The Sacramento Kings were outclassed in their preseason matchup against the LA Clippers, who beat them 109-91. Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and rookie Nique Clifford looked like the only players in sync with head coach Doug Christie’s scheme, until halfway through the third quarter, when Sabonis left the game early. This was the last thing the Kings needed with less than a week left before the regular season.

The update dropped today. According to Kings reporter Matt George, “A league source confirmed to @ABC10 that Domantas Sabonis has been diagnosed with a mild right hamstring strain. He will miss the Kings’ preseason finale vs the Lakers Friday.”

While the injury is not believed to be serious, the timing is truly unfortunate. With Sacramento’s rotation still being figured out, the team’s entire offensive system now depends on Sabonis’ return timeline, which, for a Grade 1 strain, could be a few weeks at least. The All-NBA center has been one of the most durable names on the teamsheet, having played 70, 82, and 79 games, respectively, in the last three seasons.

This isn’t the only injury the Kings have suffered in preseason. Starting power forward Keegan Murray tore his right thumb’s ulnar collateral ligament during a clash against the Portland Trail Blazers last Friday, which will require surgery. He is set to be reevaluated in 4-6 weeks.

With the Kings’ early-season schedule loaded with competitive teams, including the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, Nuggets, Timberwolves, and the defending champion Thunder twice, Sactown risks falling into a hole early. Sabonis’ absence leaves a sizeable gap in the team’s scoring, rebounding, and playmaking.

The concern with hamstring injuries is that they’re pretty tricky to manage. Stephen Curry, who had a similar Grade 1 strain during last year’s playoffs, said at the time that these injuries “can fool you,” and there’s a substantial grey area between being 100% fit and almost getting there. It directly indicates that Sabonis needs to be fully rested before he can return. But for a team with ambitions to make it back to the playoffs, this option is a hard one to stomach.

Sabonis’ numbers last year were impressive: 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and six assists. However, his true value lies in being the engine of Sactown’s offense. Many of the Kings‘ major scoring opportunities via dribble handoffs, split cuts, and outlet passes come from him, and now, with him out, that framework crumbles.

Who can step in while Domantas Sabonis recovers?

The most straightforward replacement for Domantas Sabonis is veteran Drew Eubanks. The eight-year veteran has been the primary backup behind Sabonis in the preseason and brings a hardworking mindset with gritty, physical defense. He can defend the interior and crash glass, but his lack of playmaking and shooting means that the Sacramento Kings will look significantly different with him in the starting spot.

The two wildcards the Kings hold are rookie Maxime Raynaud and sophomore Isaac Jones, both of whom could make a push for minutes. Raynaud’s mobility and passing make him a natural fit for Sacramento’s motion offense, while Jones’ athleticism and rim protection give the team a defensive boost.

Both can stretch the floor, which could be of value with Keegan Murray also sidelined, potentially opening up lanes for the Kings’ interior-heavy players like DeMar DeRozan and Dennis Schroder.

In the long term, this serves as a glimpse into what the future for the Kings could look like and is a test of the adaptability and depth that Doug Christie has at his disposal. The hope in Sacramento now is that when its All-Star big returns, he finds a team that has learned to survive and evolve without him.