Domantas Sabonis has been a hot topic of conversation, mainly because of his perceived lack of trade value. This isn't new. These concerns go all the way back to the 2026 trade deadline, if not before that. And it's the reason why the Sacramento Kings will stick with him for now.
The Kings have made no secret of the fact that they're looking to move on from Sabonis. While he remains a top 20 big man and a legit double-double machine, the Kings' increasing focus on defense means he doesn't fit the rebuild. Sabonis is a legend on offense, but barely passable on defense.
There was speculation that the Kings would move him during the 2025 offseason with Scott Perry in as the new general manager. That didn't happen, so that speculation moved on to the trade deadline and now the 2026 offseason. The problem is the same reality has followed these trade rumors.
Sabonis' lack of trade value
All of this trade talk has been consistently accompanied by discussions of Sabonis' trade value around the league. To be clear, this is not a statement that he's not a good player. Sabonis can score, facilitate the offense, and haul down rebounds like it's his job. Because it literally is.
There's another side to his game. He offers limited rim protection, is terrible for floor-spacing due to his lack of an outside shot, and has to work in an offense based around him. It also doesn't help that Sabonis is 30-years-old and coming off a meniscus tear that shut him down last season.
The second issue dragging down his trade value is his contract. With two years left worth nearly $100 million, that's a tough sell for a lot of teams. His estimated value is between $25 and $32 million per season. That, plus the limitations to his game, has dropped his trade value immensely.
Sabonis' trade value is a long-term issue
Some league insiders and executives have recently described Sabonis as having negative trade value. The Kings want young stars and first-round draft picks for him, but no one is biting. Simply put, the rest of the league is saying Sabonis isn't worth what Sacramento is currently asking for.
This isn't a new problem for the Kings. They have been getting the same feedback since they started seriously exploring trading Sabonis. To make a trade work, Sacramento has to find a team that's good with Sabonis' game, is okay with his massive contract, and is happy to pay the Kings' price.
Calling that a long shot would be optimistic at best. At this point, the Kings have likely accepted that Sabonis will be on the roster for the foreseeable future. That will impact how they lay out their strategies for pushing this rebuild forward, which will have to include Sabonis for now.
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