Could the Sacramento Kings target a center this offseason?

May 20, 2024, 2:40 PM | Updated: 2:41 pm

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Domantas S...

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Domantas Sabonis just capped off one of the most impressive seasons from an NBA center in league history.

The Lithuanian big man averaged 19.4 points, 13.7 rebounds (led league), and 8.2 assists per game on 59 percent shooting from the field over 82 games for a Sacramento Kings team that fell one win short of a second-straight NBA Playoff appearance.

From a win-shares perspective, Sabonis has been the Kings’ best player since the start of last year, posting back-to-back impressive seasons that put him among some of the top names in the league on the win-shares leaderboard.

Sabonis finished the 2023-24 season ranked fourth in win shares (12.6), only trailing MVP winner Nikola Jokic (17.0), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (14.6), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (13.2).

That brings us to the head-scratching odds regarding a few off-season targets that many wouldn’t assume would be on Sacramento’s radar.

Oddsmakers have tapped the Kings as favorites to sign veteran center Jonas Valanciunas in free agency. The 32-year-old big currently plays alongside Sabonis on the Lithuanian national team, which could have been factored into Sacramento’s favorite status.

The Sacramento Kings are the favorites to win the Jonas Valanciunas sweepstakes, per @BovadaOfficial

Sacramento Kings: +400
Los Angeles Clippers: +500
Charlotte Hornets: +550
Utah Jazz: +550
Chicago Bulls: +550
Washington Wizards: +650
Oklahoma City Thunder: +650
Brooklyn Nets:… pic.twitter.com/BNFLEZUohC

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 18, 2024

Valanciunas averaged 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game on 55 percent shooting from the field and 30 percent from three-point range over 82 games with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2023-24.

The 11-year veteran will hit the free agent market this summer after playing out the final year of his two-year, $30 million contract.

Along with Valanciunas, the Kings are also viewed as a team that will be interested in trading for Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen. Allen could be on the move this summer as the Cavs look to stabilize their roster.

Allen, an All-Star in 2022, averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and blocked 1.1 shots per game during the 2023-24 season (77 games). The 26-year-old also finished tenth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Cleveland has multiple questions surrounding its roster this summer, with Donovan Mitchell’s future in question and the looming possibility of trading Allen becoming more plausible as the franchise could look to build around former third-overall pick Evan Mobley.

Bringing in another big could benefit Sabonis, who is not known as a rim protector–the Kings finished the season ranked 28th in blocks per game (4.2)–but what about floor-spacing?

Sabonis has yet to show that he can consistently knock down mid-range and three-point field goal attempts. Valanciunas shot 30 percent from deep in 2023-24, while Allen hasn’t attempted more than ten three-pointers in a single season since 2020-21.

If centers are on Sacramento’s offseason wish list, what does that mean for Sabonis? Are the Kings thinking of moving Sabonis to the four?

Carmichael Dave dives into that question below:

More on Jonas Valanciunas & Jarrett Allen

Valanciunas and/or Allen aren’t coming off the bench if they come to Sacramento
Are the Kings considering moving Domantas Sabonis to the four?
What is the likelihood that Sacramento will bring in a center at the level of Valanciunas and Allen?
How tough would a frontline of Sabonis and Valanciunas be?
Dave says Allen would make more sense
A caller gives a recommendation on who the Kings should draft at 13th

When is the next Sacramento Kings off-season date of interest?

The NBA Draft is now a two-night event.

Wednesday, June 26th, will act as the first night of the 2024 NBA Draft, where the Sacramento Kings will make their first-round selection (13th). The second round of the draft will be held on Thursday, June 27th, where the Kings will use its 45th overall pick.

Sacramento hasn’t had a first-round pick since 2022, when it selected Iowa product Keegan Murray with the fourth overall pick.

Stay locked into Sactown Sports for all of your Kings draft coverage, including player profiles, reports regarding pre-draft workouts, draft night coverage, and much more.

NBA Offseason Schedule