Would the Charlotte Hornets really make this expensive move at the NBA trade deadline?
The Charlotte Hornets are widely viewed as sellers heading into the NBA trade deadline, but could they shock everyone by flipping the script?
The Hornets actually do have a very nice young core in place, so they may decide to try and add a piece to their foundation before Feb. 5.
On that note, NBA insider Evan Sidery has linked Charlotte to a very interesting name: Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis.
Sabonis missed time early this season with a partial meniscus tear, but he is back on the floor now and has been playing some pretty solid basketball since his return.
We know that Sabonis is a terrific player, but the catch is that he signed a four-year, $186 million contract extension with the Kings during the summer of 2023, a deal that takes him through the end of 2028.
Would the Hornets be willing to take on all of that salary? And does Charlotte really need him given the production of Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner?
Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis. Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images.Obviously, Sabonis is a far superior offensive force to both Diabate and Kalkbrenner, and he is a three-time rebounding champion. But he is earning $42.3 million this season and is slated to make $45.5 million and $46.8 million in 2026-27 and 2027-28, respectively.
That's a whole lot of money for a player who doesn't really play both ends of the floor all that well. While Sabonis isn't a complete sieve defensively, he is barely average in that area, and that's the last thing the Hornets need right now. After all, they are only ranked 19th in defensive efficiency as it is.
Charlotte would also have to go through the process of matching salaries, which would make any potential Sabonis trade rather complicated.
The idea of Sabonis is tempting. He is a three-time All-Star who averaged 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds and six assists per game last season. Some have even referred to him as a Nikola Jokic lite ... but Jokic he is not.
The Hornets have suddenly been doing a fine job of building their roster. They don't need to weigh it down with a possible albatross contract. Sabonis could certainly help a team, but Charlotte should not be the squad to take that chance.