How The Hornets Could Land Domantas Sabonis As Rumors Heat Up

It is a well-known fact that the Sacramento Kings have been gearing up for a rebuild. While this is a promising sign for a team that has struggled to perform, offloading the contracts of Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine has delayed the process.

As things stand, there appears to be no way for Sacramento to part with LaVine, whose trade value seems to be at an all-time low. However, with rumors suggesting that Domantas Sabonis could demand a trade in the near future , there may be some hope.

Surprisingly, a suitor may have an eye on the Lithuanian big man. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer , the Charlotte Hornets could be interested in the Kings' star. While addressing the rumors involving Domantas Sabonis , Fischer shed more light on the situation, stating:

"Domantas Sabonis is also going to want an extension. He had trade interest from Toronto. He had trade interest from Charlotte. Both teams, I believe, were in discussions with Sacramento about him as recently as this summer."

"I think Toronto's trade talks with the Kings were far more focused and serious back in February, before the trade deadline. But Charlotte, I think, is a team that could still be in the mix for him depending on Sacramento's price point."

Fischer emphasized that the Kings were looking for "positive trade value" in return for Domantas Sabonis. While he also noted that there may not be many teams that could view his $45.4 million cap hit as positive, the Hornets may be in a favorable position compared to other franchises.

In light of this, here is a potential trade package that would allow Charlotte to acquire Domantas Sabonis:

Charlotte Hornets Receive: Domantas Sabonis

Sacramento Kings Receive: Grayson Allen , Grant Williams , Ryan Kalkbrenner , 2029 first-round pick (MIN swap), 2033 (PHX)

Financially, this trade scenario is quite intriguing. Although Sabonis' $45.4 million contract is far greater than the combined incoming cap hit of $34.3 million from Charlotte, the Hornets have a massive $40.7 million trade exception from the LaMelo Ball trade. Thus, absorbing the additional $11.1 million in salary would not be an issue for the Hornets.

Thus, with the fiscal aspect satisfied, we look at how this trade would impact each team.

How Do The Kings Benefit From This Trade?

The Kings' desire to gain positive trade value from Domantas Sabonis' contract creates some challenges. However, Charlotte's offer could be viewed quite favorably.

Other than the two first-round picks, Sacramento would acquire two reliable veterans in Grayson Allen and Grant Williams , along with a promising young center in Ryan Kalkbrenner .

Allen ($18.1 million) and Williams ($14.2 million) have immense value from a contract perspective. Although Allen has a $19.3 million player option, Williams is on an expiring contract. This would allow Sacramento to free up at least $14.2 million in cap space next summer.

In terms of performance, both veterans also have a lot to offer. At 31, Allen remains an elite perimeter shooter and a solid wing defender. With averages of 16.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 40.3% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range, he could be a solid bench player for the Kings.

Meanwhile, Williams is also impactful. As a versatile defender against larger players, Williams could be a reliable small-ball center in Sacramento's rotation. When you also factor in last season's averages of 7.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 38.8% shooting from beyond the arc, his ability to space the floor may also have value.

While parting with a big man like Domantas Sabonis could be difficult, it allows the Kings to give Maxime Raynaud a larger role. Hence, to support Raynaud, Sacramento could use Ryan Kalkbrenner, who averaged 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game as a key player in the Hornets' rotation.

Although this trade would see several players join Sacramento's roster, the blend of veteran experience and young talent could be worthwhile.

How Does Domantas Sabonis' Addition Help The Hornets?

The Charlotte Hornets will be one of the NBA's most interesting teams entering the 2026-27 season. After parting ways with LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges , the Hornets have changed course. Now, with a new core powering the team, the Hornets could be worth keeping an eye on.

Currently, Charlotte has a solid frontcourt rotation anchored by Naz Reid . However, adding a legitimate center in Domantas Sabonis would give Reid the flexibility to play at the 4, making him a far greater threat.

Needless to say, Sabonis is noteworthy in his own right. Although he was limited to making only 19 appearances last season, the Lithuanian averaged 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Given his career averages of 16.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, the Hornets could look to Sabonis as a reliable presence on the glass and a remarkable playmaker in the post.

Given the Hornets' roster makeup, Sabonis would not need to anchor the offense. In many ways, giving him the freedom to contribute with his rebounding and innate playmaking could transform Charlotte into a more formidable unit.

Should The Hornets Trade For Domantas Sabonis?

For obvious reasons, the trade proposal above is hypothetical, but given the upsides of landing Domantas Sabonis, the Charlotte Hornets would be urged to pull the trigger on a deal. However, the team would be advised to be mindful of the big man's contract.

As Fischer mentioned, Sabonis is eligible for an extension this summer. While he still has another year left on his contract, players have shown an inclination to sign new deals before risking unrestricted free agency.

Currently, the Hornets are in a favorable position to acquire Sabonis owing to their massive trade player exception. However, if they choose to offer Domantas Sabonis a long-term extension, it could hurt their chances of retaining key players like Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel in the future.

The perils of the second apron should not be overlooked in such scenarios. Hence, considering how important it is for Charlotte to build around Miller and Knueppel, the team must exercise caution if they enter negotiations with the Kings.