Sacramento might be about to shake up their frontcourt in a big way. And it involves a potential swap that would send Domantas Sabonis to Detroit while Jalen Duren heads west.
According to league sources cited by reporter Sam Amick, both players have signaled they’re open to the move. Duren, the Pistons’ 21-year-old center, has been unhappy with contract negotiations in Detroit and has been talking with other teams. The Kings are one of them.
“Per league sources, the most likely scenario here would include Kings forward Domantas Sabonis heading to Detroit. The key question now is how the Pistons see the situation, in light of the gap between them and Duren and the chance to get a three-time All-Star in return,” Amick wrote.
He added: “To add on here, I’m told that Jalen Duren very much wants to play in Sacramento and Kings big man Domantas Sabonis is likewise interested in the prospect of landing with the Pistons.”
It’s not hard to see why both sides would be intrigued. Sabonis, 29, has been the Kings’ best player since arriving in 2022. He made the All-Star team in 2023 and helped Sacramento end a 16-year playoff drought. But the Kings haven’t been back to the postseason since, and this past season was brutal. They finished 22-60, one of the worst records in the league.
Injuries played a big part. Sabonis appeared in only 19 games during the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists. When he was out, the Kings had no real anchor on offense or defense, and it showed.
Sacramento is now looking at a rebuild, or at least a significant retool. That makes a deal like this logical. Duren is younger, cheaper, and still on his rookie deal. He averaged a double-double last season (13.8 points, 11.6 rebounds) and has the kind of raw athleticism that fits a faster, more modern style. For a Kings team hoping to grow around young guards like Keegan Murray and Davion Mitchell, Duren could be the long-term answer at center.
For the Pistons, the appeal is obvious. Detroit has a ton of young talent — Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson — but they lack a veteran star who can stabilize the offense and set the table. Sabonis is one of the best passing bigs in the game. He’d give that young core a reliable hub to play through, plus a guy who’s been through playoff battles.
Nothing is done yet. The Pistons have to decide if they’re willing to part with Duren, and whether his unhappiness over contract talks is a dealbreaker or something they can fix. But the fact that both players are reportedly on board suggests this one has real legs.
Sacramento’s front office has some tough calls to make this summer. This might be the first domino to fall.
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