There's no question that Domantas Sabonis played one impressive game against the Blazers, pulling down a triple-double. But the Kings still lost. Running the offense through Sabonis doesn't lead to victories, but it could help Sacramento trade Domas, and that remains the main goal.
After the Kings were routed by the Clippers in game one, Sabonis had more than a few thoughts to share with the media. Basically, he talked about how the offense needs to be run through him and seemed to take issue with how Darius Acuff Jr. played, though he didn't mention the rookie by name.
Those were incredibly bold words, but Sabonis certainly backed them up. He played nearly 40 minutes, collecting a hefty triple-double that consisted of 27 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists. On top of that, he shot 76.9% from the field, which was the best on the team. It was a great game for him.
What he didn't collect was a victory. The Blazers ultimately won 128 to 120. That means the Kings' defense has let the opposing team score 120+ points in each of their first two games of the season. It's a problem Sabonis can't fix, and one that running the offense through him won't offset.
The silver lining to Sabonis playing well
Kings fans know that Domas being the team's offensive hub is not going to get the job done. He has been a King for four seasons, one mostly lost to injuries, and the closest Sacramento has come to success is making the playoffs once. They got knocked out in the first round by the Warriors.
That's why the Kings have been working on trading him. Being that Sabonis has an expensive contract, doesn't play any meaningful defense, and spent most of last season injured, that has been a tall task. If Sabonis keeps playing like this, trying to trade him might get infinitely easier.
On a team that isn't buried in a difficult rebuild and has a better-established defensive identity, Sabonis could be a great addition to the offense. There's a reason why trade speculation was constantly focused on the Raptors, given their elite-level defense that could cover for Sabonis.
There's no denying that Sabonis is one of the top 20 big men in the league today. That being said, he also feeds directly into the Kings' issues on defense. And as long as that's a problem, it's not going to matter how many triple-doubles he pulls down. The Kings will just keep losing.
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