The Sacramento Kings are expected to explore moving Zach LaVine’s contract this offseason as the franchise shifts toward a broader rebuild.
NBA insider Evan Sidery reported that Sacramento plans to attempt to move LaVine after he picks up his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season. Sidery added that the Kings explored the market for the veteran guard during the season but found limited interest.
LaVine, who turns 32 in March 2027, is entering the final season of the five-year, $215 million contract he originally signed with the Chicago Bulls. An expiring deal could make him easier to trade than in previous years, especially for teams seeking short-term scoring help or salary flexibility in 2027.
The Kings are coming off a difficult 2025-26 campaign that ended with a 22-60 record, tied for the second-worst mark in the Western Conference. Sacramento finished 14th in the conference and missed the postseason entirely after several years built around playoff expectations.
Despite the team struggles, LaVine remained productive when available. He averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists across 39 games while shooting 47.9% from the field and 39.0% from three-point range.
His scoring efficiency still stands out around the league. LaVine made 2.5 threes per game and posted a 56.9 effective field goal percentage, showing he can still operate as an efficient perimeter scorer and secondary creator.
The larger issue for Sacramento has been roster direction and financial flexibility. The Kings already have major money committed to veterans DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis, while the roster lacked defensive consistency and long-term depth throughout the season.
Sacramento also finished near the bottom of the Western Conference despite getting solid production from several veterans. DeRozan averaged 18.4 points at age 36, while Russell Westbrook contributed 15.2 points and 6.7 assists across 64 games.
Younger pieces such as Keegan Murray, Devin Carter and rookie center Maxime Raynaud could become more central to the organization’s plans if the front office fully commits to rebuilding.
A potential LaVine trade would likely focus less on acquiring star-level talent and more on creating cap flexibility, collecting draft compensation or taking back shorter-term contracts. Because his deal is expiring, teams that previously avoided his long-term salary could view the situation differently this summer.
Finding a trade partner may still prove complicated. LaVine has dealt with injuries in recent seasons, and contenders with limited cap space would likely need multi-team constructions to absorb a $49 million salary.
Still, expiring contracts often become valuable tools near the trade deadline, particularly for teams trying to reset their books or position themselves for future free agency classes.
