The Sacramento Kings hoped to start the 2025-26 season on solid ground but instead found themselves slipping fast. A 1-4 start, followed by two consecutive victories and then an eight-game losing streak, reignited trade speculation surrounding Domantas Sabonis.
As the discussion intensified, the Golden State Warriors emerged as a focal point of the rumors. However, an NBA insider has dismissed the speculation.
Jake Fischer Clears the Air On Domantas Sabonis Trade Rumors
As Sacramento’s season spiraled early, whispers of Sabonis’ possible exit began to circulate again. Golden State emerged as a possible landing spot — a team rumored to have past interest. But NBA insider Jake Fischer says those assumptions are off base.
“I want to set the record straight on one suitor for Sabonis that I’ve seen theorized quite a bit: Golden State,” Fischer wrote. “In truth, I don’t think that the Warriors are going to factor into any Sabonis Sweepstakes. For a number of reasons.”
Fischer wrote that the Warriors are unlikely to be involved in any pursuit of Sabonis. He noted that Golden State did explore the possibility before the 2022 trade deadline, when Indiana eventually dealt Sabonis to Sacramento. At the time, the Pacers were high on Jonathan Kuminga, which led to multiple conversations involving Kuminga, Buddy Hield, Andrew Wiggins, and Sabonis in various proposals. Those talks never materialized into a deal, and Fischer said the Warriors have become even more cautious since then.
“This past summer, though, Golden State was reluctant to part with either Hield or Moses Moody as part of its Kuminga sign-and-trade discussions with Sacramento,” he wrote. Chasing Sabonis today, with his $42.3 million salary, would require the Warriors to surrender more than Kuminga alone. Fischer questioned how much of their core the team would realistically give up for a center who does not stretch the floor or protect the rim.
Fischer also addressed Golden State’s current roster dynamics, noting that although newly added Al Horford hasn’t provided the boost the team hoped for, the situation “isn’t dire enough for Golden State to tear up its roster to add Sabonis.”
Kings’ Struggles as Sabonis Nurse Knee Injury
For now, Sabonis remains under a four-year, $186,016,000 contract with the Kings — one that pays him $46,504,000 this season. But concerns for the Kings go beyond trade rumors.
Their offensive engine is currently sidelined with a partial meniscus tear in his left knee. The team is expected to reevaluate him in three to four weeks, leaving them without their primary hub at a moment when they desperately need stability.
Sabonis’ value is clear, as he’s one of the league’s best offensive facilitators and rebounders. He is a playmaking big who lifts teammates with his passing, screening, and interior craft. But his limitations, especially on defense, play a role in why the Warriors are hesitant.
He is not a natural rim protector and often struggles against explosive drivers. In the modern NBA, where centers are expected to cover vast defensive ground, this can be a problem.
Offensively, teams frequently sag off him because he provides minimal three-point shooting, which is apparent in his 20% 3-point average this season so far.
While he can knock down midrange shots, he doesn’t take them confidently enough to stretch defenses.
For the Kings, the real question is whether they can right the ship before the season slips away. For now, the noise around a potential blockbuster trade has quieted, but the scrutiny hasn’t. The Kings need wins, and they need their star healthy again.
