The Sacramento Kings may be staring at a very different kind of offseason in 2027 - one built on money, flexibility and, maybe for the first time in a while, a real chance to sell free agents on the future.
By the summer of 2027, Sacramento could have more than $70 million in potential cap space. That kind of room would give general manager Scott Perry a level of maneuverability he hasn’t had since taking over the franchise. Zach LaVine’s $49 million contract and De’Andre Hunter’s $24 million deal are both set to expire next summer, opening the door for the Kings to reshape the roster around the identity Perry has been trying to build.
Of course, cap space alone doesn’t win the offseason.
“Just because you have money in cap space, Kayla, doesn’t mean that you’re going to be able to use it the way that you want to,” Matt George of Sactown Sports’ The Matt & Kayla Show said this week. “Free agency is not always as simple as here’s the money, deal, deal.”
That’s the heart of the challenge for Sacramento. The Kings have long had a tough time drawing free agents, but Kayla Anderson said Perry may be the person who starts to change that perception.
“I do think Scott Perry is working to get to the point where he has enough recognition here or respect just for what he has done, that you can maybe get some of those free agents,” Anderson said. “If you’re starting to build something here and a player really sees that, or a player sees that and some money, then I don’t think it is impossible.”
That makes the 2026-27 season a crucial one for the Kings. If Darius Acuff Jr. develops into a promising young guard and Sacramento continues building a clear, entertaining identity, the franchise could look a lot more attractive when the market opens.
Among the names floated as realistic targets, RJ Barrett sits near the top of the list. He is headed for unrestricted free agency, and there’s already a connection with Perry, who was with the New York Knicks when Barrett was drafted. George called the fit obvious.
“R.J. Barrett would be a very realistic target for Scott Perry to go out and get next summer,” George said. “It just makes a ton of sense.”
Jalen Duren is another intriguing option, though Detroit still controls much of that situation because he is a restricted free agent. The Pistons and Duren are in a staredown that could push him toward accepting the qualifying offer instead of taking a long-term deal below his price. If he does eventually reach unrestricted free agency, Sacramento’s prior interest and its relationship with his camp could matter.
Other possible names discussed include Fred VanVleet, Lu Dort, C.J. McCollum, Tim Hardaway Jr. and even Hunter, if his play is strong enough to earn another contract.
Not every prominent name, though, fits the direction Perry appears to be aiming for. Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma were both singled out as players who should not be viewed as logical targets.
“If Jordan Poole’s on the Kings’ radar, then just bring Zach LaVine back,” George said. “That’s kind of what I was going to say.”
The same doubt was applied to Kuzma, who has long been tied to Sacramento in rumor form.
For the Kings, the real edge in 2027 may not just be the size of the checkbook. Perry still has to show that Sacramento is building something players will actually want to join.
In Other News...
Kings Now Face Serious Off-Court Questions Involving Familiar Names
A civil lawsuit filed by former Sacramento Kings assistant athletic trainer Crystal Lee has put several familiar names back in the spotlight, this time far away from the court and the locker room. Lees complaint targets the Kings business entity and Senior Director of Athletic Health Jaspreet Randhawa, and it lays out allegations of pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination, adding another off-court matter for the franchise to navigate.
The Kings have denied all allegations and said they will vigorously defend themselves against the claims, but the filing also brings General Manager Scott Perry and Assistant Coach Doug Christie into the narrative, even though neither is named as a defendant. For a team trying to keep its focus on basketball, the broader concern is how far the dispute could reach and what else may come out as the case moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Now Face Serious Allegations About Their Workplace Culture
A former assistant athletic trainer has taken the Kings to court, turning a workplace dispute into a much larger test of the organizations culture and how it handles employee complaints. Crystal Lees lawsuit accuses the team and its senior director of athlete health, Jaspreet Randhawa, of pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination, with the filing alleging she was pushed down the ladder, cut out of her duties and ultimately fired after speaking up.
For a franchise that has worked to project stability, the case lands in a sensitive spot because it puts internal treatment of staff under a public microscope. The Kings have denied the allegations and say they will vigorously defend against them, but the claims raise the kind of questions that can linger well beyond the courtroom and force a closer look at how the workplace operates behind the scenes. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Backcourt Problem Has Jerry Reynolds Leaning One Way
The Kings still have a backcourt vacancy to sort through, and with limited financial flexibility and open roster spots on the table, the search for a veteran point guard has become one of the more practical questions of their offseason. Sacramento is expected to bring in incoming draft pick Darius Acuff Jr., but the need for someone who can steady the position behind him has kept Cameron Payne, Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo in the conversation as possible fits.
Former Kings general manager Jerry Reynolds weighed those names with an eye toward experience and what the team actually needs, and his view pointed in one direction. Payne and Payton offer different kinds of point guard seasoning, while Oladipo brings a broader resume that makes him a more complicated option, especially for a club trying to make a careful roster decision. For the Kings, the issue is not just adding another body at guard, but finding the right veteran presence without tying up resources they do not have to spare. [Read more 🡒]