Sabonis is likely on the move (and the potential destinations are surprising)

The 2026 trade deadline is getting closer and closer with each passing day, heralding big moves for the Sacramento Kings. Domantas Sabonis has reportedly been drawing interest from Washington, Phoenix, and Chicago. Even the Raptors are apparently still in the mix, if not the frontrunner.

Even before he was injured for the majority of the season, the Kings were indicating that they were ready to move on from Sabonis. He is an elite rebounder as well as a reliable scorer and playmaker, but he remains weak on defense, which is a priority of the team going forward.

As such, a trade in the near future seems inevitable, mainly because the Kings have to get it done before the deadline on February 5th, or they're stuck with him. Rumors have been flying for months about where he might end up and which teams are interested in the All-Star five.

Which teams are looking at trading for Sabonis?

Despite earlier reports that any potential deal between the Raptors and Kings relating to Sabonis was done, Toronto appears to still be the most likely destination for him. If it does happen, Sacramento could end up with R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a couple of draft picks.

Beyond the Raptors, the Wizards remain a strong potential destination. They have been making moves recently, including the acquisition of point guard Trae Young from the Hawks. Sabonis could be a good fit for the team, and they have excellent trade capital in players like Bilal Coulibaly.

Phoenix and Chicago have both also expressed interest. It would be interesting to see how either trade would play out. If the Kings do look at sending Sabonis to Phoenix, they have to get at least Dillon Brooks in return. He's great defensively and is possibly the best culture builder in the league.

Time is running out for the Kings to make a move

The window for Sacramento to trade Sabonis before the deadline is disappearing. If they can't get the job done, they'll be stuck with Sabonis and the resulting logjam at the five for the rest of the season. If he stays, he'll continue to play limited minutes off the bench to not disrupt rookie development.

That being said, the Kings also shouldn't make a trade for the sake of making a trade. Moving quickly and without due consideration is how mistakes happen. They are trying to kick off a rebuild, not extend the same problems they're currently facing or possibly make them worse.

Wherever Sabonis ends up, hopefully it's a better fit than the Kings. He's not without his flaws, but he deserves to play somewhere that will use him to the fullest extent of his abilities. That's just not the Sacramento Kings anymore.