The Sacramento Kings are back in the rumor mill, and so is Zach LaVine, as a trade discussion pushed the conversation into a new light. The Kings have monitored every ripple coming out of the Chicago Bulls trade, and this latest insider note adds another layer to the storyline. The news isn’t dramatic, but it’s revealing. There’s a real market for Domantas Sabonis. There isn’t one for LaVine. And that contrast is driving the next wave of questions around what the Kings should do.
The Kings understand how delicate these trade decisions can be. The front office believes in its core, but it also knows that the West punishes hesitation. LaVine still brings scoring, athletic bursts, and a style that fits a fast-paced offense. He also brings a contract that most teams want no part of: a $48 million player option he is fully expected to trigger next season. That number alone has cooled the league’s interest, even as LaVine remains one of the smoothest bucket-getters available.
But buried inside that problem is a strategic window.
The Angle the Kings Can Actually Use
If the Kings take on Zach LaVine now, they accept a year and a half of inflated cost. However, they also gain control of his next negotiation. Once he opts in and the calendar moves forward, his value resets. The next deal won’t be anywhere near his current number. That means a team trading for him isn’t really paying for the contract he has, they’re positioning themselves for the contract he will get.
It’s a gamble. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s also the kind of calculated move that front offices consider when the market dries up and an undervalued star sits there waiting, the exact situation that defines the current Kings and Zach LaVine trade conversation.
And now everyone is asking the same thing: will the Kings see opportunity where others see risk?
