The Sacramento Kings have spent years collecting scars from their own decisions, and that history matters when the conversation turns to former players. Bringing back someone familiar can feel like a shortcut. In this case, though, the smarter play is to keep looking forward.
That starts with De'Aaron Fox, a name that still carries weight in Sacramento. He was the face of the franchise for years, but after what he’s done in San Antonio, including a rough playoffs, it’s tough to see a reunion solving anything. Fox hasn’t been playing well for the Spurs, and the Kings need to build and grow without him on the roster.
Alex Len is another former King who should stay in the past. After bouncing around the league, he’s now with Real Madrid in the EuroLeague.
His four seasons in Sacramento were mostly forgettable, and he was little more than an average bench option. At 33-years-old, he’s well past the point where he would fit a new direction.
Marvin Bagley III is tied to one of the most painful moments in recent Kings history. He became the face of the botched 2018 draft when Sacramento used the No. 2 pick on him instead of Luka Doncic. Even though Bagley has been gone since 2022 and had two runs with the Wizards, there’s no practical reason to circle back now.
Dario Saric’s brief Kings stay was even messier. Sacramento traded Jonas Valanciunas, one of the top backup centers in the league, for Saric during the 2025 offseason.
The Kings then benched Saric for most of the season before dealing him again at the 2026 deadline. That chain of events helped push Saric out of the league almost right away, and he’s clearly not thrilled with how things went.
Dennis Schroder rounds out the list, and his case is pretty straightforward. The Kings brought him in during the 2025 offseason to be their starting point guard, but that plan unraveled fast and he was replaced by Russell Westbrook.
Sacramento later traded him at the 2026 deadline, and Schroder has since been traded again and is now headed to the Hornets. Whatever value he once had for the Kings, the relationship already feels spent.
In Other News...
Kings Final Roster Battle Is Heating Up In The Backcourt
With training camp approaching, the Kings are still sorting through the backcourt market and have lined up workouts for veteran options as they look to fill out the end of the roster. Sacramento has 13 players under contract and two openings after waiving DeMar DeRozan, which leaves the front office with a little flexibility and a need to keep adding competition before camp opens.
Among the names on the radar is Cameron Payne, while Elfrid Payton is also set to get a look as the team weighs experience and fit behind its established guards. The Kings have also continued to monitor Victor Oladipo, and his summer pro day in Las Vegas drew team personnel, another sign that Sacramento is still exploring every realistic path as it tries to settle a crowded but unfinished guard picture. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Suddenly Have A Point Guard Decision Fans Should Watch
The Kings are still sorting out what their backcourt looks like behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr., and the search for a veteran point guard has quietly become one of the more interesting roster questions around the team. With Russell Westbrook retired, Sacramento has been weighing experienced options to help steady the room, and Victor Oladipo has been part of that conversation while the front office continues to look for the right fit.
Aaron Holiday has emerged as another name worth watching, and he makes sense on paper as a possible mentor and backup. The 29-year-old brings NBA experience, three-point shooting, defense and playmaking, and he could fit on a veteran minimum deal, which keeps him in the range of a practical add rather than a flashy one. For a team trying to support a young lead guard without overcommitting resources, this is the kind of decision that can shape the tone of the bench for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Priorities Could Decide Whether DeMar DeRozan Stays In Play
Denvers roster squeeze has created an opening that could matter well beyond one transaction, because the team now sits at just 13 players after moving Peyton Watson to Cleveland for future draft capital. The deal brought back a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick, but no immediate help, and the front office is now being forced to weigh how to fill out the depth chart while staying mindful of the second apron.
One name already tied to that vacancy is DeMar DeRozan, though the fit is far from simple. Denver would like to add veteran scoring on a minimum contract, but DeRozans camp is said to be looking for exception-level money, which the Nuggets cannot realistically hand out under their current financial constraints. For a team trying to balance win-now urgency with roster limits, the question is whether the market narrows enough for a deal to become workable. [Read more 🡒]