While the Toronto Raptors are indeed a serious suitor for the Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis, they’ll need to find a new home for big man Jakob Poeltl — outside of Sacramento — if any Sabonis deal is going to happen, team and league sources told The Athletic on Monday.
The Kings, the sources say, have made it clear they aren’t willing to take on the combined $103 million owed to Poeltl over the next four seasons ($81.2 million is guaranteed).
Unless you see a deal unfold in which Poeltl heads elsewhere to make room for Sabonis, this is an ongoing discussion that will likely resume in the offseason. There’s genuine interest from the Raptors in Sabonis, though.
Sabonis, 29, is a three-time All-Star and helped spearhead the Kings’ first playoff appearance in 16 years in the 2022-23 season. He is averaging 15.4 points and 11.2 rebounds in 18 games this season after sitting out for an extended stretch with a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. He has two years and approximately $94 million remaining on his contract after this season.
How Sabonis might fit in Toronto
For the Raptors, Sabonis would be a fit, but not a snug one.
Yes, the Raptors need size, especially given Poeltl has missed so much time this season with a back injury. Sabonis’ passing would also fit well with head coach Darko Rajaković’s preferred movement-based offense. While the Raptors are fifth in assist percentage this season, the team’s half-court offense has labored in some of the most challenging moments. The Raptors have an 18-8 record in clutch games but rank just 22nd offensively in those moments. When the game slows down, the Raptors’ attack suffers, and Sabonis would help with his quick decision-making.
However, Sabonis does not address the Raptors’ two most significant issues. He offers little rim protection, though the Raptors don’t need a center who blots out the sun because of their solid perimeter defence and NBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate Scottie Barnes’ ability to help on the weak side.
Additionally, Sabonis wouldn’t help the Raptors’ shooting, the team’s biggest weakness. The Raptors rank 28th in 3-point percentage and 24th in both makes and attempts per possession. Before stumbling this season, Sabonis was a league-average-or-better shooter from 3 for three straight seasons, but at low frequency.
It stands to reason, then, that the Raptors would be interested in Sabonis, but only if they could buy low, as they did with Brandon Ingram at last year’s trade deadline. — Eric Koreen, Raptors senior writer
Why Poeltl would need to go elsewhere
If Sabonis is coming in, the Raptors would have to move Poeltl, who they signed to a three-year contract extension in July that does not start until next season.
The Raptors had their reasons for making that move. In exchange for agreeing to the extension, Poeltl opted in to his $19.5 million player option for 2026-27, giving the Raptors cost and positional certainty. With the team’s other four starters all making more than that, the Raptors felt they needed Poeltl at that salary to have a reasonable cap sheet for next season.
However, Poeltl began dealing with a back injury during the preseason and has never been free of it. He hasn’t played since before Christmas. That contract will probably never look worse than it looks right now. Either Poeltl will come back, provide some value and remind the league that he is a useful player, or it will at least be shorter — because that’s how time works.
As of now, the Raptors would likely have to attach significant draft compensation to move Poeltl. And given Sabonis doesn’t scratch all of the Raptors’ itches, paying that much to acquire him would be curious. — Koreen
