Zach LaVine picked up his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, keeping himself in Sacramento for one more year. The Kings aren’t exactly celebrating. Sacramento had already signaled to LaVine – months before the deadline – that he has no long-term future with the franchise, and they have no plans to extend him, per Shams Charania of ESPN.
Before the option deadline, the Kings were open to facilitating a sign-and-trade. That window is now closed. LaVine made his call, the clock ran out, and Sacramento is left holding a $49 million expiring deal on a player it doesn’t want to keep long-term.
Not going anywhere this summer
A buyout is off the table for now. Sacramento has made that clear, per Sac Town Sports. The Kings aren’t in a financial crisis, and cutting LaVine loose without return wouldn’t make sense – not with that salary on the books.
A mid-season trade is the more realistic off-ramp. An expiring $49 million deal from a consistent All-Star-level scorer carries real trade value. Contenders needing a boost for a playoff run will have LaVine on their radar by February. The front office knows this. They’re not in a panic – they built this exit ramp on purpose.
Playing for a future somewhere else
LaVine, 31, was acquired from the Chicago Bulls and has been one of the most reliable high-volume scorers in the league for years. Heading into a contract year, the calculus is straightforward: perform, attract offers, get paid next summer. The backdrop may be awkward – playing for a team that already told you to find a new home – but NBA history is full of players who thrived in that exact situation.
For Sacramento, the math works too. A tradeable expiring deal keeps their options wide open. They keep flexibility and let the trade market come to them.
The strangest part: both sides end up roughly where they wanted to be. LaVine protects his income. The Kings preserve an asset. Whether it holds together through February is another question.
Bottom line
Watch for LaVine’s name near the top of every mid-season trade board when contenders start shopping for a scoring upgrade. An All-Star scorer in a contract year, on a near-$50M expiring deal – that’s exactly what February buyers pay a premium for.
Sources: ESPN (Shams Charania), Sac Town Sports, Hoops Rumors
