Ranking Domantas Sabonis’ Top 3 Trade Destinations Amid Kings Trainwreck

The The Sacramento Kings may already be gearing up for a major rebuild. The emerging Big Three Domantas SabonisZach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan somewhat does not work. LaVine and DeRozan haven’t worked as a duo with the Chicago Bulls, and Sabonis is having a poor season so far.

Still, the big man is probably the only one of the three who has huge trade value. A deal on his contract is easier said than done, but Sabonis has such a unique skill set that there have to be teams that think they can get the best out of him. Sabonis led the entire NBA double-double last season. He thrives on the glass, as his 13.3 rebounds per game are the most in the NBA. At this rate, this would be the fourth straight season that Sabonis has led the league in rebounding.

Sabonis has not scored as well as usual this season. His points per game average dropped to 15.8. The regression is largely related to his cold shooting streak, but the Lithuanian-American shot 41.7% from deep last year. He is also one of the best passers in the NBA. Sabonis is expected to return to his All-Star ways, but that may not save him from being traded this year. So, what destinations does it make sense for the Kings to trade Sabonis?

Utah Jazz should be traded for Domantas Sabonis

The Utah Jazz had issues with big man depth coming into the season. After John Collins was traded For the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah was left with Walker Kessler, Jusuf Nurkic and Taylor Hendricks as the main options to take minutes in the box. The team did not give Kessler a contract extension and made it clear that he was not part of their long-term plans.

Nurkic is long past his prime and it was a questionable decision to start with him The Jazz traded Colin Sexton for him. Hendrix has had a gruesome injury and has looked like a bust so far. The problem of the team’s center became even more difficult when Kessler suffered a shoulder injury that will see him through the season.

Sabonis would not only fill in for the injured Kessler, but he could also be a long-term option at the pivot spot that the team is still apparently looking for. Nurkic and Kesler are on expiring contracts, and the Jazz can cash in on a trade for them and Kyle Anderson. The Jazz have a young and developing roster, so it makes a lot of sense to have a center who can provide rebounds from ineffective youngsters and bring clean looks to his young teammates. Sure, the Jazz may not be in a position to be trade buyers yet, but they have to be willing to take steps to get better at some point.

Steve Kerr made a lot of money popularizing small ball with the Golden State Warriors. However, for almost the entire Steph Curry/Draymond Green era, fans wondered what the team could do with an elite center. During the championship wins, the Warriors had mediocre center play at best. They drafted James Wiseman to answer the aforementioned question, but he apparently turned into massive draft bust.

Sabonis could be the missing piece that takes this dying dynasty to the next level. Curry plays a lot off the ball, moving up the court through screens before receiving a pass from beyond the arc. That’s why he thrives with a big man in passing like Green. Instead of just taking up space like many Warriors centers have in the past, Sabonis would also be able to find Curry in his spots.

The Warriors shoot a lot of threes. Although he scores a lot, there are also a lot of misses, but Sabonis would create more second-chance opportunities. Players like Curry and Buddy Hield won’t miss twice very often. Jonathan Kuminga could be the centerpiece for Sabonis. he already was it was said to the Kings in the offseason before eventually agreeing to a deal to return to Golden State. He never quite fit in with the Warriors, and if the Kings decide to go younger, he would be a great building block.

Trading Sabonis to Golden State would, of course, require Sabonis and Green put their history aside, since they have a dark past, but this trade would make sense for the Warriors as they try to make another championship push before their stars retire.

Domantas Sabonis could be a trade target for Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets are desperate for a center. Second-round rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner starts for the team, with Moussa Diabeit and Mason Plumlee the only other top fives on the roster. It’s pretty tragic that the Hornets have an elite passer like LaMelo Ball and not enough great players to make it easy for him.

The Hornets need to improve, and a trade for Sabonis would allow them to do so. He would fit in quite well as a fundamentally sound player on a roster that has been known for its brilliance in years past, but is clearly focused on becoming simpler. In addition to Kalkbrenner, the Hornets drafted Liam McNeely and Kon Knuepel this year. None of their rookies are overly athletic, and neither is Sabonis, but the Hornets already have plenty on the roster.

Sabonis would help continue their current roster building trend, and he could be the biggest star on the market this season. Charlotte needs a star to pair with Ball, so they should negotiate a trade with the Kings.