For yet another season, the Sacramento Kings find themselves in a familiar situation—either missing the playoffs entirely or facing an early exit in the first round. If the postseason began today, they’d need to defeat the Dallas Mavericks and then either the Minnesota Timberwolves or Golden State Warriors just to earn a shot at meeting the Oklahoma City Thunder in the opening round. With their current outlook appearing bleak and little optimism for the future, Sacramento is expected to shake up its roster. While Malik Monk, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan could attract interest, the most valuable trade asset is undoubtedly All-Star center. Averaging 18.9 points and 14 rebounds per game, he is on track to lead the league in rebounding for the third straight year. At just 28 years old and under contract for three more seasons, he could command a significant return if the Kings decide to move him. Any team acquiring him would be making a clear win-now move, particularly those in need of a dominant frontcourt presence.
Three teams stand out as the best potential landing spots: the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, and Orlando Magic. For Detroit, Sabonis could be a major upgrade, especially with Jalen Duren’s rookie contract expiring after next season. If the Pistons are hesitant about committing to Duren long-term, Sabonis would fit seamlessly into their lineup alongside Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and incoming rookie Ron Holland. Detroit also possesses the young talent, draft picks, and salary-matching pieces necessary to facilitate a trade.
As always, the Lakers are in the mix for any major trade target. The recent Luka Dončić blockbuster reinforced why Los Angeles is consistently linked to big-name acquisitions. If they can add Sabonis while keeping their core trio of Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves intact, it would be a dream scenario. James has the option to restructure his contract, and if the Lakers signal that the savings would go toward acquiring an established All-Star, he might be open to a pay cut in pursuit of another championship. A package including rookie Dalton Knecht and a first-round pick could be enough to get the Kings’ attention, with additional assets potentially included to finalize the deal.
Lastly, there’s the Orlando Magic, a team that ranks near the bottom of the league in rebounding at 27th. However, their strong defensive presence could help compensate for Sabonis’ weaknesses on that end of the floor. Pairing him with Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would not only improve their rebounding but also solidify their place in the postseason as a consistent contender rather than a one-time surprise. Acquiring Sabonis wouldn’t come cheap, though—Orlando would likely need to part with significant draft assets, Jonathan Isaac, and a collection of young talent to make a deal happen.