Potential Pacers Trade Suitors for Domantas Sabonis

 

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POTENTIAL TRADE SUITORS FOR DOMANTAS SABONIS 

Reported a week ago by Shams Charania the Indiana Pacers are receptive to trade talks on Caris LeVert and Sabonis or Myles Turner. As for the two time all stat Domantas Sabonis, he is currently under contract for only $18.5Million dollars making him a bit easier to trade considering the caliber player he is. Giving multiple teams the ability to have a lot of interest in him.

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1. PHOENIX SUNS

The Phoenix Suns are among the teams interested in Sabonis, per Shams Charania of the Athletic. The Suns currently sit at 21-5 for the second seed in the Western Conference. A team of that record doesn’t necessarily need any additions you'd think but a player like Sabonis when the opportunity comes is something you can not pass on. A player like Chris Paul can make sure Sabonis would get acclimated into the Suns system. Sabonis being an great passer for his position would work very well in Monty Williams system. It also would give Phoenix just another guy to go to, and for defenses another player they'd have to gameplan for.

As for a package,  I could see Phoenix lingering former 10th overall pick Jalen Smith, Dario Saric, and another player or picks in return. Does that sound the best ascetically, definitely not but I can picture Phoenix apart of the Sabonis sweepstakes.

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2. SACRAMENTO KINGS

The Sacramento Kings have been a roller coaster the past decade or so to say the least about them. Still needing a head coach as well, but someone like Sabonis would progress a lot of things for them. The Kings as well are amongst teams interested in Sabonis, per Shams Charania of the Athletic. But the potential "young" core of Fox, Haliburton, Mitchell, and Sabonis would be the future of the team and you'd go with that. The Kings definitely do need to shake up something and a trade or two should be on the horizon for them. 

As for packages if I'm Sacramento I really do not have any untouchables and would be willing to give them whatever player the Pacers would be interested in outside of Fox, Mitchell, and Haliburton. A potential trade like this would give Sacramento fans a lot of hope. 

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3.  TORONTO RAPTORS

In a bit of a similar situation to the Sacramento Kings, the Raptors just need a competent big man. And in an opportunity like this I would not see them trying to pass this up. Sabonis at 25 does fit things a bit better to this Raptors team. As Precious, Chris Boucher, and Khem Birch have all been pretty much just rotational guys for the Raptors Sabonis gives them a lock at the position. 

I would not be surprised to see a Siakim-Sabonis swap, as simple as that sounds. As the Pacers still want to retool, they can get a good player back in return under a long contract. 

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4. WASHINGTON WIZARDS

This is more a bit of a spin on things, considering Washington had a good start to the season but as of late have been not the best. The Eastern Conference this year is very tight. The difference from the one seed all the way down to the thirteenth seed is only a few games. Whilst the Wizards are going to have a frontcourt logjam in Hachimura, Kuzma, Gaffort, Harrell, Bertans when he returns, and Advidja; A Sabonis trade could clear that all up. The Wizards being so deep they have multiple guys to offer that could interest Indiana. And acquiring Sabonis would help secure the Wizards as one of the better teams in the east. Coach Wes Unseld Jr leaving the Nuggets in coaching Jokic would be similar as to how you coach a unique player like Sabonis. 

As for the Wizards they have a lot to offer to Indiana. Davis Bertans contract  straight up would match if it was that easy. But I'm sure Indiana would want a quality player in return and a young guy/picks. I would love for Deni Advidja to be "freed" of more than a glue guy role player and could get a lot more opportunity on the Pacers than what he has now with the Wizards playing behind Beal and Dinwiddie. 

Whatever team Sabonis goes too he will obviously have high impact. I just hope the team he goes to is one that system has the potential for him to fully thrive in and use all of his skillsets to the best of their abilities. I would like Indiana to move on from him and Myles Turner to begin a full on retool with a clear and better direction.