Domantas

Sabonis

This was a quiet night for Sabonis as a scorer, but he was still able to impact the game in other ways. They were outscored by 12 points during his 40 minutes, and the turnovers were frustrating, but the well-rounded stat line will help make up for that. It’s a weird situation for the 0-5 Kings, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Sabonis was moved later this season. However, as long as he’s on the floor, he’ll continue to stuff the stat sheet.

Despite having his hands full with Victor Wembanyama, Sabonis still managed to put up a quality stat line. The Kings center finished two assists shy of a triple-double, and he has recorded at least eight assists in three of his first four games. While Darius Acuff Jr. is expected to be the franchise’s point guard of the future, the Kings may be better served letting Sabonis facilitate more offense at this stage of the rookie’s career. And if that continues, Sabonis should be an elite fantasy center.

An absolute crazy from Sabonis who looks to be a great fantasy player for the rest of the season. An underrated part of the offseason was the departure of DeMar DeRozan, who really impacted Sabonis and his production when he got to Sacramento. With him gone, Domantas will be in line for some great fantasy production and will likely have several more triple doubles this season.

Sabonis didn’t miss a shot on Wednesday and finished two assists shy of a triple-double. However, it’s fair to ask why he didn’t get more shots, especially when Darius Acuff Jr. and Keegan Murray combined to shoot 6-of-32 from the field. Playing alongside a rookie point guard can be challenging for a veteran post player like Sabonis, who can also facilitate offense. However, Wednesday’s outing showed he can offer excellent fantasy value on nights with low shot attempts.

The Kings were without Domantas Sabonis for Thursday’s game, so Raynaud started. An All-Rookie selection last season, the 7-foot-1 center made 56 starts for the then-injured Sabonis. Raynaud finished the defeat with a double-double, and he had 18 such games last season. With Sabonis back, Raynaud is at best a late-round option in 12-team drafts. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if his role expanded at some point, especially if the Kings moved Sabonis.

For quite some time now, it has been believed that Duren and the Pistons were far apart in their negotiations on a new deal. While the 2026 All-Star struggled during the postseason, Monday’s report is shocking. Not only will Duren meet with the Kings at the beginning of free agency, but he’ll do so to work out a sign-and-trade with the Pistons. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Kings plan to offer Domantas Sabonis to the Pistons to get a deal done. Of course, Detroit can always refuse to do so, especially if they decide to simply match whatever offer sheet Duren signs. If Duren were to move on, that would put the Pistons in the market for a new starting center, which could affect the market for a player like New York’s Mitchell Robinson.

The scuttlebutt surrounding the Kings heading into the February trade deadline was that the team would look to move some of its veterans to kickstart a reset of the roster. No one was moved, and Sabonis underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn left meniscus during the All-Star break. The veteran center once again being the subject of trade rumors is unsurprising, especially considering the Kings’ struggles and current salary cap situation. The Kings hold the seventh overall pick in this month’s draft, and Sabonis’ future could affect that, as well as Maxime Raynaud. Raynaud earned second-team All-Rookie honors and started 56 of the 74 games he played.

Sunday was the second time this season in which Raynaud grabbed at least 15 rebounds in a game, the first being a 19-rebound effort against the Pelicans on February 9. The 7-foot-1 rookie has provided solid fantasy value since moving into the starting lineup for the injured Domantas Sabonis, ending Week 23 rostered in 43 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Raynaud’s rookie campaign has been an encouraging one, but his fantasy outlook for 2026-27 depends on Sabonis’ status, as he would offer limited value if relegated to the bench.

Raynaud put together another strong line on Thursday in what’s been a rookie season filled with them. With Domantas Sabonis officially out for the season (knee), the path appears clear for Raynaud to be Sacramento’s full-time starting center for the remainder of the year. As he’s proven throughout the season in a starting role, the production should remain so long as his health does too. Raynaud is someone fantasy managers should consider making a move for, if possible.

Sabonis, who missed the Kings’ last four games before the All-Star break with a back injury, had been dealing with a partially torn meniscus suffered in mid-November. Per Wednesday’s report, the veteran center has already undergone the surgical procedure to repair the tear and is done for the season. Sabonis only played in 19 games this season, averaging 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 0.9 steals in 29.7 minutes. With Dylan Cardwell (ankle) out for at least four weeks, the Kings will rely even more on Maxime Raynaud in the middle. The second-round pick is a must-add player.