The Toronto Raptors could definitely benefit from an upgrade at the center spot. With all due respect to Jakob Poeltl, who’s a fairly reasonable option as the five-man when healthy; his lingering back issues and questionable contract haven’t done much to bolster his reputation within the Raptors fanbase.
It’s not so much about Poeltl being a bad player by any means, but there’s just too much at stake to fully entrust the aging vet moving forward. So, whether the Raptors are fortunate enough to flip his iffy contract, or they find a suitable long-term replacement or a quality backup — it would be wise for them to consider all these possibilities.
And one such talent whose name has been circulating around the Raptors trade rumor mill is Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis.
According to several reports (like this one from NBA insider Jake Fischer), the Raptors have been mentioned as a team with 'interest' in trading for the three-time All-Star. However, these reports have also indicated that the Sacramento Kings are largely disinterested in taking on the long-term salaries of either Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jakob Poeltl — at least for now.
That being said, for a team teetering near the bottom of the NBA pecking order — currently 14th in the West with a record of 12-30 — they're not quite a team with a ton of bargaining power. I would probably bet that, given how dire the overall situation looks in SacTown and their desperate need for a hard reset, there could be a turnaround on this sentiment in the coming weeks. If Toronto is truly intent on adding the 29-year-old Lithuanian star, I'd reckon they could probably get it done.
Like most of the other Raptors trade rumors, this is yet another on-paper star upgrade — replacing a less effective option with a stronger one in the starting lineup. But when you really ask yourself what Sabonis would bring to the Raptors' table — does he truly embody the spirit of a Raptors-centric player? No offense intended to the versatile and dynamic skill set of Domantas Sabonis — an elite rebounder, a superb playmaker at his position, and a talented offensive player.
Domantas Sabonis is a questionable fit with Raptors’ goal of strong defensive culture
That said, while Sabonis possesses many impressive qualities, it’s important to note that, as a big man, he’s far from the nimble, rim-protecting presence you would ideally want. This isn’t to say Jakob Poeltl is Rudy Gobert in comparison, but ultimately, is bringing in a player who excels in areas Poeltl struggles with — yet has questionable defense — the wisest move for Toronto?
Kings fans know Sabonis can be blown by quicker opponents. While he would benefit from Toronto’s strong defense — especially Scottie Barnes — pursuing Sabonis might be overextending at a position Toronto could address more affordably.
Keep in mind that Sabonis will be owed roughly $136.3 million over the next three seasons, which would place him near the top of Toronto’s salary commitments. Defense, whether in one-on-one situations or as a collective team effort, has long been the Raptors’ signature — dating back to the Nick Nurse chapter and continuing into the Darko Rajakovic era — even if the results and sample sizes have yielded mixed outcomes.
We often hear how much the Raptors’ coaching staff prioritizes their defensive identity, from top to bottom, but the plain fact is that Domantas Sabonis isn’t going to be a player who you'd bank on to raise that ceiling.