The Charlotte Hornets pleasantly surprised many NBA fans this past season. Despite a brutal start to the season, Charlotte played their way into the Play-In Tournament with their own exciting brand of basketball. Though they were eliminated in the final game of the Eastern Conference play-ins, their stellar finish to the season gives fans hopes for the future.
It seems like the Hornets are looking to fully capitalize on their momentum from last season. One of the names floating around the trade block early in the 2026 offseason is Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis. One of the more underrated centers in the league, there are many teams vying for Sabonis’ services. Accoding to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Hornets are one of the teams potentially in the running for Sabonis.
“Charlotte’s recent trade discussions with Sacramento regarding three-time former All-Star Domantas Sabonis were widely described as exploratory, but rumbles persist that the Hornets could still elect to part with either their No. 14 or No. 18 selection in various trade scenarios as they search for proven size,” Fischer said.
A former All-Star, Sabonis didn’t get a lot of opportunities to show off his wares last season. The Kingss center played just 19 games last season after suffering a meniscus injury early in the year. Sabonis was able to return to action midway through the year, but he was eventually shut down after he underwent surgery to repair his meniscus. He averaged just 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.
The Hornets could use a player of Sabonis’ caliber. While Charlotte’s offense relies heavily on transition buckets, they could use a player who can function as the hub in the halfcourt. Sabonis could, in theory, be a secondary hub on that end, giving them a legitimate paint presence that they sorely lacked last season.
It’s a bit of a heavy gamble: the Hornets will likely have to give up one of their first-round picks to get Sabonis. Still, it’s a risk worth taking, especially after the season they had last year.
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