Domantas Sabonis, Kings
Getty
Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings leaves the court after they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA play-in tournament game.
The Sacramento Kings are approaching one of the most consequential decision points of their post-playoff era — and Domantas Sabonis sits squarely at the center of it.
With the franchise off to a 6-20 start and trending toward another high lottery finish, rival executives around the league are beginning to monitor whether Sacramento could eventually pivot toward a full rebuild. Among the teams watching closely: the Toronto Raptors, who NBA insider Jake Fischer has reported as a potential suitor should the Kings decide to make their All-Star center available.
New GM Scott Perry Evaluating Kings’ Roster in First Season
Scott Perry, former Knicks GM
GettySacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry is currently evaluating the roster he inherited.
The uncertainty comes during the first season of Scott Perry’s tenure as the Kings’ general manager. Perry inherited a roster that once appeared poised for sustained success but has since regressed in each of the past two seasons.
After winning 48 games and snapping a 16-year playoff drought in 2022-23, Sacramento slipped to 46 wins in 2023-24 and missed the postseason. Last season brought further decline, as the Kings finished with 40 wins and again failed to qualify for the playoffs, after All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox forced a trade to San Antonio.
Now, just two months into the current campaign, Sacramento finds itself near the bottom of the Western Conference standings — a sharp reversal for a team that once looked ready to build around Sabonis as its foundational piece.
Perry acknowledged in an interview with The Athletic that he is in evaluation mode, weighing whether the current core can realistically rebound or whether a more drastic reset is required.
Raptors Monitoring Sabonis if Kings Shift Toward Rebuild.
The Raptors’ interest is not tied to any imminent Kings decision, but rather to the growing sense around the league that Sacramento could reach a crossroads before the Feb. 5 trade deadline if the season continues to unravel.
“The business Toronto is ultimately willing to conduct before the February trade buzzer will likely come down to how good the 16-11 Raptors still are as that deadline draws closer,” Fischer wrote.
“Toronto, though, has sent out some early signals that it hopes to upgrade its frontcourt. Sources with knowledge of the Raptors’ thinking have identified them as a team with interest in Domantas Sabonis.”
Sabonis, 29, remains one of the league’s most productive big men, averaging 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game this season while shooting 51% from the field. He has missed the Kings’ last 12 games with a partial meniscus tear, adding complexity to any potential trade calculus.
For Sacramento, Sabonis represents both its most valuable asset and its most difficult decision.
Kings’ Competitive Window Appears to Be Closing
The Kings’ current trajectory stands in stark contrast to the optimism that followed the 2022-23 breakout season. What once looked like a roster that had turned a corner now appears stuck between timelines, with fewer clear paths back to contention.
Fox is no longer part of the franchise, removing the backcourt pillar that once complemented Sabonis. Without that pairing, Sacramento’s offensive identity has become less defined, and its defensive issues have been harder to mask.
As losses mount, the question confronting the Kings is no longer whether they can tweak the roster — but whether they should fundamentally reshape it.
Raptors’ Draft Capital Makes Them an Intriguing Partner
Jakob Poeltl, Domantas Sabonis, Raptors
GettyDomantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Jakob Poeltl of the Toronto Raptors.
If Sacramento ultimately opts for a teardown, Toronto profiles as a compelling potential trade partner.
The Raptors control all of their own first-round picks from 2026 through 2032, giving them the flexibility to construct a significant offer without mortgaging their future. That draft control is precisely the type of asset base rebuilding teams typically prioritize when moving a franchise cornerstone.
Toronto’s interest should be viewed as situational rather than aggressive. No trade discussions have been reported and Sacramento has not signaled any intention to shop Sabonis. But the Raptors’ positioning underscores how the league is beginning to view the Kings’ situation.
Sabonis Decision Could Define Perry’s Early Tenure
For Perry, the Sabonis question looms as a defining moment in his first year on the job.
Holding onto the All-Star center would signal belief that the roster can still be recalibrated into a playoff team. Moving him would represent a clear acknowledgment that the Kings’ previous window has closed — and that a new one must be built through the draft.
As the losses pile up and the deadline approaches, Sabonis’ name is likely to surface more frequently in league circles. Whether that chatter turns into action will depend on how far the Kings are willing to go in reshaping their future — and how quickly they decide a new direction is necessary.