​With the recent waiver of veteran forward DeMar DeRozan, the Sacramento Kings’ front office has deftly steered the team toward escaping the luxury tax. Per ESPN NBA reporter Bobby Marks, Sacramento remains about $1.8 million above the tax line when DeRozan’s $10 million signing bonus is counted, but the organization could distribute the value of the deal over future years to maintain financial flexibility. The removal of DeRozan’s $25 million cap hit heightens the possibility that the Kings might keep Zach LaVine, who has also been floated as a potential offseason trade target.
Earlier this season, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported that the Atlanta Hawks showed interest in a swap centered around Trae Young. “League sources say that LaVine’s Klutch Sports representatives attempted during the offseason to build support for a trade structure that would send their client to Atlanta for Young, but the Kings squashed the idea,” Fischer wrote. With Young signing a lucrative extension with the Washington Wizards and Sacramento drafting Darius Acuff Jr. as the backbone for their future at the lead guard position, that particular trade idea likely never gained traction and perhaps was never revisited.
At the end of June, LaVine opted into his $49 million contract, which naturally makes him more difficult to move. While a buyout agreement is always a possibility, Fischer recently noted that Sacramento currently has “zero plans” to pursue one. If the Kings retain LaVine, his offensive prowess would complement Acuff well, helping the rookie take some of the on-ball load off his shoulders. LaVine’s perimeter proficiency also enables him to play off the ball, catching and shooting on kick-outs and driving to attack closeouts.
Even though LaVine didn’t play a full season last year, he still delivered respectable numbers when available, averaging 19.2 points per game with solid 48-39-88 shooting splits. The biggest question marks for LaVine and Acuff lie on the defensive end, as both players tend to lean more toward offense. With Domantas Sabonis in the lineup as a starting big man—who is not known for elite rim protection—the Kings’ defensive struggles could persist if the frontline trio of LaVine, Sabonis, and Acuff isn’t dialed in on that end.
Looking beyond next season, it will be fascinating to observe how the front office navigates LaVine and Sabonis alongside Acuff within Sacramento’s ongoing rebuilding timeline. The veteran presence of LaVine could help the team continue its upward trajectory, either by serving as the primary or secondary scoring option or by becoming a valuable asset in a future trade scenario at the deadline. As General Manager Scott Perry and the Kings’ executives chart their course, LaVine’s fit and availability will remain central considerations.
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