The Kings have too much to accomplish over the next few weeks to worry about the franchise’s long-term future.
But on Saturday, the NBA and NBA Players Association agreed to a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement -- one that affects future contract extension talks with All-Star center Domantas Sabonis.
Sabonis will enter the 2023-24 NBA season on the final year of his four-year, $74.9 million contract he signed with the Indiana Pacers in 2019, but he could sign an extension with the Kings this summer.
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Under the new CBA rules, players now can sign contract extensions with a 140 percent increase on their current deal, compared to a 120 percent increase in years past.
That means Sabonis could sign a four-year extension with Sacramento worth $121 million -- up from $111 million under the previous CBA. Sabonis would earn $30.3 million per season on that deal, which he could sign this summer when free agency begins July 6.
That $30.3 million salary would be a significant raise from what Sabonis is making this season ($18.5 million), but it would still rank just 38th in the NBA.
It’s possible Sabonis would prefer to play out the final season of his contract in 2023-24 and work out a more lucrative contract with Sacramento in the summer of 2024 as an unrestricted free agent.
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Of course, Sabonis entering the open market would allow other teams to get in the mix to acquire the three-time All-Star. But it’s crystal clear Sabonis considers Sacramento his home. He is building something special in California's capital city alongside coach Mike Brown and guard De’Aaron Fox.
For now, Sabonis and the Kings are focused on the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2006. There are five regular-season games remaining before the playoff bracket officially is set.