Report: Raptors Pursuit of Domantas Sabonis Stalled by Salary Structure
The Domantas Sabonis trade rumors persist, but Toronto’s preferred trade package of long-term contracts may be the deal-breaker for Sacramento.
TSP Rumor Tracker: Jan 13 Update
We are tracking a new report from NBA Insider Jake Fischer regarding the Raptors’ aggressive pursuit of the Kings’ All-Star center.
- Target: Domantas Sabonis (SAC).
- The Roadblock: Sacramento does not want “long-term salary” on their books.
- The Raptors Package: A combination involving Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jakob Poeltl.
The Domantas Sabonis trade rumors have officially identified the Toronto Raptors as a serious suitor for the Sacramento Kings’ big man. However, a significant gap in financial philosophy is threatening to derail any potential blockbuster before the deadline.
Fischer: “Tricky to Find an Agreement”
Speaking on his NBA Insider Notebook live stream on Tuesday, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer confirmed that Toronto’s interest is real, but the mechanics of the deal are complicated by what the Raptors are trying to send out.
“Sabonis has interest from Toronto. We’ve continued to report that, but it’ll be tricky to find an agreement there, being that the Raptors, to my understanding, are really just trying to look at what they can get for a combination of Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jakob Poeltl…” — Jake Fischer, Bleacher Report
This confirms that Bobby Webster is actively shopping the core pieces acquired in the OG Anunoby trade (Quickley, Barrett) in an attempt to re-tool the roster around Scottie Barnes immediately.
The Hurdle: Kings Want Flexibility
The core issue is not necessarily the talent, but the term. Fischer explicitly noted the financial constraints Sacramento is operating under.
“…and the Kings do not want long-term salary on their books right now.” — Jake Fischer, Bleacher Report
Both RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are signed to significant long-term extensions. For a Kings team potentially looking to pivot or shed salary to avoid luxury tax penalties, absorbing hundreds of millions in future money is a non-starter, regardless of the on-court fit.
TSP Analysis: The Deadlock
This creates a classic stalemate. The Raptors need to match Sabonis’s salary ($40M+) by sending out big contracts like Barrett or Quickley. The Kings, however, likely prefer expiring contracts or draft capital to reset their books.
Unless a third team enters the fray to take on Toronto’s long-term deals while routing assets to Sacramento, this trade remains “tricky,” as Fischer described.
For the full report and more NBA rumors, watch the latest NBA Insider Notebook.