New NBA Trade Idea Sends Kings Star Domantas Sabonis to Hornets

A new NBA trade idea sending Domantas Sabonis from the Sacramento Kings to the Charlotte Hornets has emerged. 

James Plowright of CLTure created the following trade idea between the Kings and Hornets:

Hornets get: Domantas Sabonis

Kings get: Miles Bridges, Josh Green, 2029 1st (least valuable of UTA/CLE/MIN)

The Hornets are interested in acquiring Sabonis from the Kings, per multiple reports. If Charlotte gets Sabonis, head coach Charles Lee can start LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Sabonis and Moussa Diabaté next season. That's a strong starting five on paper. 

Sabonis will make $45,472,000 next season and $48,608,000 in the 2027-28 season. He's better suited to play for a contending team at this stage of his career.

The Kings are nowhere close to being a playoff team. They are in deep rebuild mode.

Meanwhile, the Hornets are in win-now mode. They came one win shy of making the playoffs this season for the first time since 2016. 

A three-time All-Star, Sabonis appeared in only 19 games for the Kings this season because of a knee injury, but he's healthy again and will be at 100% entering next season. He averaged 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in 2025-26 while shooting 54.3% from the field, 18.5% from beyond the arc and 72.7% from the free-throw line.

Sabonis has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers and Kings. He has career averages of 16.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.

It will be fascinating to see if the Hornets make any big trades this summer. Most people who cover the NBA believe Charlotte is one piece away from being a contender in the East. 

Sabonis isn't a superstar, but he's a talented rebounder and playmaker who would undoubtedly make Charlotte more formidable offensively. The lefty projects to be a great fit with Ball since he's a gifted pick-and-roll player and Ball is one of the best passers and playmakers in the NBA. 

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