The Kings’ new backcourt pairing comes with a built-in decision point.
After Sacramento used the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Darius Acuff Jr., the team suddenly has a young offensive partner for Zach LaVine, who recently picked up his $49 million player option. That puts the veteran scorer squarely in the middle of the Kings’ plans, whether the front office wants to keep him as Acuff’s running mate or eventually turn him into a trade chip.
LaVine’s name has already been circulating in offseason trade chatter, but moving him now would be a tough sell. His contract is huge, and his play has been uneven enough that his value may not be at its peak. On Tuesday, Sactown Sports 1140’s Dave Carmichael laid out a different path: hold onto LaVine, let him play, and see whether a contender comes calling later.
"There's no reason to just trade him to trade him," Carmichael said."He's a $49 million asset coming off the books at the end of the year."
That kind of midseason scenario would depend on a team needing instant offense and being willing to absorb the financial hit. Carmichael said landing a first-round pick would be a strong return if Sacramento eventually decides to move him. Even then, the mechanics of a deal would be tricky, since any team trading for LaVine would likely need to send out salary to make the numbers work.
For now, the cleaner play is to see how LaVine fits next to Acuff early in the season and let the market develop from there.
The offensive upside is obvious. LaVine still put up 19.2 points per game last season while shooting 48-39-88.
But the fit isn’t perfect. Injuries and his defensive limitations narrow the margin for error, and pairing him with Acuff and Domantas Sabonis would create a lineup built to score first and ask questions later on the other end.
LaVine, for his part, has already spoken up for the Kings’ younger talent and said he believes the group can turn things around.
"As a team, we didn’t do what we were supposed to," LaVine said as his postseason presser. "Talent-wise, you can put us up against a lot of people. But we just didn't do what we were supposed to."
He also pointed to the chemistry inside the locker room as one of the few bright spots from a disappointing 2025 season.
"The camaraderie, obviously. This team was actually a group of really good guys that really got along and never really quit," LaVine said.
"Always tried, always communicated. Everyone was pulling for each other."
LaVine added that the Kings worked harder than other teams he has been around during his 12-year career, saying there weren't "many days off" around the training facility.
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For the Kings, the more interesting question is not whether they are close to contention, but whether the young core can accelerate enough to make the season feel like progress instead of another reset. A few veterans could also become part of that equation if they raise their trade value, and Sacramento would love to turn development into something more tangible than just another year of learning on the fly. [Read more 🡒]