him on the court. Put him in a position to find a rhythm with rookies like Dylan Cardwell, Maxime Raynaud, and NIque Clifford. Find a line that works and go from there.
The 2025-2026 season is a wash for the Kings. Why not throw some ideas against the wall and see what sticks? A lot of fans might want to see what a line of Sabonis, Cardwell, and Raynaud looks like. Toss De'Andre Hunter and Devin Carter in there for good measure. There's nothing to lose by trying.