By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Named 2022-23 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year earlier Wednesday, the Sacramento Kings general manager Monte McNair went on with the postseason press conference stressing intentions to keep Domantas Sabonis.
“Domas is a huge part of what we do and we’re going to do all we can to keep him here and build around him,” he mentioned.
Sabonis, 27, is set to enter the final year of his contract if he does not agree to an extension. Eligible for a contract extension during the offseason, up to $121 million and stretching four years, the Kings will surely extend the max offer, considering McNair’s initial approach.
The Lithuanian forward/center can also wait for the next offseason and become an unrestricted free agent after the end of the four-year contract signed back in 2019 as a member of the Indiana Pacers. The 2023-24 portion is worth $19.4 million.
Despite playing through a hand injury for most of the 2022-23 season, Sabonis averaged 18.9 points, 12.1 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks per contest over 85 appearances between the Regular Season and the Playoffs in his first full campaign in Sacramento after being traded from the Pacers to the Kings midway in the 2021-22 season. His efforts included leading him to the NBA All-Star Game for the third time in his career.
Barring possible surgery to address the injury in his right hand potentially impacting offseason plans, the son of Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis is expected to represent Lithuania in the 2023 FIBA World Cup to be held in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, from 25 August to 10 September.
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