The Golden State Warriors are struggling from a low-post production standpoint this season.
Signing Al Horford before the start of the regular season was designed to give the franchise frontcourt stability from the get-go.
However, the experienced former Boston Celtics NBA champion center hasn’t delivered the goods thus far, contributing only 5.8 points and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 34.3% from the field and 32% from three-point range.
Luckily for the Dubs, exiting frontcourt purgatory could be a realistic possibility, as Sports Illustrated’s Blake Silverman recently named Sacramento Kings star forward Domantas Sabonis as a potential trade suitor for the franchise.
“Another Western Conference basement dweller who could go all in on a rebuild, the Kings could deal their high-earning veterans to gain financial flexibility as they look ahead,” Silverman wrote Thursday.
“Domantas Sabonis should return the most value on the trade market, although the major win would be clearing the $45-plus million salary from Sacramento’s books over the next two seasons.”
“A potential Sabonis trade may have gotten more tricky with the news of his partially torn left meniscus, which will cause him to miss three-to-four to four weeks. Nevertheless, the three-time All-Star and the NBA’s rebounding leader in the past three seasons should garner interest during the trade season for a team looking to add a star.”
“Potential trade suitors: Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons.”
Sabonis is in a challenging spot 10 years into his NBA career. The Gonzaga product is Sacramento’s most talented frontcourt option and will remain so as long as he’s a member of the Kings’ organization.
However, outside of an impressive 2023 postseason showing (the Kings took the Warriors to seven games), Sabonis hasn’t achieved much playoff success with the Kings since joining the franchise in 2022 and likely won’t do so in the foreseeable future with Sacramento’s current roster configuration.
Although the Warriors’ organization isn’t what it once was, there is no denying that acquiring Sabonis would not only give the multi-dimensional big man a chance to compete for a championship but also help lighten Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler’s offensive load.
The smooth 6-foot-10 lefty is averaging 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists with the struggling 3-13 Kings this season.
If the Dubs are truly growing weary of Horford’s unreliable ways, they’ll consider poaching Sabonis from the Kings sooner than later.
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