​Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry entered the offseason aiming to build a franchise-caliber point guard for the future while trimming payroll as the team continued to grow around a budding core. Those goals helped trigger a wave of trade rumors regarding All-Star center Domantas Sabonis in June. Yet, in a press conference this week, Perry indicated that Sabonis is expected to play a central role in the franchise’s rebuilding efforts next season. “Come in and compete just like everybody else. Obviously, he’s an excellent player. He’s done it for a while in this league. I’ve been in constant contact with him as well in the offseason. Just expect him to come in here healthy, first and foremost, and he’s trending in that direction. Obviously, he missed a lot of last year because he was not. He’s always played hard, and so I expect him to do that. Provide some veteran presence for this team and really have a tremendous rebound year and help us build some winning habits here and start heading in the right direction,” Perry said, emphasizing Sabonis’s potential impact on the Kings’ trajectory.
Rumors about Sabonis’ availability circulated at various points during the summer, with teams like the Charlotte Hornets and the Toronto Raptors linked to the versatile big man. However, no deal ever came to fruition. Looking ahead, it also appears increasingly unlikely that either of those franchises will pursue Sabonis ahead of the 2026-27 season after their offseason moves. While a deal remains unofficial pending the NBA’s investigation into the Aspiration scandal, Toronto is on track to acquire All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard, a development that would absorb a substantial portion of their cap space and make a Sabonis trade far less feasible. Separately, Charlotte filled its center void by trading LaMelo Ball to acquire Naz Reid, shifting their long-term risk and asset plan.
From Sacramento’s vantage point, there is another compelling reason to keep Sabonis beyond the upcoming season. The NBA’s revised draft-lottery structure now grants worse odds of winning the first overall pick to teams that conclude the regular season among the bottom three in the standings, compared with the seven teams that did not reach the Play-In Tournament. Sabonis’ ability to help Sacramento win games could tilt the Kings’ lottery positioning in the 2027 draft, giving them the potential to secure a higher pick than they would have otherwise.
Perry’s decision on Sabonis likely weighs several strategic factors, including how the veteran forward’s pick-and-roll chemistry and willingness to shoot upgrade the performance of the Kings’ point guard duo. With rookie Darius Acuff Jr. projected to be a central figure in Sacramento’s offense next season and a candidate for NBA Rookie of the Year, Sabonis’s skill set should mesh well with Acuff’s dynamic ball handling and playmaking responsibilities. Sabonis’ ability to stretch the floor, create favorable looks in pick-and-rolls, and rebound with authority could be the missing link that helps unlock Acuff’s efficiency and accelerate the development of Sacramento’s core as they pursue a more competitive, playoff-caliber club in the coming season.