The Sacramento Kings are not planning to buy out Zach LaVine’s contract despite renewed speculation surrounding the veteran guard’s future, according to a report from Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. Instead, Sacramento expects LaVine to report for the 2026-27 season and play out the final year of his contract unless an unlikely trade materializes.
The report follows recent comments from Kings insider James Ham that were widely interpreted as suggesting a buyout could be imminent. Anderson, however, cited a league source who said Sacramento is not considering that option, adding that the Kings expect LaVine to compete in the final season of the five-year, $215.2 million contract he originally signed with the Chicago Bulls in 2022.
LaVine exercised his $48.9 million player option earlier this offseason, guaranteeing his return for the final year of the deal. While doing so secured his salary, it did not eliminate questions about his long-term future as Sacramento continues rebuilding after a disappointing 22-60 campaign, tied with the Utah Jazz for the NBA’s second-worst record and 14th place in the Western Conference.
Ham previously reported that the Kings had been transparent with LaVine about the organization’s direction, telling him that “all bets are off” as the front office evaluates every roster decision. Ham also suggested that if a buyout were ever to happen, it would make more sense before the season than later, though he emphasized there had been no meaningful progress toward such an agreement.
According to Anderson, Sacramento has little incentive to pursue that route. A traditional buyout would require negotiating around LaVine’s massive salary, while using the NBA’s stretch provision would spread the remaining money across three seasons, delaying the salary-cap flexibility the franchise is seeking. Instead, the Kings appear willing to carry his expiring contract into the season.
A trade also remains difficult. Anderson noted that LaVine’s contract makes him “highly unlikely” to be moved before the season begins, leaving the expectation that he will become an unrestricted free agent next summer if he finishes the year in Sacramento.
Even with the uncertainty, LaVine remains one of the Kings’ most productive offensive players when healthy. Last season, he appeared in only 39 games before undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right pinky finger. He still averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 47.9% from the field, 39.0% from three-point range and 88.0% at the free-throw line. His .569 effective field goal percentage ranked among Sacramento’s best marks.
The injury interrupted what had been an outstanding stretch since arriving from Chicago in the February 2025 three-team trade that sent De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs. Across the 2024-25 season with the Bulls and Kings, LaVine averaged 23.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting an efficient 51.1% from the field and 44.6% from beyond the arc in 74 games.
Sacramento has already taken steps to reshape its roster this summer. The Kings waived six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan after failing to find a trade partner, creating additional financial flexibility below the first apron. The front office also selected Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, added Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp, and re-signed Precious Achiuwa while signing Daeqwon Plowden.
