Kings stall Sabonis trade talks with Raptors over salary concerns. Sacramento demands favorable terms, stymieing a potential blockbuster deal.
The Sacramento Kings should have an extremely busy 2025-26 trade deadline, as a good number of their more valued contributors should be on the move in exchange for young prospects and draft capital.
3-time All-Star and rebounding champion center Domantas Sabonis has been a leading man in trade talks for the Kings going back to this past summer, and the rumors have continued to fly amidst the Kings' franchise-worst 8-30 beginning to the year.
As the Feb. 5 trade deadline inches closer, the Toronto Raptors' interest in the versatile star big man has been noted by a few reputable sources, including Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
However, Fischer's latest reporting has indicated that talks of a deal between the Raptors and Kings have reached an awkward spot, as Sacramento has refused to budge on a certain stance.
"The Kings have also let it be known that they are reluctant to take back long-term salary as part of any in-season business they might conduct," Fischer wrote Saturday.
"The latter is a major roadblock in any discussion regarding Toronto's oft-discussed interest in Domantas Sabonis and all of the above would seem to limit the likelihood of the Kings as a Morant landing spot," Fischer continued.
"Quick aside on the Toronto/Sabonis discussion specifically: League sources tell The Stein Line that the Kings are not interested taking back the contracts of either Immanuel Quickley or Jakob Poeltl."
In an intriguing turn of events, the Kings' front office has let the Raptors and the rest of the NBA world know that they are not content with bringing in any more undesirable contracts.
After trading for Zach LaVine's $215.1 million contract prior to last season's trade deadline, the Kings have made an important statement, appearing to have grown more strict with their future finances.
Could this be a sign that the checkbook will also see a massive reset as the 2026 NBA Draft nears? Perhaps.
Still, their reluctance to even accept the deal of Immanuel Quickley, a serviceable and shifty 26-year-old guard, is somewhat surprising.
At some point, some combinations of contracts will have to match that of Sabonis' $42.3 million salary in order to get a trade across the finish line, and receiving a package headlined by the relatively young and skilled guard would not be the worst return.
Still, the Kings believe they can find an even better return for more favorable talents on similar deals, a mission that sounds quite difficult, to say the least.
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