Domantas Sabonis is mostly a well-liked figure in Indiana, even a few years after the Pacers traded him to the Sacramento Kings.
He was a fantastic player for the team from 2017 to 2022, making two All-Star appearances and finishing second in Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2018-19 (behind Lou Williams of the Los Angeles Clippers). Plus, he never badmouthed the team or gave fans reason to dislike him after his departure. Because of this, many Pacers fans still have love for the Oregon native, and some may even be happy to hear that he could be on the move this season.
On Tuesday, Carmichael Dave of SactownSports.com reported that the Kings are expected to reshape their roster as soon as December. This would likely include moving on from Sabonis, who should have the best trade value of anybody on the roster.
Starting in December, as and if opportunities exist, they will begin reshaping the roster with a focus on youth, draft assets, and cap room.
— Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) November 11, 2025
If all goes well, the team you see now will not be the team in March, and likely worse on the floor but better for the future. https://t.co/Kb1tZ5wTyX
Before you ask, no. The answer is no. The Pacers should not look into re-acquiring Sabonis.
Sure, the team needs a long-term solution at center after Myles Turner left in free agency. But landing the 29-year-old, who is in the second year of his four-year, $186 million contract, is not the answer.
The Pacers should not trade for Domantas Sabonis
Sabonis is absolutely a fantastic player. He led the league in rebounding in each of the past three seasons and is on pace to make it four in a row this season. And, while he was good in Indiana, he has been even better with the Kings, finishing in the top-10 in MVP voting in two of his three full seasons with the team.
Still, he is not the solution for Indiana.
The Gonzaga alum is a solid shooter now, connecting on 37.9% of his threes with the Kings. However, at 1.4 attempts per game during his tenure with the team, his lack of volume is not ideal in Indiana's system, which prioritizes spacing.
Now, yes, it's true that he would be a significantly better perimeter threat than Isaiah Jackson, who hasn't attempted a single three-pointer all season. However, Jackson is at least still a great fit in Indiana's system because of his athleticism, energy, and quickness. He can run the length of the floor and be aggressive on both sides of the ball. And because the Pacers love to play at a fast pace, he is fantastic for what they do.
Most of that can't be said about Sabonis, who also doesn't provide nearly as much defensive value as the Michigan alum does.
Plus, considering that the Pacers may still be trying to stay under the luxury tax, trading for him and his contract (which would inevitably force them to lose assets as well) would not be a smart idea.
Sure, Sabonis would immediately be the best center on Indiana's roster. Though, to be fair, he would be the best center on most rosters. Still, that doesn't mean that the Pacers should reunite with the two-time All-NBA selection.
He would not be a good fit on either side of the ball, and the Pacers' identity has changed drastically since his departure (though this is mostly because they got Tyrese Haliburton in return). It is true that he would address some major needs, particularly on the boards, but the Pacers would be better off just focusing on Jackson's development and looking elsewhere for a potential upgrade down the line.