The Kings are not pretending anymore.
Sacramento’s two highest-paid players, Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, both underwent season-ending surgeries Wednesday, league sources told Shams Charania of ESPN.
Sabonis had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The injury dates back to mid-November. He tried to play through it, missed 27 games rehabbing, then returned for eight games before the break. The production was there. The direction was not.
The Kings are 12-44, riding a 14-game losing streak, and long removed from anything resembling a postseason chase. With nothing left to save, Sabonis chose the long view and full repair.
LaVine followed the same logic. He averaged 19.2 points in 39 games but missed five of his last 10 and will now have surgery on a tendon injury in his right hand. His season is over.
LaVine holds a $48.9 million player option for next season and is widely expected to opt in. Sabonis has two years and $94 million remaining on his deal.
The Kings explored the trade market for both before the deadline and came up empty. With Scott Perry now running basketball operations, those conversations are expected to restart this summer.
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