Kings Take Clear Stance With Zach LaVine's Future in Sacramento

The Kings Take Clear Stance With Zach LaVine's Future in Sacramento as the All-Star guard keeps his $49 million player option for 2026-27. Zach LaVine declined to remove that commitment by opting in, leaving the team less flexibility than if he had reached the open market. After the Kings waived DeMar DeRozan, speculation surfaced about a potential buyout, but NBA insider Jake Fischer said he has not heard LaVine being treated as a buyout candidate. Instead, the Kings expect him to raise trade value before February’s deadline or reach free agency in 2027. Trading him is complicated by market demand and the likelihood of needing additional assets. With DeRozan no longer on the roster, Minnesota hopes LaVine can re-create a scoring stretch that included 24.0 points per game during a 42-game span without DeRozan.