By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Domantas Sabonis being involved in a trade for the fourth time in his career is a possibility. However, he is unlikely to request a trade, according to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer.
The 29-year-old Lithuanian forward/center is currently on the injury list of the Sacramento Kings, projected to miss at least three to four weeks due to a partial meniscus tear in his left knee. Despite inactivity, he remains a trade candidate, similar to the majority of the roster, with general manager Scott Perry seeming ready to initiate a rebuild by acquiring younger players or future draft picks.
Based on a five-year contract extension signed in 2023, Sabonis is under contract until the end of the 2027-28 season, earning approximately $42 million for the 2025-26 season, $45 million for the 2026-27 season, and $48 million for the 2027-28 season. With the Golden State Warriors emerging as a potential suitor, any team willing to pick up so much money would likely be viewing him as a solid addition to the paint in a championship bid. Nevertheless, such a deal would be made deeper in the Regular Season, after the involved parties carefully consider options, between Sabonis and other players in the trade market.
After starting his professional career at Unicaja Malaga in 2012 and taking his talents to Gonzaga for a two-year NCAA spell, the son of Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis was drafted by the Orlando Magic with the 11th overall pick in 2016 and traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. His second career trade was in 2017, sending him to the Indiana Pacers. In 2022, he was traded to the Kings.
Over 11 appearances in the ongoing Regular Season, he averaged 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks per contest.