The Sacramento Kings’ offseason has been quiet in the way that still leaves plenty of noise around the roster. Darius Acuff Jr. came in through the draft, Precious Achiuwa was brought back, and DeMar DeRozan was waived. But the real questions have lingered over Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, two veterans whose futures have been hard to pin down.
Kings general manager Scott Perry finally addressed both players last week, and his message pointed toward continuity, at least for now. On LaVine, Perry made it clear the guard is expected back in Sacramento.
“Zach and I have been in communication since the season was over. We have a very good relationship and good understanding," Perry said about LaVine.
"Zach is still an excellent basketball player. He knows what’s expected of him.
He’s coming back here this year. I’m very clear with him on that.
He’ll be the first to tell you that. And I think he’s ready to come back and embrace that and perform to the best of his abilities this year."
LaVine, 31, chose to pick up his $49 million player option for next season, and the expectation had been that Sacramento would still explore the trade market afterward. Instead, the early read now is that he stays put to open the 2026-27 season. For a player heading into an expiring deal, that gives him a straightforward incentive: show more, produce more, and make the most of the year in front of him.
Perry also pointed to the ways LaVine can fit into what the Kings want to do.
“We can use a lot of the things that Zach LaVine is able to do on the basketball field, so I’m looking forward to him taking a step forward with us this year and how we want to play the game," Perry said.
That matters for a Sacramento team that finished as the NBA’s worst three-point shooting group. LaVine had his moments last season, but the overall return was uneven. Even so, his reputation as one of the league’s most prolific and efficient three-point shooters gives the Kings at least one obvious weapon to lean on.
Sabonis’ situation has also been under the microscope, especially with Sacramento showing interest in second-year centers Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell. The Kings have been taking calls on the 30-year-old big man, but Perry’s update suggested the plan is still to have him in the mix when camp opens.
“Come in and compete just like everybody else,” Perry said about his expectations for Sabonis. “Obviously, he’s an excellent player.
He’s done it for a while in this league. I’ve been in constant contact with him as well in the offseason.
Just expect him to come in here healthy, first and foremost, and he’s trending in that direction."
Sabonis’ 2025-26 season never really got off the ground. He played only 19 games for the Kings, and the injuries around him helped derail both his year and Sacramento’s. Perry said he expects more from the three-time All-Star once he’s healthy again.
“Obviously, he missed a lot of last year because he was not. He’s always played hard, and so I expect him to do that. Provide some veteran presence for this team and really have a tremendous rebound year and help us build some winning habits here and start heading in the right direction," Perry finished.
That injury-riddled year also gave Raynaud and Cardwell a chance to get more runway, but Sacramento’s ceiling next season looks a lot different if Sabonis is available and playing like himself. The Kings are clearly trying to get younger and shape a new direction, which has raised questions about how long these veterans fit into the picture. For now, though, Perry’s comments suggest both LaVine and Sabonis are still set to begin the 2026-27 season in Sacramento.
In Other News...
John Wall Just Sent Kings Fans A Big Darius Acuff Message
Darius Acuff Jr. has already drawn some real attention in Sacramento, and it is easy to see why the Kings are intrigued. The former Calipari guard arrived with a reputation as a promising young scorer, and he fits neatly into the kind of long-view talent evaluation teams lean on during Summer League, especially when a players ceiling seems to matter as much as the early returns.
John Wall only added to that buzz with the kind of endorsement that tends to travel fast around the league. A fellow Calipari alumnus and former NBA All-Star, Wall put Acuff in rare company as a scorer, which is the sort of praise that can stick with a young guard even as he continues to find his footing in Las Vegas. For Kings fans, it is another reminder that Acuffs name is already starting to come up in bigger conversations, even if the on-court production has not fully caught up yet. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Loss May Have Exposed A Bigger Problem Than Expected
The Kings perfect Summer League run ended in a 104-85 loss to Washington, and the scoreline came with a reminder that summer success can be fragile once the competition tightens. Maxime Raynaud still gave Sacramento plenty to like in his debut, finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while the team also got a look at a two-big setup by starting Raynaud alongside Dylan Cardwell.
What stood out just as much was how quickly the game tilted away from Sacramento once Washington found rhythm and pressure. Darius Acuff Jr. had a rough shooting night, and the Kings never really solved the defensive issues that let the Wizards keep control, leaving this loss to feel less like a blip and more like a useful warning sign for what still needs cleaning up. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Just Gave An Undrafted Rookie A Real Chance To Impress
Elias Ralph has already taken a meaningful step toward a pro basketball future, landing a spot on the Kings Summer League roster after going through a workout with the team about a month earlier. The former Pacific forward, who went undrafted, said he is grateful for the chance and is treating the summer as a chance to learn, improve and show he belongs in a professional setting.
Ralph has not yet appeared in a Summer League game, and he was out during the California Classic, but the opportunity alone gives him a platform to keep building. For a player trying to turn a strong college run into a real career, the next stretch is about staying ready, absorbing everything he can and hoping the work eventually opens a door to a G League role and, down the line, an NBA roster spot. [Read more 🡒]