Sam Amick confirmed that the Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Hornets have been in concrete discussions about moving three-time All-Star center Domantas Sabonis. Charlotte’s interest hinges on acquiring one of its two upcoming first-round picks, but the franchise prefers to use at least one of those selections to draft a big man of its own rather than surrender it. Sacramento, meanwhile, is pressing for a deal before the NBA Draft, hoping to pair Sabonis’ departure with additional draft capital. The mismatch in timing and the size of the pick package has stalled progress, leaving a trade far from sealed.
Sabonis, now 30, has averaged 19.0 points, 13.1 rebounds and 7.0 assists over the past four seasons , a production profile that makes him one of the league’s most versatile bigs. His playmaking out of the post has been a cornerstone of Sacramento’s offense, especially given a thin wing corps. The Kings already have two promising interior pieces, All-Rookie center Maxime Raynaud and shot-blocking prospect Dylan Cardwell, both of whom still need seasoning before shouldering a starter’s load. Losing Sabonis would strip the team of its primary post scorer and facilitator, a gap that only a high draft pick could realistically fill.
For Charlotte, the appeal is straightforward: a proven veteran who can anchor a rebuilding frontcourt while the team still holds two first-round assets. Adding Sabonis would give the Hornets an immediate upgrade at center without sacrificing the developmental timeline of a rookie they intend to draft. Amick noted, “Charlotte is one of the few teams that seems to have genuine interest,” underscoring how thin the market is for a player of Sabonis’ caliber.
The Kings’ motivation stems from a desire to create financial flexibility and to stockpile draft assets. Amick explained, “Domantas is kind of the only guy you can do that with.” Sacramento’s concern, he added, is that they “don’t want to be down a big by dealing Domantas,” and they would need an extra pick to replace the production they would lose. The timing issue compounds the problem: Charlotte prefers to reassess the deal later in the summer, while Sacramento wants to move before the draft to secure the assets they need.
If the two clubs cannot bridge the pick gap, Sabonis is expected to remain in Sacramento’s camp, and the Kings will continue to carry his sizable contract into the next season, limiting flexibility for other moves. Conversely, a deal that includes a first-rounder would satisfy Sacramento’s draft-capital needs while allowing Charlotte to retain at least one pick for a young big. The outcome of these talks will shape each franchise’s trajectory over the next two years, determining whether the Hornets can add a veteran cornerstone and whether the Kings can reshape their roster ahead of the draft.
Charlotte Hornets 
