Domantas Sabonis was a name that came up during the trade deadline, as it looks like the Sacramento Kings are ready to start fresh. The Toronto Raptors were the main team to have interest, but things didn't get to a point where a deal was made. Fast forward to the offseason, and the Charlotte Hornets seem to have interest in the skilled big man.
At the same time, that has led to questions about whether the Raptors are still interested, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
“There have been multiple reports this week about Sacramento and Charlotte discussing Domantas Sabonis trade frameworks, but sources say those conversations were preliminary in nature and reflective of the Kings' desire to acquire the Hornets' No. 14 or No. 18 pick,” Fischer wrote. “Sources say Charlotte, though, is not currently willing to surrender either pick.
“I'm told that the Kings also have interest in Toronto's No. 19 selection, but it is unclear whether the Raptors, who showed trade interest in Sabonis before the league's in-season trade deadline in February, will do so again.”
The Kings want a first-round pick in return for Sabonis, which comes as no surprise. If the Raptors believe that he's the player who can help them take the next step, they shouldn't be hesitant to give up the pick. At the same time, teams probably want to be more protective of their pick with the new lottery reform, which gives more teams a chance to land the No. 1 pick.
The Kings also want to make sure they don't take back much salary if they trade Sabonis, which made the Hornets a possible choice, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Miles Bridges is in the final year of his contract and could be the player involved in the trade, but it may come down to which offer the Kings would rather take.
