The worst kept secret in the league is the fact that the Sacramento Kings want to trade Domantas Sabonis. And the rumor mill is indicating that the Toronto Raptors are back in the mix, having shown interest in the big man leading up to the 2026 Trade Deadline. This time, the deal might get done.
The Kings and Raptors recently conducted exploratory trade talks involving Domantas Sabonis, per @James_HamNBA.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 23, 2026
A framework would look like Sabonis for RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick.
Toronto also inquired about Sabonis back at February’s trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/OzRGPNvFHe
Sabonis is coming off a tough season, one upended by injuries that kept him sidelined for the bulk of 2025-2026. On top of that, the Kings have started moving away from him has their primary center. Rookies Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell have almost completely taken over his spot.
That doesn't mean Sabonis is done. He's remains one of the top rebounders in the league, a certified double-double machine, and one of the most underrated faciliators in the game. But if the Kings were going to get the job done with him on the roster, they would have by now.
Enter the Raptors. They have shown interest in Sabonis for all of the reasons listed above. Their biggest roster weakness is the lack of a big man in the middle who can score, rebound, and set up on offense. Jakob Poeltl just wasn't cutting it in the post-season. So, the talks are apparently back on.
Getting Sabonis to Toronto this offseason
There were two things holding the deal back at the trade deadline. First, the Kings wanted at least one first-round pick with any deal, possibly more. The Raptors weren't interested. Second, Toronto wanted Sacramento to take Poeltl and his ridiculous contract. That was a non-starter for the Kings.
Currently, the rumors are that things have changed a bit. The Kings are still offering up Sabonis, this time in exchange for R.J. Barrett and Gradey Dick. There's no mention of Poeltl. There's also no mention of any draft picks at the moment, but that could be part of a bigger deal structure.
It's no surprise that Barrett's name is in the mix. Kings' general manager Scott Perry drafted R.J. when he was part of the Knicks' front office. It's long been rumored that he wants Barrett in Sacramento. Dick is a little more surprising, but there is a belief that a change in scenery would help him greatly.
If the Raptors have pulled back from the Kings taking Poeltl and the Kings have softened on the draft pick situation, this deal might actually get done. Barrett would be a good fit for what Sacramento is building while Sabonis could give the Raptors the offensive lift they need to find the next level.
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