The Kings went into the 2026 trade deadline with big names on the table-Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis-but walked away without making a move. For a fan base hoping for a shake-up, that was a tough pill to swallow. But when you take a closer look at the landscape, it’s not hard to see why Sacramento stood pat.
Let’s start with the basics: the market just wasn’t there. LaVine and Sabonis come with hefty contracts and limited defensive impact.
Sure, they can get buckets, but both need the right system to shine-and even then, their value is tilted heavily toward the offensive end. DeRozan, while less expensive, hasn’t been the same scoring threat he once was.
His mid-range game is still smooth, but the explosiveness and efficiency have dipped.
So the Kings didn’t force a deal, and that’s probably the right call. Making a move just for the sake of doing something rarely pays off. But while the deadline didn’t deliver fireworks, the offseason could be a different story-especially when it comes to DeRozan.
Here’s why: DeRozan’s contract is about to get a whole lot more interesting. After this season, he’s got one year left on his deal, worth nearly $26 million-but only $10 million of that is guaranteed.
The rest is tied to benchmarks like Finals appearances and All-Star nods, which aren’t happening this year. That structure gives Sacramento a ton of flexibility.
They could buy him out, or they could use that partially guaranteed contract as a valuable trade chip.
And that’s where things could get intriguing with Atlanta.
The Hawks just dealt Jonathan Kuminga to bring in some veteran help, but depending on how the rest of the season shakes out, there’s a scenario where a DeRozan-for-Kuminga swap becomes worth revisiting. If Atlanta decides Kuminga isn’t part of their long-term plans-or if they’re looking for a proven scorer who could benefit from a change of scenery-DeRozan might be a fit.
From Sacramento’s side, Kuminga would make a lot of sense. He’s young, athletic, and still developing-exactly the kind of player you want if you’re retooling around a younger core. And with De’Andre Hunter already in the fold and the Kings leaning into a youth movement, adding Kuminga could be a smart way to double down on that direction.
That said, the urgency to land Kuminga isn’t what it was a few months ago. The Kings have made some solid moves, and their young core is starting to show promise.
If Kuminga still fits into that vision, then a trade makes sense. If not, Sacramento can still use DeRozan’s contract to explore other options this summer.
Bottom line: the Kings didn’t make a splash at the deadline, but the DeRozan situation gives them a valuable card to play in the offseason. Whether that’s for Kuminga or another young piece, Sacramento’s next move could be the one that sets the tone for their rebuild.