What can Kings do with LaVine now that he has exercised his $49 million option?
Coming into the offseason, the Sacramento Kings didn’t know if Zach LaVine would exercise his player option for next season, negotiate a multiyear extension with a lower annual value or opt out to become an unrestricted free agent.
They got their answer Monday as the deadline arrived for LaVine to make his decision with free agency set to begin Tuesday.
A league source told The Sacramento Bee that LaVine has chosen to exercise his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season. The 31-year-old guard is going into the final year of the five-year, $215.2 million contract he signed with the Chicago Bulls in 2022.
LaVine has been the subject of trade rumors and speculation for the past year, but there hasn’t been much of a market for his services due to the size of his contract. The Kings will continue to explore trade possibilities for LaVine as general manager Scott Perry works to overhaul an aging and expensive roster. If they can’t find a deal before the February trade deadline, LaVine’s expiring contract will come off the books next summer, giving Sacramento significant salary cap relief.
LaVine came to Sacramento in the February 2025 trade that sent De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs. Over the final 32 games of the 2024-25 season, the two-time All-Star averaged 22.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Kings while shooting 51.1% from the field and 44.6% from 3-point range.
LaVine appeared in only 39 games last season after undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right hand. His numbers declined as Sacramento leaned into a youth movement with LaVine averaging 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 47.9% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc.
LaVine will be highly motivated to have a big season to maximize his value before he becomes a free agent, but Sacramento has no obligation to put him on that pedestal. The Kings will continue to prioritize the development of their young players, but they will also want to avoid the relegation zone for the league’s three worst teams under the NBA’s new “3-2-1” lottery system.
It remains to be seen what that means for LaVine and his role in Sacramento. The Kings are believed to be in the early stages of a multiyear rebuild after going 22-60 last season. Perry has stressed the importance of patience and prudence, but he has also made it clear he will be opportunistic in pursuing top-tier talent. The makeup of the roster and the trajectory of the team could determine how the Kings view LaVine and his role in coach Doug Christie’s rotation.
This story was originally published June 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM.
