Sacramento Kings' slump continues: Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine out for the rest of the year

The Sacramento Kings have ended the season for their two highest-paid players. Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine underwent surgeries on Wednesday that will keep them out until next season, as reported by Shams Charania.

Sabonis had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The center had been dealing with the injury since mid-November. He tried to avoid surgery through rehabilitation, which led him to miss 27 games. Before the All-Star break, he managed to return and play eight games, maintaining a competitive performance.

However, the franchise's sports situation has ultimately tipped the scale. With a record of 12-44, the worst in the league, and a 14-game losing streak, Sacramento has long been out of the playoff race. In this context, Sabonis has opted for a complete knee repair with the aim of being fully ready for the next season. The center has two years remaining on his contract totaling 94 million dollars.

LaVine is facing a similar scenario. The shooting guard was averaging 19.2 points in the 39 games he played before the All-Star break, although he missed five of the ten games before the break. He has ultimately decided to undergo surgery for an injury to a tendon in his right hand, also ending his season.

LaVine's contract

Contractually, LaVine has a player option valued at 48.9 million dollars for the next season, and all signs point to him exercising it, thus completing the final year of his current agreement with the Kings.

The California franchise explored the trade market for both players before the February deadline but failed to make any moves. It is expected that the new general manager, Scott Perry, will resume those discussions during the summer, a period that is crucial for reshaping the project's direction.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Continúa el hundimiento de Sacramento Kings: Domantas Sabonis y Zach LaVine, fuera el resto del año