It has been a rollercoaster of a season for the Sacramento Kings. They are in a major fall at the moment, following a few moves that changed their entire identity. With just three games left in the regular season, the Kings are 9th in a stacked Western Conference, boasting a 39-40 record. While they are on pace to grab a play-in spot after securing three consecutive victories, how competitive is this team? The truth is that since finishing third in the 2022-23 campaign when De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis led a young and competitive team, they’ve dropped massively. Last season, they fell to 9th and were bounced in the play-in tournament. Now, they are once again in the same spot and a turnaround doesn’t seem likely.

Having traded De’Aaron Fox, it’s a new era in Sac-Town, but things might get worse before they get better. According to the reports, the Sacramento front office is hoping to proceed with a clean slate into the next season. Moreover, analysts also think this might be the time to move away from this veteran core of players. Former NBA player Chandler Parson believes the Kings must make the most of the pieces they currently possess. “No, because I think you get the most by stopping Sabonis. Who can you get back from that? Maybe you can go and get a point guard. You can go and add someone in the draft who can help you.” Parsons stated. He thinks that it’s the right time to move on from Sabonis and maybe even DeMar DeRozan.

Well, Parsons isn’t the first person to suggest trading away Domantas Sabonis. The skilled big man’s contract is the only feasible one they have at their disposal. While the Kings might think twice before moving away the league’s best rebounder and their franchise player, Sabonis’s loyalty might be fading, too. Since arriving in Sacramento in 2022, he has embraced the challenge and delivered on the expectations set for him. However, the same cannot be said on the franchise’s part, which seems to have chance of being in contention shortly. Furthermore, Parsons also thinks that looking at the Western Conference, other teams are much better and younger than the Kings.

“I just, I think the best move is to shop Sabonis. See what you can get back for him. But man, he’s your best player. And he’s someone that you’d like to build around. I just think you can get the most back for him, rather than like a DeRozan or a Zach.” He added. This season, Sabonis has been the team’s backbone. The 28-year-old center is averaging 19.2 points with a league-high 13.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. There’s no doubt he’s a player you’d like to build around, but he’s also the piece that could fetch the most value, which is needed for their potential rebuild. While everyone awaits the franchise’s big decision on Domantas Sabonis over the summer, DeMar DeRozan might also be on a team’s radar during the offseason.

Warriors set their eyes on Sacramento’s DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan came to the Sac-Town in the hopes of finding a new home and new opportunities. However, his efforts so far have been in vain in a squad with minimal chemistry and true ambition. Now, at the age of 35, along with a massive $72 million three-year contract, trading him might be a difficult task for the Kings’ front office. However, here’s where the Golden State Warriors come into play. The Dubs are reportedly looking to enhance their star-studded roster even further. That’s because they want to maximize their chances with Stephen Curry still within their ranks. They’ve already revived their chances this season by acquiring Jimmy Butler and now eye a blockbuster move for the 2025-26 season.

Keeping their aim of winning another championship with Curry in mind, they could be in the market for another seasoned superstar like DeMar DeRozan. A potential trade could see the Sacramento Kings receive youngster Buddy Hield in exchange for DeRozan. While the 35-year-old will be a great addition to the Warriors’ offense, it’s his defensive capabilities that might concern the Dubs. Especially because Golden State has a habit of seeking players who could provide on both ends of the floor. If the Kings miss out on the playoffs, they might be willing to trade DeRozan, making him a great pick for the Bay Area team.

DeMar DeRozan is having a solid campaign. That Sacramento forward is averaging 22.5 points and 3.9 rebounds to go with his 4.4 assists per game. Swapping Buddy Hield for him might just work out well for the Warriors. DeRozan is a seasoned player capable of performing when it matters during the business end of the season: the playoffs. Moreover, he would fit perfectly with the timeline of the rest of the stars at Golden State. The Kings’ management will have several big decisions to make during the off-season. It will be interesting to see how they approach this rebuild that seems inevitable.