There's a reason the Sacramento Kings traded Tyrese Haliburton for Domantas Sabonis a few years ago, which many people seem to have forgotten. Well, The Athletic sure hasn't. They recently named him the 13th-best big man in the league. Now, he just has to get on the court and remind everyone.
It's not that long ago that Sabonis got a lot more love than he has lately. He was the league's verified, bonafide double-double machine. Sabonis was an elite scorer, a monster rebounder, and an impressive facilitator. He was great at dishing out dimes when the team needed him to.
The reality of the NBA is that it's quick to move on. It's definitely a 'what have you done for me lately' kind of place. With Sabonis on the bench most of last season due to injury, the conversation around him changed dramatically, with the focus being on how bad his contract was for the Kings.
To be fair, it is. Over the next two seasons, Sabonis will make roughly $94 million. Being that he is 30, is coming back from a torn meniscus, and offers no significant defensive presence, his true value as a player is $50 to $60 million over the same time period. The overpay has become his story.
A healthy Sabonis is a dangerous Sabonis
At this point in the 2026 offseason, Sabonis's recovery is reportedly well ahead of initial timelines. This means he should be good to go by the time training camp hits and will likely be the Kings' starting center to open the 2026-2027 season. That's his chance to remind the league who he is.
It's unlikely that Sabonis has improved on defence in his absence. If you put a cardboard cutout of Sabonis in the paint, it would provide an equivalent level of rim protection. That shouldn't undercut the value he brings on offense, particularly with Dylan Cardwell locking down the defence.
Sabonis could play power forward and focus more on his offensive dominance, while Cardwell shuts down their opponents. The Kings will need to lean more into what makes Sabonis great rather than trying to force him to be a player he isn't. Plus, that doesn't even factor in Maxime Raynaud.
Eventually, the Kings will either trade Sabonis or he will leave in free agency. Being that they have two bigs on the rise in Cardwell and Raynaud, plus Jonathan Mogbo on a two-way contract, Sabonis doesn't fit the rebuild. That also doesn't mean Sacramento can't use him properly while he's there.
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