Kings’ All-Star Domantas Sabonis Drawing Interest From Struggling Rival

As the Sacramento Kings attempt to steady themselves after a difficult 3–8 start, one name — All-Star center Domantas Sabonis — is quietly surfacing in trade speculation once again. This time, however, the interest is reportedly coming from a familiar Pacific Division rival: the Golden State Warriors.

Domantas Sabonis Trade Buzz

The chatter gained momentum this week following comments from Sacramento radio host Allen Stiles of Sactown Sports 1140, who said a team “not too far down the road” has evaluated the idea of pursuing Sabonis if the Kings continue to sink in the Western Conference standings.

“So when you’re trying to trade for Sabonis, there’s a team out there — and I heard about a team not too far down the road that could be interested,” Stiles said on The Allen Stiles Show.

Stiles did not directly identify the team, but he was clearly referring to Golden State, whose own early-season slump has triggered internal concerns.

“And when I say ‘down the road,’ I mean down the freeway — that team could look at a Domantas Sabonis.”

Stiles added that Sabonis’ contract may complicate things: “He’s not going to live up to that $40-whatever-million AAV. He’s probably not going to do it anywhere. That team might be better with him, but he won’t be producing at that contract level.”

Warriors Monitoring Sabonis as Possible Fix to Frontcourt Issues

Getty Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors dribbling the ball is guarded closely by Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings.

Golden State’s struggles — including a 6–6 record after a 4–1 start — have exposed a glaring weakness in their frontcourt. Veteran offseason acquisition Al Horford has battled inconsistency and availability issues, averaging just 5.6 points on 34.9% shooting while missing five of the team’s first 12 games.

That context has reportedly prompted the Warriors to evaluate Sabonis, a player who checks several of the boxes Golden State lacks at the moment:

Elite rebounding: Sabonis leads the NBA with 13.3 rebounds per game.

High-level playmaking: Despite a slow statistical start, he averaged over 6.0 assists in each of the last three seasons.

Age & durability: At 29, he fits more cleanly into a medium-term window than Golden State’s aging core.

Sabonis’ passing and dribble-handoff abilities are widely considered a dream fit for Steve Kerr’s motion offense, and his ability to rebound in traffic addresses one of the Warriors’ most persistent weaknesses.

But the Kings have made no indication that Sabonis — who signed a long-term extension in 2023 — is available.

Kings’ Slow Start Fueling Outside Speculation, Not Internal Movement

Sacramento’s 3–8 record has created national speculation about a potential reset, but internally, the Kings’ new leadership has urged patience.

Following Monday’s 122–108 loss to Denver, Sabonis voiced frustration but reaffirmed confidence in the locker room.

“No one wants to start like this… especially with our home crowd. They deserve better,” Sabonis told reporters. “I don’t have any words… we just have to try and figure this out.”

Still, he maintained optimism: “I’m definitely confident. We have a lot of talent, a great coaching staff, great management… when things get tough, people go their own way, but not with this group.”

The Kings face a brutal five-game road trip after Wednesday’s home game against Atlanta.

Warriors Offered Package for Kuminga — and Were Rebuffed

Getty Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings.

Sacramento’s interest in Jonathan Kuminga over the summer strengthened the perception of Sacramento–Golden State trade compatibility. The Kings reportedly offered Malik Monk and a protected first-round pick for Kuminga — an offer the Warriors rejected.

Kuminga, who re-signed on a two-year, $48.5 million contract (with a team option for 2026–27), is not trade-eligible until mid-January. His shooting has dipped sharply in November, but Golden State still sees him as a core future piece.

Any Sabonis deal would require far more than Kuminga, and there are no reports of any active negotiations between the teams just yet. But there is palpable pressure on the Kings to quickly turn things around as we get closer to the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

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