Dec 6, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (11) and forward DeMar DeRozan (10) embrace before a game the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Kings Star Labeled Top NBA Offseason Trade Target

Originally posted on Sacramento Kings on SI
By Sean Ackerman | Last updated Mar 27, 2025 10:00 AM ET

The Sacramento Kings have hit another rough stretch, losing eight of their last 10 games as the end of the NBA regular season approaches.

Despite trading for DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, the Kings have struggled to win consistently. An injury to Domantas Sabonis hurt the Kings' March, even though he returned early from a recovery time that was originally projected to last 10 days.

Sacramento is falling quickly in the Western Conference standings and sits just half a game away from 11th place. If the Kings continue their cold streak, they'll be in danger of missing the play-in tournament.

The Kings have lost eight of their last 11 games, and they’re now on the verge of missing the postseason entirely:

9. Kings: 35-36
10. Suns: 35-37
11. Mavericks: 35-37
12. Trail Blazers: 32-40

Sacramento is only a 0.5 game up on Phoenix and Dallas over the final stretch. pic.twitter.com/0fe1IlMxaP
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) March 25, 2025

Should that happen, more big changes will likely happen. The Kings could choose to trade another player, and Bleacher Report analyst Zach Buckley thinks that Sabonis is a realistic trade option this offseason.

"Why would the Kings want to part with [Domantas Sabonis], then?" wrote Buckley. "Well, they probably wouldn't. Remember, though, trade availability [can] stem from either side of the relationship. And just like his old running mate, De'Aaron Fox, did, Sabonis might question if Sacramento remains the best spot for him."

Buckley mentioned the Sam Amick and Anthony Slater report from The Athletic that revealed Sabonis will "seek clarity" on the Kings' future in the summer. If he thinks they're moving in a bad direction, it's entirely possible he requests a trade.

Sabonis is averaging 18.9 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game this season. He's started in 60 of Sacramento's 72 games. There's no reason Sabonis wouldn't be a target for teams this offseason if he's made available.

When Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan share the court, the Kings are a subpar team:

115.5 OffRtg (15th)
121.0 DefRtg (28th)
-5.6 NetRtg (24th)

An average offense coupled with a horrendous defense certainly isn’t a long-term winning formula for Sacramento. pic.twitter.com/HLgMHOTJwX
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) March 26, 2025

As one of the best glass cleaners in the league, Sabonis could play a major role for competitive teams. He's earned All-NBA third-team honors twice during his three-and-a-half-season stay in Sacramento.

On top of grabbing boards, Sabonis is shooting the ball noticeably better from beyond the arc. He's averaged 40.7% from three on over two attempts per game. If he continues to improve that part of his game, he'll turn any team competitive.

The Kings have some big decisions to make this summer, and it likely starts with Sabonis.

Follow Sacramento Kings on SI on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe on YouTube for breaking Kings news videos and live-stream podcasts!

This article first appeared on Sacramento Kings on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: