The Sacramento Kings have made the offense Darius Acuff Jr.’s show, and Zach LaVine is embracing the shift.
As the season moves deeper into its middle stretch, the rookie point guard has clearly taken control of the attack. Acuff, just 19, has already stacked up multiple NBA records in his early run, including the most points ever scored by a point guard through his first ten games. That kind of start changes the shape of everything around him, especially for veterans used to having the ball in their hands.
LaVine, one of Sacramento’s top offensive names alongside Domantas Sabonis, said Wednesday that he’s fine with adjusting to the new setup.
"I’m trying to be in the best support role I can for him [Acuff], you know because he going to be real special," LaVine said.
That kind of buy-in matters, especially with questions swirling around Sabonis’ unhappiness with how he is being used. Both LaVine and Sabonis, who are making nearly $100 million combined this season, were mentioned as possible trade pieces this offseason. Instead, the Kings kept the group together and decided to see what it looks like with Acuff added to the mix.
So far, the results have been mixed from a team standpoint, even if the individual production has been there. LaVine, in particular, has been rolling lately. He put up a team-high 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting in Tuesday’s loss to the Orlando Magic, his second 30-point game of the season.
His overall numbers still look strong: 22.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 50.3% from the field.
LaVine also made it clear that his role doesn’t depend on having the ball every possession.
"This isn’t for me anymore… If that’s playing off the ball a little bit more, or if that’s in catch-and-shoot situations… I can go out and get it, obviously…"
That flexibility gives Sacramento something to work with as it keeps trying to sort out the fit. In the teams’ first meeting, LaVine scored 22 points and Acuff led the way with 33, a snapshot of how the Kings’ new offensive hierarchy is starting to take shape.
In Other News...
Kings Unexpected Center Move Raises A Bigger Sabonis Question
The Kings filled their roster spot with a familiar, steady hand, signing veteran center Mason Plumlee to a rest-of-season non-guaranteed contract after moving Nique Clifford. Entering his 14th NBA season, Plumlee gives Sacramento another experienced body in the middle, a practical addition for a team that needed to get back to the 14-player minimum while adding some insurance behind its frontcourt.
Plumlees deal is prorated and comes with a January 10 guarantee date, which gives the Kings a little flexibility but also a deadline to keep in mind. More than the paperwork, though, the move is another reminder of how much Sacramento still has to sort out around the center position and what it means for the bigger questions surrounding Domantas Sabonis as the roster continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Sabonis Rough Night Put Sacramentos Bigger Problem On Full Display
Domantas Sabonis had one of the roughest nights of his Sacramento tenure in the loss to Orlando, finishing without a point and with just two rebounds and five assists in more than 23 minutes. For a Kings team that has stumbled to a 1-10 start, the line was more than an off night for one of its best-known players. It was another reminder of how far the season has already drifted off course.
The larger issue is what the Kings do next with Sabonis, because the on-court struggles are running alongside a messy roster picture. Sacramento is reportedly trying to trade him, but his defensive limitations and expensive contract make that a difficult market to navigate, and Sabonis is also said to be unhappy with both the teams direction and the trade chatter around him. For a franchise already under pressure, the situation has become one of the clearest signs that this slow start is about more than just losses. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Brutal Start Puts One Drastic Roster Question Front And Center
The Kings rocky start has already pushed roster questions into the spotlight, and one of the more eye-catching ideas floating around is a speculative trade scenario that would send Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis and Will Richard to Sacramento from Golden State. It is the kind of proposal that speaks to how quickly the conversation around the Kings has shifted from early-season concern to bigger-picture urgency, with the front offices margin for patience growing thinner by the week.
Porzingis recent announcement that he is stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health only adds another layer to the discussion, since any theoretical deal involving him now carries a very different tone than it did even recently. The piece explores what such a move could mean for Sacramentos roster construction, but for now it remains just that, a hypothetical built around the Kings uneven opening and the pressure that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]