Examining Kings' Salary Cap, Decisions for 2025 NBA Free Agency After Loss to Mavs
In a season that began with optimism and hope, the Sacramento Kings are headed into the offseason in a much different lens.
Early struggles led to the head-turning dismissal of third-year coach Mike Brown. Doug Christie took the reins and oversaw an immediate surge, but Sacramento faded down the stretch after a blockbuster trade near the deadline sent De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs.
Now, what does the future hold?
Although the core of the Kings' roster is set to return in 2025-26, the organization will be busy reworking its depth this offseason.
Salary Cap
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Since the salary cap is projected at $154.6 million for next season, it's safe to say Sacramento will be zooming past the mark.
Put it this way: Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, Jonas Valanciunas, Keegan Murray and Devin Carter presumably will all return. That seven-player unit alone is above the salary cap, per HoopsHype.
As a result, the front office must determine which level—the luxury tax ($187.9 million) and first ($195.9 million) or second apron ($207.8 million)—it wants to stay below.
Sacramento, barring a trade, knows the foundation of its 2025-26 roster.
Top Contract Decisions
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How about a positive section? This one is simple.
While nobody on the Sacramento roster has a player option, only two—Keon Ellis and Isaac Jones—are subject to a team option. And in both cases, that should be a quick conversation inside the front office.
Ellis joined the starting lineup late in the season and played reasonably well. Besides, at a $2.3 million salary for 2025-26, he's a bargain.
Jones averaged 21.1 points and 9.4 rebounds in the G League and hung around the fringe of the NBA rotation with 40 appearances as a rookie. There's not much sense in declining his salary a tick below $2 million.
Free Agents to Pursue
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Internally, the Kings' list should begin with Jake LaRavia. But if his offer surpasses what Sacramento can reach, pivoting to Trey Lyles on a smaller deal is fine—particularly with the hope Jones can slide into the rotation anyway.
Re-signing Markelle Fultz for perimeter depth would be a reasonable choice, provided he remains an affordable option.
Sacramento otherwise should seek low-cost backups, such as veteran guard Tyus Jones. He likely won't be expensive after an up-and-down season with the Phoenix Suns but would be a useful ball-handler and shooter off the bench.
Otherwise, the Kings' free agency pool expands only if—for the sake of argument—Sabonis ($43.6 million) requests a trade or they look to offload the pricey salaries of LaVine ($47.5 million) or DeRozan ($24.6 million).
Embracing a rebuild would be a defensible path. But unless Sacramento picks that direction, it won't have money to burn in free agency.
