The Sacramento Kings may have opened the door wide enough to chase Jonathan Kuminga in a way few rivals can match.
A recent wave of cap moves, including the waiving of DeMar DeRozan, has pushed Sacramento close to the edge of the luxury tax while still leaving room to operate. Spotrac’s Keith Smith explained the situation on Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys, saying, "They’re now under both aprons comfortably," Smith said on Wednesday. "They’re about $4 million under the luxury tax, they’re about $9 million or so under the first apron."
That kind of breathing room matters. It gives the Kings a shot at another deal in the $8-$10 million annual range, and even more wiggle room if the front office chooses to stretch DeRozan's $10 million signing bonus over the next few seasons.
Kuminga, now with the Atlanta Hawks, remains firmly on Sacramento’s radar. He’s been linked to the Kings often, and the financial picture now makes that pursuit more realistic. A mid-level exception could put him in line for a $10-$15 million prove-it contract from Sacramento, which appears to be the strongest offer on the table.
The Los Angeles Lakers are also in the mix, but the Los Angeles Times reported their likely best offer would be a two-year, $20-million deal, and even that would probably require a sign-and-trade to get done. Sacramento’s position is cleaner. The Kings can likely offer more money and avoid the extra complication of a sign-and-trade, which could make the Hawks more inclined to look beyond the Lakers.
"I do think there’s a chance we could still see him with the Kings," Smith said. "Especially again as his market kind of dries up there."
Kuminga’s production after being dealt from the Golden State Warriors midway through last season was solid: 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in Atlanta.
What keeps him so appealing is the same thing that has followed him throughout his career - the size, burst, and athletic upside that jump off the screen. He moves extremely well for his frame, and that kind of physical profile is exactly what Sacramento is trying to add.
The Kings are still looking for more length and defensive punch alongside the offense-first backcourt of Darius Acuff Jr. and Zach LaVine, and Kuminga fits that need. General manager Scott Perry made that priority clear earlier this week, saying, "We wanna continue adding people that are tough, athletic, and that are gonna fit into the style we wanna play,"
Kuminga checks those boxes, and he also fits the age range of Sacramento’s young core. On top of that, his experience in a variety of roles gives Doug Christie some real lineup flexibility if the Kings land him.
In Other News...
Kings Are Putting Darius Acuff Jr. In A Tough Spot Already
Darius Acuff Jr. is being asked to do a lot already, and Sacramentos guard picture only makes the assignment tougher. The rookie has been pushed into the starting point guard role because the Kings are thin at the position, with a crowded roster that still leaves the backcourt looking unfinished and little proven help behind him.
Isaiah Stevens could become part of the answer if he shows enough in summer action, and the Kings also have a few different ways to keep searching for help. Malik Monk remains on the roster and could be moved if the right opportunity comes along, while undrafted guards like Milos Uzan and Nick Boyd are the kind of developmental names Sacramento may have to consider as it tries to give Acuff some breathing room. [Read more 🡒]
Kings May Have Found Another Raynaud Style Rotation Answer
Emanuel Sharp has wasted no time giving Sacramento a reason to lean in after the 2026 NBA Draft. The Kings took the guard with the 45th pick, and his early Summer League work has looked the part of a player who can at least force his way into the conversation, from a strong showing in the California Classic to a debut in Las Vegas that turned heads for more than just his scoring. For a team that spent last season near the bottom in defense and at the back of the league in made threes, any young perimeter piece who can help on both ends is going to get a long look.
The caution, of course, is that Summer League can flatter almost anyone for a week or two, and Sacramento knows better than to crown a rookie on July results alone. Still, Sharp has done enough to create a real buzz around the Kings' backcourt mix, especially with Darius Acuff Jr. saying Sharp has been the team's best player over the last few games. Whether that holds once the games count is a different question, but the early signs have been encouraging enough to make him one of the more interesting names in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Can Feel This Kuminga Pursuit Getting Complicated
The Kings have spent the offseason trying to keep their options open, and Jonathan Kuminga has quickly become one of the more intriguing names on their radar. Sacramentos improved salary-cap flexibility gives it more room to work than it had before, but the club is still operating in a range where a straightforward free-agent payday may not be realistic for a player drawing this much attention.
That is where the pursuit starts to get tricky. A sign-and-trade appears to be the cleanest path if the Kings want to stay in the conversation, but they are hardly alone in trying to thread that needle, and the market around Kuminga could end up deciding which team is willing and able to go the furthest. For Sacramento, the interest is real, but so are the financial hurdles standing in the way. [Read more 🡒]