NBA Rumors: The star that Boston Celtics were after before acquiring Mitchell Robinson
The Massachusetts franchise needed a center and went hunting in the champion New York Knicks, although the first choice was Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis will face his sixth season with the Sacramento Kings after the franchise attempted to trade him last season, as part of a vision that pointed to a roster reconstruction. Ultimately, the 30-year-old center will stay in Sacramento and will once again be the team's mainstay, thanks to his ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game.
Sabonis, a key piece for the Kings
Despite the arrival of Darius Acuff Jr. and the potential of Maxime Raynaud, Sabonis will continue to be the focal point for the Kings on both ends of the court. His importance to the franchise remains intact after a season marked by a knee injury that limited him to only 19 games, the lowest total of his career.
In those games, the center averaged 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists.
Charlotte and Boston inquired about the center
The Charlotte Hornets were one of the teams that showed more noticeable interest in Sabonis. However, the franchise was not willing to part with their draft assets in exchange for the three-time All-Star.
The Hornets were not the only team that explored the possibility of acquiring his services. According to ESPN's Anthony Slater, the Boston Celtics also engaged in talks for the player, although this interest received less attention.
"There were discussions before the draft about Sabonis with the Charlotte Hornets, who had the 14th and 18th picks, and at least one phone call with the Boston Celtics, according to team and league sources, but nothing materialized," wrote Slater.
In Charlotte's case, the idea was to pair Sabonis with LaMelo Ball. However, the franchise ended up trading the point guard for draft picks and further committing to their youth movement.
Boston sought a center
It is unclear which players the Celtics tried to offer Sacramento in exchange for Sabonis. It is also possible that Boston was simply conducting due diligence before assessing their options.
What was clear, however, was that the Celtics were seeking a center following Nikola Vucevic's departure. Ultimately, Boston found their solution in free agency with Mitchell Robinson.
Sabonis would have been a significant addition for the Massachusetts team due to his efficiency on both ends of the court. His arrival would have envisioned a strong frontcourt alongside Jayson Tatum and Paul George.
Despite the rumors surrounding his future during the offseason, Sabonis will remain the mainstay for a Kings team embarking on their sixth season with the center on board.
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