Hornets’ perfect Domantas Sabonis trade offer to Kings after juicy rumor pops up

The Charlotte Hornets haven’t made the playoffs since 2016, but they took a number of steps forward this past season. One more Play-in Tournament win would have ended their postseason drought. The team fell just short, though, and now they will look to make the moves to become a playoff team.

Charlotte has already been linked to Domantas Sabonis in trade reports. San Amick reports that the Hornets and Sacramento Kings have discussed a trade, but a deal isn’t imminent, as the two haven’t been able to agree on a return to this point. So, what is a fair offer from the Hornets that would benefit both them and the Kings?

Hornets’ trade proposal for Domantas Sabonis

Sacramento Kings receive: Miles Bridges, Sion James, Tidjane Salaun, 2026 pick number 14, future top-14 protected first-round pick, four second-round picks

Charlotte Hornets receive: Domantas Sabonis

As of now, the Kings and Hornets haven’t been able to agree on draft compensation. The Kings want one of Charlotte’s first round picks, as they own selections number 14 and 18, but the Hornets would prefer to wait until after the draft to make a trade. If a deal were to happen before the draft, though, it would almost have to certainly include one of Charlotte’s first-round picks, and the lottery selection seems more fair for a three-time All-Star.

On top of that, the Hornets may have to include a future first-round pick, although they could likely add protections to it. The team also has a surplus of second-round picks they can add to a trade, as well as Sion James, Tidjane Salaun, and Miles Bridges. The latter of those players is a high-flyer on an expiring contract who has already been reported as a trade candidate. James and Salaun would be intriguing gets for Sacramento, too, as James found minutes as a rookie in Charlotte, and Salaun was a recent lottery pick.

A Sabonis trade would signal a rebuild for the Kings, so a reclamation project like Salaun makes sense because he might reach his potential after a change of scenery to a team willing to give him an extended run. The Kings’ current core doesn’t have much of an optimistic future, so blowing things up makes sense. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine don’t hold much trade value, though, so don’t be surprised if Sabonis is the one moved this offseason.

What can Domantas Sabonis bring to the Hornets?

While it is clear that the Hornets want to keep both of their first-round picks this year, they couldn’t complain too much about the package that they’d give up in this proposal. The 2026 NBA Draft is considered a loaded class, but it falls off some after the top 10 picks or so, and the Hornets wouldn’t have to give up another unprotected first, despite the fact that Sabonis is a three-time All-Star.

The Lithuanian big man would solve Charlotte’s biggest problem, which is the center position. While Ryan Kalkbrenner played admirably as a rookie after being drafted in the second round, the combination of him and Moussa Diabate isn’t sufficient at the NBA level. Sabonis has led the league in rebounds per game thrice and is a double-double machine.

Not only does Sabonis fix Charlotte’s interior problem, but he shot 41.7% from 3-point land in his last healthy season. Combined with his passing ability, the Hornets’ offense would be a scary one going forward. Although Sabonis isn’t known for his defensive acumen, the Hornets as a whole performed better than expected on that end, so perhaps he could exceed defensive expectations, too.

For years, the Hornets looked to add athletic specimens with raw talent to their roster. Recently, though, they’ve prioritized fundamentally sound players. While Sabonis might not be the high-flyer that can make highlight finishes catching lobs from LaMelo Ball, he does fit the team’s new philosophies, and trading for him makes a lot of sense.

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