It’s Time For the Sacramento Kings To Trade Domantas Sabonis

It’s Time For the Sacramento Kings To Trade Domantas Sabonis

Yeah. Can’t think of anybody. Um, okay. All right. Epiphany time. Ken Piffany. I had a Ken Piffany over the weekend. And you know what? Matter of fact, for people on TV, let me take my shades off for a second, man, because you guys got to understand how serious this is. I don’t want to I don’t want to taint it with shades. You need to look into my eyes. Although the hat and the shadow from the light, you still can’t see my eyes, but you know they’re here. Watching the Pacers go to the NBA finals. I’m watching the Knicks playing in a game six with an opportunity to push it to seven to get to the NBA finals. I’m seeing OKC Thunder roll through the playoffs, get to, you know, an NBA finals. I’m like, man, how how are the Kings gonna get there? And then it hit me like a ton of bricks like these Kin Piphies normally do. And I said, “All right, I’m pretty optimistic with what this team might be able to do, what direction they might be able to go with a tweak here or there. But I’m looking at the roster. I’m looking at the players and I said, “Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Hold on, man. Who’s the best player on this team currently right now? Some, not many, but some might say Zack Lavine, most talented player, has the most potential, all this other stuff. But the majority of people, if you ask them right now, who’s the best player on the Kings, they would say Damonte Sabonis. And I sat and I thought about it and I so wait a minute. Wait a minute. This guy is the best player on your team. This is the number one option. This is the guy that is supposed to lead you. He’s the best player. And he’s making how much money? Shout out Kyle Matson. Big ups to him. He’s making how much money? Oh, no. No. No. What? We need to move on from him. Now, now, now, let me settle everyone down just a little bit. I’m not saying that in a way that says things are Deont Sabonis’ fault or that he’s a bad player. I think Domas is if not 100% what we’ve said he is over the last two, three seasons when we talked about, hey, this guy’s a top 15 player or he’s a, you know, one of the best centers in the league, all this other stuff. I don’t go back on any of that. I think he is I think he’s that good. everything that we’ve said for that long, but I do not believe he can be your number one player. I’m not even sure he can be your second best player. We’ve seen him in a situation where he was your second best player. The ceiling for that was 48 wins. So, in a perfect situation, in an ideal world, he’s probably your third best player. And he’s still really good. Like, this isn’t this isn’t to say Dom is a bum and you need to get him out of here. This is to say if he’s your best player, just thinking about it realistically, like, how far are you really going to go? This is a guy that you can’t even your best player. You can’t even give him give him the ball late in games. I’m firmly of the belief, I don’t know if it’s popular, whatever, but your best two players need to be able to get buckets. Like, that’s just what the game is. I that’s great. We pass the ball and get rebounds, but ideally when it’s playoff time and all that, everything’s shrinking down and your old players not hitting his shots or whatever, or it’s just crunch time, your best two players have to do it for you. I agree. Like that’s just the way the league is. And like you said, Dom could be the third best player and all that, but I just I don’t buy him as the top two either. I I I agree 100%. And once again, I want to reiterate this isn’t I got a problem with Domas or I don’t think he’s good enough or nothing like that. Like I think he’s I think he’s an allNBA player. Like I think really good. I just don’t I think maybe he’d be miscast if you were looking at him to lead your franchise as the best player. Like that’s not who he is. Here’s the other caveat to talking about trading Damonte Sabonis. I’m of the belief his trade value is closer to Zack Lavine’s than people want to admit. People talk about Zack Lavine is untradeable. You can’t move him. Contract, all this other stuff. I think Dom is is living on that block at the very least. I disagree with you on that. So, you’re not alone. If if the trade value is what I think it is, think you got to deal with it. Try to put the best team around him and Zack Lavine and try to make it work. try to add a couple things right here or there and see what you can do. If if if I’m right in that case, if you and other people are correct about Sabonis’ value where there is value for him around the league, Scott Perry has to be on the phone with all of those teams yesterday. Sabonis has a valuable, like a very valuable skill set in the league what he does. like he’s still a 2013 and eight guy. Like that’s great. It’s just for what the Sacramento Kings need now and going forward the next few years and just the way things are looking and how you going to be able to have like that’s just not you’re just not a top two guy in the Kings going forward. It’s less about well I guess it’s no it’s about Sabonis and the Kings. It’s more so it just doesn’t work anymore. It’s no fit here. I I I agree with that and and like I guess to finish my point is just kind of like I think you can take Sabonis’ skill set though and add it on the right contender. It’s like this will take us over the top. We got our two guys here, but we need that kind of that third piece or whatever. I think Dom I think has plenty of value. I don’t think anyone feels that way about Zack Levy. Do you think Okay. Do you think you obviously answered it so I shouldn’t ask that but you believe that there are teams that look at Damonte Sabonis not the player not the skill set but the total package of some of the words he has as a player and then 43 46 49 over the next three years and said he’s going to take us over the top. That’s that’s the difference. Dom was making 27 29 and so yeah. Hell yeah. We got Domas, we got player A, player B, and we add Domas, we’re cooking now. We can get to the finals. We can do all this. But because you’re looking at that 43, 46, 49, that almost unless you have a specific situation like maybe OKC or something like that, that almost eliminates saying like, “Yeah, we got our one, our two, and we add Doas because with that contract trading for him, you probably got to give up one of those one or twos.” So, do you think with that price tag that the market is what it what it what you think it is? I guess we’re gonna have a gonna have a broader conversation about this. Like on the inside, we’re talking about Carl Anthony Towns and how the Knicks kind of got frustrated with him. Do you think you can get a Towns back for Domas? I would hope so. If you can where the Knicks kind of were frustrated with his defense and all that, like do you think you can get that back? If if you if you can I think Dom could help the Knicks, too. I think he could. I think he he might be a little bit better of a fit. I thought Carl Anthony Towns played a lot. I I wasn’t close to it, but I I thought he played a lot better for the Knicks um than people gave him credit for. I think Tibs had an issue um or Tibs was a little bit of an issue with just getting the most out of that team. Um but if you think Cat was the issue and you’re ready to move on from him, a a player like Dom would be what you’re looking for. a guy that doesn’t necessarily need to score the basketball or need the B. Well, well, let me pause on that because that’s also an is an issue. It’s starting to feel like Damontis Sabonis to be effective needs the basketball. Well, you if you want to go away from the Jaylen Brunson ISO that you do for 48 minutes like yeah, that’s where you work through Domas and you have something else that works. Maybe. So, maybe I have another question. Yeah, I have another question too when you’re done. No, go ahead. Go ahead. Is Domaas so hard to trade because they’re trying to win now still if that’s the plan. Like what if it was a rebuild? It’s like we’ll take on three contracts or whatever that make up Domos and all that, but we want two first round picks. Do you think that’s an easier way to move off of Domas? Uh maybe so, but it probably is an easier way to move off from Dom. Because if you’re looking for like just trying to win now, then yeah, like we can talk about towns all day and stuff like that, but I feel like that also makes it difficult to move them if that’s the direction you’re trying to head to. That That’s a good point. That’s a good point as well. And that’s the direction that I’d probably be leaning towards is trying to trying to use this Dom trade as a jump start to being good as opposed to a reset to being good. reset. In my mind, when you use a reset, you’re talking, all right, we just going to go back about 3 years on the timeline. Jumpst start, we about the same place we may be able to catapult from here. That’s that’s my mindset with what I’d be looking for to trade Domomas. And what I’d be looking for, simple, is is a is a young point guard. Is a young point guard. And I’ve got my eyes squarely set on LaMelo Ball. He doesn’t. It’s a risk. It’s a risk. George was talking about you can do the picks. Like I would do the deal for LaMelo Ball. So I was listen I’d be pretty I don’t know. Not nervous. I don’t what the right word would be. Nervous. Nervous. Nervous is the right word. I think concerns. But I think nervous is the right word. It is not a a lock that this is the the the right guy or he’s going to fit the way you need him to to lead this franchise or help lead this franchise. But I was listen I was listening to the locked on that Matt did with the the guy from Charlotte and he said you’re you’re starting with I starting with three first rounders. I don’t know if that includes like you can make one of them a swap or something like that, but you’re starting with that. The other thing that you’re doing because when we talk about trades, I think I think I do a good job of because we got the trade machine. I like the trade machine. I know I know Dame doesn’t, but the trade machine is a good tool. But it’s if you’re using it sensibly, right? Like if you’re using it the right way. And I think I do. I think I look at it and I look at these trades, I’m like, “All right, but why?” Yeah, it works financially, but why would Charlotte do this? And I don’t know why Charlotte would take on Damont Sabonis at this point at where they’re at as a franchise, but real quick, what was the trade that was centered on that show on lockdown? Was it Sabonis and four first or what was I Matt mentioned the first, but they didn’t they didn’t necessarily get into like the specifics? Yeah, they just said like if you’re talking about LaMelo, you’re talking about like three at least three first round picks. That’s what you’re talking about. And it was almost like I think he said specifically at one point like they had trade LaMelo for two picks and Damonte Sabonis. That’s that’s a hard sale to the fans. Like that’s not going to get it done. And I understand that. Like I get it. So I I did I did do one of these one of these trades on here for for Damonte Sabonis going to Charlotte and I got it at LaMelo for Domas. I’ve got it at a at two first round picks. One is an outright unprotected 2027 pick from the Kings. The other one is a pick swap in 29 with Charlotte. I don’t think that gets it done after listening. Oh boy. I think you need at least another firstrounder and maybe the pick swap might get it done as a third one. They might want an outright I think I’m out on that deal. I I I’m still giving you an AllNBA caliber player and you’re giving me uh hey, hope he plays more than 42 games this season. Like all all the potential in the world, no doubt. But I’m giving you an AllNBA caliber player and a couple first round picks. I I don’t think I’m doing that for LaMelo. So, you wouldn’t do the two first round picks. I don’t know if I’m giving them unless it’s closer to just a straight swap or something. We work around the edges there. The other thing the other thing about Doas like I said like I still maybe I’m wrong, but I still believe in Domas’s value and what he brings to like to a team. It’s just a matter of like it’s not working here. Well, the other thing about that too is I talk about Domas going to Charlotte. Like I I agree. What does Charlotte want to do with with Dom Sabonis? Well, that’s where we work the three team trade or whatever. Yeah, you get a third team in there and you find Domas uh a destination that makes a little more sense for him. Maybe you can get another pick involved in the Charlottes if you’re trading with Portland or something like that. Maybe Portland is willing to give up a pick that Charlotte comes away with three or four first rounders in the totality of the deal. LaMelo goes to Sacramento. Uh Domomas goes to that third team. And you know, Charlotte, Charlotte gets off the books. One of the things that I look at for Charlotte is you potentially can get off that LaMelo contract. You’ve got a top four pick in this draft. You can kind of reset your whole salary structure with now having a new rookie point guard. But I’m thinking like Jeremiah Fierce or something like that. I I really like him. Big on him. But now you’ve got a new point guard. You’ve got a bunch of future picks, some of them being from Sacramento, which is valuable around the league. And maybe you’ve got another pick somewhere else. So you’ve you’ve got the assets because everything that we’re hearing is they want to slow play this thing. They’re not in a rush to start to contend, which is another reason is why are you holding on to LaMelo Ball if you’re not interested in Yeah. It’s a contract that’s just starting. Yeah. by the time you think you’re going to be good, he’s going to be up for a new contract or you might have to trade him. So, if you can involve a third team and get the Hornets one or two more picks, maybe maybe that’s the way to go. But I’m looking at a point guard first and foremost because another thing that happened, Jesse, another thing that happened when Domas was out, I’m going to bring internal conversations to the Oh, we’re going to bring up my text messages. Mom, finally. You weren’t the only one. You weren’t the only one. We had discussions all around these ESPN 1320 studios about yo JV out here getting getting 17 and 11 for 30 for 30 million less for30 million less dollars. Now I don’t think that you make this trade and you be like oh we got the nasty boy as your starting center. Like I wouldn’t want that. I’d like to find somebody else, but just gives you more room to work. Yeah. The the the the premise of it was you can go get a cheaper center that can give you good production. Once again, I’m not even saying he gives you doas production, but he can give you good serviceable production for cheaper and you have your point guard. And don’t forget, you still have a Demar D Rozan trade ship to use as well. Yeah. Frank right here. He’s as he asked you. Is it Sabonis gone only and keep Dear or be moving off of him as well? No, I pro I’d be looking to move I’d be looking to move off Demar because number one, I think it it fits the team a little better and I think Demar is ready to move on. Everything that I’ve heard since the the second the final buzzer sounded at the Golden One Center in that playing game was Demar’s people want him out of here. Like that’s not even I don’t think that that’s something that can be salvaged. So, I’m I’m looking at him in a separate deal that you can go get a a power forward or possibly a center little cheaper than a lot cheaper than Damonte Sabonis. I’m just trying to the whole premise of all this is I just if he’s your first or even second best player at that price tag, no, I’m with you a thousand%. That’s not That’s like I I think I think you can piece together some stuff. I’m not going back on that. I think you can piece together some stuff and, you know, be a better team, but realistically like what are you what are you getting for Demar De Rozan? You’re not getting much of anything as far as um a player equal to Lavine or Sabonis. Can you get a Trey Young for Tamar an insert player and four first round picks? I don’t believe so. No, I don’t believe so. And I have Trey Young. I got a Trey Young. Trey Young for me is the how you feel about LaMelo Ball is how I feel about Trey Young. I got a Trey Young proposal in here too now. See, but I would try to I guess I’m trying to keep if I’m able to get Trey, I’m trying to keep Dom here then because I can have Lavine and Trey, I guess, just kind of be at the forefront and then Dom is my third player right there. And again, this is with the idea that Scott Perry and those guys want to win now. Yeah. Cuz like you’re not you’re not going to have Trey Young and try to move off of more talent. Like you’re going to try and keep like what you have and all that. like move off of Demar and maybe you dangle Tim Carter to someone who’s interested in the second year player who didn’t get much run last year or something like that and you got the per the picks that James Ham said you’ve unlocked. Yeah, I’m not sure you can you can maybe financially you can, but realistically I don’t think if you want one of these point guards, I think you’ve got to be looking at LaMelo scares me too much. giving up all those giving up all those Sacramento Kings picks for a guy that’s like not even on the court like there’s the chance like yeah this could like there’s a high chance like he just doesn’t stay on the court because that’s kind of what he’s been over his career and it’s like now you’re the Sacramento Kings just stuck here with LaMelo Ball and like look at you like of course like how did you not know that it would end up this way you know I I get it I get it I have a Trey Young deal I got Trey Young for Deontis straight up player-wise but you’re sending the 2027 unprotected first round pick and you’re doing a pick swap in 2029 for for Trey Young. I even think with that you might have to probably add another another pick. See, like is for me it’s just the direction of the franchise. If you’re trying to rebuild then yeah, I’m with that. Then you move Domas. But if you’re trying to win, then it’s like I’m only moving Domas if it’s for like a cat or something like that. Cuz I I don’t cuz then if you trade Domas for um Trey, then it’s just your Trey Young and Zack Lavine. It’s like that’s not like that’s still a lot to build around. It’s even tougher, I feel. But you but you still and once I’m not saying that you’re getting the same caliber player back, but you still got the Demar trait. Yeah, but I don’t even know what you’re getting for that. Like that could be Norman Pow. It could be Haime Huckz and Duncan Robinson or whatever guys you kind of like Duncan’s been on the bench for four years felt like and Himeme had a bit of a downer at the end of the year like that. Demar Demar’s too much of an unknown for me to I guess move off of Domas for Trey. This team needs a rebuild. I will scream it into the heavens. They need a rebuild. They’re not going that way. So if you’re not, I’m moving Domas for like a cat. If not, I’m shooting as many first round picks to the pox and maybe send Demar’s contract somewhere else on a three team deal. But I just I don’t see how you can not you but the Kings like we want to win now and just kind of catapult off of that like you’re trading Domas for Trey. I think that’s still it makes it a lot tougher. I understand. I understand. I just don’t know if if Damonte Sabonis and then but see here’s the other thing and this is what I talk about though. So you want Trey Young here with Damonte Sabonis. Damonte Sabonis showed you he’s not as effective if things aren’t running through him. So, you’re bringing in a point guard who’s a ball dominant guy. And then we really don’t even know how Zack Lavine reacts to all of this. Now, you got um Trey Young and Sabonis fighting for the basketball and Zack Lavine just looking there crazy. He doesn’t he doesn’t seem to react well to adversity on the basketball court at all. This is why they need a rebuild. Like this is exactly why they need a rebuild. I don’t know if that’s I don’t know if that’s the case. But if you’re bringing in the point guard, I think you got to move Domas. I don’t I don’t I don’t hate the idea. It’s just I need to see the vision after that. I need to see moves B CDE E FG after that because it can’t just be Trey and Lavine and Yonas Valentry. Like what wings are you adding? Like there’s still a lot you got to add around here then. like there will be a defensive issue if I mean there is one either way but it’s just Trey is a lot worse than anyone else in the league so you got to figure that out and stuff like that to where you’re not bottom of the league if anything that’s why and that Scott Perry’s point is Scott Perry’s got to work then like we all it’s all captain obvious and stuff but there’s a lot of work to be done that if they’re trying to win now still and if you think they’re moving don’t do and Trey that’s why Trey maybe that’s why LaMelo’s my first my first choice that’s a it’s a gamble it’s a gamble it’s a big time gamble, but Lamel is my first choice. It gets you the point guard. It gets you the creator. It gets you the guy that talent-wise can be the the face of your franchise. Maturity-wise, and all this other stuff, that’s the that’s the risk. Injury-wise, that’s the risk. But you’re bringing in a franchise player level talent, Willow Ball. And if it it may cost you three first round picks. Uh there’s a reward aspect to it. So it’s why I’m not totally against it. But it’s just the risk. It scares me too much. I feel with LaMelo. I’m

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