Amid trade rumors, the Sacramento Kings are reluctant to trade Domantas Sabonis without receiving positive value in return. The franchise is unwilling to attach draft picks in any deal, meaning Sabonis will need a strong start to the season to facilitate a potential trade.
Amid trade rumors involving the Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons, where Domantas Sabonis could be exchanged for Jalen Duren, Kings insider Matt George has cleared up Sabonis' future with the franchise.
According to George, Sabonis will have to play into his value and show that he can perform at the start of the season so that teams would be more willing to trade for him.
If he doesn't manage to elevate his value, it is most likely that the Kings will keep him, as their general manager, Scott Perry isn't willing to attach draft picks in a potential Sabonis trade.
Differing views on Sabonis' value
Credit Image AP – Scanpix
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Kings and other teams in the league have a different view of Sabonis' trade value, which might be why the Lithuanian center hasn't been moved yet.
"The Kings have been maintaining that they view that Domantas Sabonis has positive trade value, that they would need a draft pick to come back in a deal, which I just don't think is plausible right now," he said.
"For my conversations with rival executives around the league, many do not think that Domantas Sabonis has positive trade value, that they would need to be compensated in order to take on the remainder of his contract, because in this NBA, you have to evaluate a player on what his extension could look like."
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