Scott Perry is making the Kings’ offseason mission plain: Sacramento is not chasing labels, it’s chasing an identity.
The Kings’ general manager said the front office is building toward a tougher, more athletic, defense-first team, and he stressed that the priorities go beyond simply plugging holes on the depth chart. For Perry, the real goal is shaping a roster that matches the way Sacramento wants to play when the 2026-27 season arrives.
"We want to continue adding people that are tough, athletic, and they're going fit into the style we want to play," he said. "Become that much tougher defensively."
That approach means the Kings are still weighing a few different roster directions, even after finishing the California Classic with a clear 3-0. Perry said the team is considering whether its next addition should be a backup point guard, another wing, or more frontcourt help. But he made it clear that the player’s makeup matters more than the position attached to the name.
"Whether that's the backup point guard, whether that's an additional small forward or frontline player, it's more about the makeup of the person and player than necessarily the position right now," Perry said.
Perry’s comments fit the same theme he has pushed since becoming Sacramento’s general manager. He said the Kings didn’t get where they wanted to go last season, when they finished 22-60, because the identity they were aiming for never fully took hold.
"In all transparency, I don't think we achieved what we wanted to achieve last season in terms of that identity," Perry said. "We want to be the hardest-working, hardest-playing team in the league. That's got to be our North Star."
Conditioning is part of that vision too. Perry said the Kings need to become one of the best-conditioned teams in the league, because the style they want only works if players can keep their energy level high from start to finish.
The roster work is already underway. Sacramento waived veteran DeMar DeRozan, opening up financial flexibility, and brought back Precious Achiuwa on a two-year, $11.5 million deal.
The Kings have also added rookies Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp, while second-year players Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell are expected to take on bigger roles.
Even with trade buzz still following Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk, Perry said the organization is staying focused on the bigger picture: building the right culture instead of making moves just to make moves. He said LaVine understands what is expected going into the season, and Sabonis will have to compete like everybody else on the roster.
In Other News...
Kings Fans Get A Big Hint Before Vegas Debut Tonight
The Kings open Las Vegas Summer League against the Clippers with a little more clarity around their roster plans, and Alex Karaban is set to make his debut after getting past an ankle issue that kept him out earlier in camp. For a team using Summer League to sort through combinations and build out its rotation, getting a first look at Karaban matters, especially with Sacramento still trying to see how its newer pieces fit together.
Maxime Raynaud, meanwhile, will sit out while he continues recovering from the travel grind after playing with the French national team. Sacramento would like to keep layering in its players and find a better rhythm as the week goes on, and there is at least a chance the Kings can get a fuller look at Karaban and Raynaud together later in Summer League. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Just Sent A Telling Message About Russell Westbrook's Return
Scott Perrys latest comments offered a pretty clear look at where Sacramento stands in the market for Russell Westbrook. The Kings general manager said he still has admiration for the veteran guard, but the teams financial picture remains tight after a summer of roster trimming and reshuffling, including the decision to waive DeMar DeRozan and bring back Precious Achiuwa on a new deal.
Westbrook is a free agent again after spending last season on a minimum contract, and his level of play still makes him an interesting fit for a team looking for backcourt help. But Sacramentos cap reality has been a recurring theme, and with trade chatter still swirling around the roster, Perrys tone suggested the Kings are balancing respect for Westbrooks resume with the limits of what they can realistically put on the table. [Read more 🡒]