Domantas Sabonis, at 26 years old, is in the middle of his prime, but if the Kings are going to challenge for a playoff spot, they need their big man healthy throughout the 2022-23 NBA season.
While Sabonis is averaging 33.4 minutes per game through 29 contests this season, he's averaging over 40 minutes in the last three games. As a result, the Kings need to lessen the load on the seven-year NBA veteran.
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Coach Mike Brown understands that the Kings star cannot continue playing at this rate, or Sacramento likely will burn him out when they need him in the season's final stretch.
"I can't run Domas 40 minutes every night," Brown said (h/t Sacramento Bee). "So I need to find a guy in that spot who's going to defend, run the floor, spell Domas for six, eight minutes a half and play as hard as he as can while following the game plan.
"Not fouling, boxing out, doing all the little things that need to keep that group solid for those six to eight minutes. We've found it in spurts. But I want to get to a point where it can be a little bit more consistent, so I'm going to keep searching until I feel like that person is there."
Brown has been experimenting with potential backups to Sabonis, most recently Richaun Holmes after Chimezie Metu struggled in the role. Metu is a minus-six in 24 games for Sacramento this season.
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There's also the possibility of Neemias Queta seeing minutes in this role. In limited action, Queta has faced challenges, posting a minus-18 in two games prior to Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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If Sacramento cannot find a solution in-house, they will have to look at the trade market, which is why the Kings reportedly have been linked to Detroit Pistons' 6-foot-10 center Nerlens Noel.
Regardless of the solution, the Kings need to find a solution soon.