The Raptors’ perfect proposal to trade Domantas Sabonis to the Kings

The Toronto Raptors have become one of the pleasant surprises of this season, because they showed how much they can do with coach Darko Rajaković’s positionless approach.

As of this writing, the Raptors are fourth in the Eastern Conference at 24-16. Not too shabby at all for a team that was largely dismissed in preseason projections.

In the midst of their vaunted streak, the Raptors may still want to make changes and become more competitive in the near future. The way to do this is to pull the trigger before the trade deadline, esp to get Domantas Sabonis from the Sacramento Kings.

“Sabonis is a very interesting name that has been consistently linked to Toronto, and league personnel continue to question any new information about the Raptors and Sabonis,” ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel said.

The perfect trade proposal from the Toronto Raptors for Domantas Sabonis

Although Sabonis is currently sidelined with a knee injury, he remains one of the league’s most talented big men. He’s coming back soon, and that should only bode well for the Kings, who are reportedly shopping Sabonis. If he is allowed to see the action, multiple teams could be enticed to acquire him, including the Raptors.

He will serve as a two-way interior presence for Toronto while also bringing an elite rebound. The Raptors are averaging just 43.2 boards per game, which ranks in the bottom half of the league.

The Raptors could make an offer Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl in exchange for the 29-year-old Sabonis. While it’s hard to let go of Quickley, who is having a strong campaign, Toronto has to give up something for the three-time All-Star.

“There may be more than the constant questions asked about the Kings and Raptors, especially considering Toronto has two players Sacramento CEO Scott Perry drafted when he was with the New York Knicks: Immanuel Quickley and RJ BarrettSiegel added.

The offer would be more attractive to the Kings if they could land either Barrett, Scottie Barnesor Brandon Ingrambut it’s hard to see the Raptors parting ways with either of them, leaving Quickley as the odd man out.

Jamal Sheed has played well in support of Quickley, so losing the 26-year-old guard may not be too difficult for the Raptors. Ja’Kobe Walter and Grady Dick could also fill the void, continuing Rajakovic’s unorthodox system.

With the Kings ready to part ways with DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk and Keon Ellis, Quickley could be their go-to point guard.

Poeltl, meanwhile, is a solid throw-in. He has been limited to 21 games this season due to a back injury, but is still an effective player. He will be a big boost to the Kings’ center rotation, which includes Maxime Reynaud, Prechas Achiuva, Dylan Cardwell and Drew Eubanks — not exactly names that strike fear into the hearts of opponents.

Domantas Sabonis fits in with Toronto Raptors

Barnes and Ingram, along with Sandra Mamukelaashvili, carried the Raptors’ frontcourt this season. Adding Sabonis to the mix will only make him scarier.

He is averaging a double-double for the eighth year in a row, while shooting over 50% from the field for the 10th time in a row. He can shoot from almost anywhere and command double teams, freeing up more space for his teammates. His pick-and-roll skills are also impressive, which is always a plus in today’s NBA.

But perhaps Sabonis’ most valuable asset is his game. Rajakovic could diagram rallies centered around the 6-foot-10 Sabonis, which would they allow Barnes, Barrett and Ingram to be more dynamic. The Kings found success when then-coach Mike Brown used Sabonis as the leader of the offense. The Raptors could come up with a similar approach.

Additionally, Toronto won the championship in 2019 with a playmaking center in Marc Gasol, and it could be argued that Sabonis is an even better passer than him. During his time with the Kings, excluding this season, he averaged 6.8 assists.

Sabonis is the cornerstone talent the Raptors have been coveting since winning the title.