Hornets, Pistons, Grizzlies, Magic, Suns Considered ‘Landing Spots’ For Domantas Sabonis

The Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns are considered “landing spots” for Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis.

If Sabonis requests a trade or the Kings decide to move on the lefty, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report thinks the Hornets, Pistons, Grizzlies, Magic and Suns are logical landing spots for the three-time All-Star. 

Sabonis appeared in 70 games for the Kings this season. He averaged 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds and 6.0 assists while shooting 59.0% from the field, 41.7% from beyond the arc and 75.4% from the free-throw line. 

The Kings missed the playoffs this year. They missed the playoffs last year as well after making the postseason in 2023 for the first time since 2006. 

Sacramento traded De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs this year. The franchise acquired Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls. Sabonis, LaVine and DeMar DeRozan weren’t able to lead the Kings past the Dallas Mavericks in the 9-10 play-in game. 

Sabonis signed a four-year, $186 million extension with the Kings in 2023. It was a renegotiation-and-extend deal. Sabonis will make $43,636,000 next season, $46,772,000 in 2026-27 and $49,908,000 in 2027-28, the final year of his contract. 

The 28-year-old Sabonis has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers and Kings. He has career averages of 16.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists. 

“The Kings changed coaches and lead executives and traded their franchise floor general within the last six months,” Buckley wrote. “It’s possible those moves merely set the stage for further alterations over the upcoming NBA offseason. Because while the Kings might be eager to snap out of their two-year playoff drought, this skid could’ve already convinced their best player to seek the nearest exit. While Sabonis told reporters, ‘I love it here’ and ‘want to stay here,’ he also made clear, ‘I also do want to know what’s going to happen.’

“That follows previous reporting from The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Anthony Slater that Sabonis was ‘expected to seek clarity about the organization’s plan in the offseason.’ So, what if Sacramento, which has booked a single playoff trip since 2007, can’t convey the right message to Sabonis? What if this organization—which so often fails to create, let alone sustain, stability—can’t even build the blueprint for making that happen? Well, then Sabonis is probably seeking out a change of scenery. And if he’s eyeballing possible landing spots around the league, the following five teams would all be logical places to look.”