I feel like we are overlooking how good sabonis would actually be on this team
Any sabonis mention usually comes with a lot of distaste, people generally aren’t interested but I actually think maybe we should be.
Our team would be *disgusting* offensively. We are already really good on offense, now imagine sabonis instead of queta in that dribble handoff role setting screens and catching deep post. Second best passing big in the league behind jokic also, with all of our shooting around him would be insane. The offense would be all time great.
I think our defense would still be really good. He would be the only average/below average defender; and if we can make *garza* look passable, I’m certain Joe can put sabonis in a position to succeed. He would be covered by 4 great defenders if we started white-brown-Walsh-Tatum next to him, I feel like that’s good enough for a top 10 defense even with him.
His rebounding is insanely good, one of the best rebounders in the league on both ends and would help us a ton and outweigh a lot of the defensive shortcomings.
His value is at an all time low because he hasn’t played much this year and the kings are awful, he could probably be gotten for fairly cheap.
We could also try to get Ellis with him in the trade because he’s on a minimum deal, also having a down year, and the kings seem to be shopping him too.
The deal is pretty straightforward, only variable is what pick compensation we would have to include.
Simons/Hauser/minott/tillman/boucher for sabonis/ellis/mcdermott/eubanks
Likely would include at least our 2026 first, maybe a future swap as well but the pick compensation would change depending on who needs what. Kings would waive both of Tillman and Boucher I’m sure and we would wave mcdermott and eubanks also and probably sign Amari Williams to a standard contract.
Starting 5 post trade: white-brown-Walsh-Tatum-sabonis
Bench post trade: Pritchard-Ellis-Baylor-Hugo-queta/garza
I feel like that’s a significantly better roster and a true contender, I think that team is pretty sick and we should be more open minded about the idea of sabonis(and Ellis if we could get him too)