The Sacramento Kings have a big decision on their hands, and it may be their toughest challenge this offseason.
According to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee, the Kings are looking to trade LaVine away this offseason. If not, they could be looking to continue shopping him until next year’s trade deadline in February.
This comes after LaVine exercised his $49 million player option for the 2026-2027 season with the Sacramento Kings. This is the final year of the five-year, $215.2 million max contract he originally signed in 2022.
“LaVine has been the subject of trade rumors and speculation for the past year, but there hasn’t been much of a market for his services due to the size of his contract,” Anderson wrote in his report.
“The Kings will continue to explore trade possibilities for LaVine as general manager Scott Perry works to overhaul an aging and expensive roster. If they can’t find a deal before the February trade deadline, LaVine’s expiring contract will come off the books next summer, giving Sacramento significant salary cap relief.”
“LaVine has been the subject of trade rumors and speculation for the past year, but there hasn’t been much of a market for his services due to the size of his contract. The Kings will continue to explore trade
Zach LaVine’s Salary Is A Huge Hurdle
GettySACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 21: Zach LaVine #8 of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors at Golden 1 Center on January 21, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LaVine has been in trade rumors this offseason, but his current contract makes it hard for teams to justify his addition to their salary sheets.
LaVine struggled with a hand injury in the 2025-2026 NBA campaign. Nevertheless, he remained a solid offensive player with the Kings.
LaVine averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game across just 39 regular-season games for the Kings before undergoing season-ending surgery on his right hand.
LaVine will be turning 32 years old next season and has yet to play in the playoffs since 2022.
The Kings finished the 2025-2026 NBA season with a 22-60 record, placing 14th in the Western Conference.
Sacramento Kings Reportedly Targeting NBA Champion Center
GettySAN ANTONIO, TX -JUNE 2: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks watches practice at 2026 NBA Finals – Media Day at Frost Bank Center on June 2, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
Another offseason target for the Sacramento Kings is Mitchell Robinson, who is fresh from helping the New York Knicks win the 2026 NBA championship.
However, the Kings needed to open up cap space for him, potentially trading away some other pieces to sign Robinson.
“The Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson obviously bills as the top rim-running center on the board among unrestricted free agents,” NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer wrote in Substack. “It appears unlikely that Sacramento can generate the needed financial flexibility to compete with those offers, but word is that the Kings would very much like to barge into the Robinson mix if possible if they can unexpectedly manufacture additional maneuverability by trading away a veteran or two.”
To sign him, the Kings could move veteran center Domantas Sabonis, who will be earning $45 million next season.
Robinson averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 19.6 minutes per contest. He led the Knicks on the glass with 4.2 offensive rebounds per game and shot an efficient 72.3% from the field.
Sacramento Kings Reveal Major Decision On Zach LaVine Future: Report