The Sacramento Kings are not interested in buying out Zach LaVine, according to James Ham of Locked On Kings.
LaVine will make $48.9 million next season in the final year of his contract. The shooting guard picked up his 2026-27 player option on June 29.
The Kings acquired LaVine from the Chicago Bulls in February 2025.
LaVine played in just 39 games for the Kings last season before undergoing season-ending surgery on a tendon injury in his right hand. The 31-year-old averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 47.9% from the field, 39.0% from beyond the arc and 88.0% from the free-throw line.
Sacramento attempted to trade LaVine at this year’s trade deadline but couldn’t find a deal. LaVine was linked to the Milwaukee Bucks.
A two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion, LaVine holds career averages of 20.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bulls and Kings. Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group represents the two-time All-Star, who doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
LaVine is better suited to play for a contending team at this stage of his career. The Kings are one of the worst teams in the NBA. They are in deep, deep rebuild mode and have already parted ways with veteran DeMar DeRozan.
It will be fascinating to see what happens with LaVine once the 2026-27 season starts. The UCLA product has only been to the playoffs once in his NBA career, but he’s a gifted scorer and shooter who can help a playoff team.
LaVine scored a career-high 51 points as a member of the Bulls against the Detroit Pistons during the 2023-24 season. He also made 13 3s in a game versus the Charlotte Hornets during the 2019-20 season.
A Washington native, LaVine averaged 19.3 points and 6.0 assists per game in the 2022 playoffs with the Bulls, who lost to the Bucks in the first round in five games.
The Kings went 22-60 last season. It will be a long, long time before Sacramento makes the playoffs again, so there is no point for LaVine to be on the team anymore.
