New NBA Rumors on Zach LaVine's Kings Future After Exercising $49M Contract Option in Free Agency

Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine opted into his $49 million player option in late June, but it doesn't sound as though he's a major part of the team's plans heading into the 2026-27 season.

"They haven't promised him a starting job, they haven't promised him 'X' amount of minutes per game," James Ham reported Thursday on ESPN 1320 Sacramento. "They've been honest with him and said, 'Look, all bets are off if you opt in. So if you're gonna do that, that's on you. Whatever happens from then on, we understand, you're making a business decision to accept $49 million. We also as a franchise have to make a business decision with regards to you, and what we're gonna do at our shooting guard position for the next five years. And that does not include you. So if it includes you part of the time this season that's one thing, but if it doesn't include you by game 20 or game 40, then it doesn't. We can try to find you a place to play.'

"But when LaVine accepted that $49 million, he accepted the reality that he is nearly untradable. And any trade that would happen should happen now, and if he's going to get bought out it should happen now. Because after this it's not advantageous to anybody."

The Kings have been stuck in basketball purgatory for years now, with just one playoff appearance since the 2006-07 season, as they remain trapped between not quite bottoming out and improving through the lottery but not having the right veteran mix to actually reach the postseason.

Going forward, the team needs to prioritize building around a young core that includes Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban, Keegan Murray, Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud. Getting those players minutes and building chemistry is truly the only thing that matters, and it won't be a surprise if the Kings are eventually sellers and move off some veteran pieces.

LaVine's contract doesn't qualify him, however, as teams aren't going to take on $49 million for a solid if unspectacular 31-year-old with injury issues and just four career playoff games under his belt.

When healthy he's still an impact offensive option, averaging 19.2 points while shooting 39 percent from three last season in 39 games. If he and the Kings agree to a buyout, contending teams looking for backcourt help—the Miami Heat certainly come to mind—would surely have some interest.

Beyond that, however, LaVine is stuck on a Sacramento team that should be prioritizing minutes for its younger players.