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One looming obstacle for the Sacramento Kings this offseason is Zach LaVine's $49 million player option set to kick in for 2026.
In late May, it was reported that the Kings may attempt to salary dump the 3-time All Star, but no significant progress has been made.
With LaVine's high-priced contract, teams may be reluctant to make a move for him, but some teams could definitely benefit from his scoring ability.
On Friday, NBA correspondent Marc Stein named the Detroit Pistons as a team that could be interested in LaVine.
"Other players regarded as potentially available and said to interest Detroit include Charlotte’s Coby White, Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Joe and possibly even Sacramento’s Zach LaVine now that LaVine is heading into the final year of a massive contract with a $49 million player option that carries a June 29 deadline to be activated."
Roundtable's Ravi Shankar recently highlighted the likelihood of LaVine picking up his option being high, with The Athletic's Sam Amick shooting down the idea of him leaving in free agency.
"[Zach LaVine and his agency] are not leaving that money on the table. So, he's not opting out," Amick said, via Sactown Sports 1140.
However, moving LaVine still remains a viable option, and the Pistons could get aggressive to capitalize on Cade Cunningham's improvements.
LaVine, who the Kings traded for in February 2025, missed most of last season with a finger injury, playing in just 37 games in his first full season in Sacramento.
When available, LaVine posted solid numbers, scoring 19.2 points per game on solid 48-39-88 splits.
The Pistons' main struggles in the postseason were shot creation and consistent perimeter scoring to supplement Cunningham, which LaVine can do with ease.
His mix of perimeter and interior scoring is still appealing to teams like Detroit, who are looking for another shot creator and scorer, giving the Kings some flexibility with his value.
Outside of additional draft compensation, the Pistons have some young, intriguing players who Sacramento could target.
Physical big man Isaiah Stewart is one player who has been floated as a potential asset on the move, alongside point guard Daniss Jenkins, who showed flashes of lead-guard potential during Cunningham's missed time late in the year.
While it will remain difficult to offload LaVine's large contract, teams showing interest in the former Chicago Bull is a positive sign for Sacramento.
If the Kings opt to keep LaVine, he will fit nicely next to Sacramento's supposed new point guard taken at the No. 7 overall pick.
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In late May, it was reported that the Kings may attempt to salary dump the 3-time All Star, but no significant progress has been made.
With LaVine's high-priced contract, teams may be reluctant to make a move for him, but some teams could definitely benefit from his scoring ability.
On Friday, NBA correspondent Marc Stein named the Detroit Pistons as a team that could be interested in LaVine.
"Other players regarded as potentially available and said to interest Detroit include Charlotte’s Coby White, Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Joe and possibly even Sacramento’s Zach LaVine now that LaVine is heading into the final year of a massive contract with a $49 million player option that carries a June 29 deadline to be activated."
Roundtable's Ravi Shankar recently highlighted the likelihood of LaVine picking up his option being high, with The Athletic's Sam Amick shooting down the idea of him leaving in free agency.
"[Zach LaVine and his agency] are not leaving that money on the table. So, he's not opting out," Amick said, via Sactown Sports 1140.
However, moving LaVine still remains a viable option, and the Pistons could get aggressive to capitalize on Cade Cunningham's improvements.
LaVine, who the Kings traded for in February 2025, missed most of last season with a finger injury, playing in just 37 games in his first full season in Sacramento.
When available, LaVine posted solid numbers, scoring 19.2 points per game on solid 48-39-88 splits.
The Pistons' main struggles in the postseason were shot creation and consistent perimeter scoring to supplement Cunningham, which LaVine can do with ease.
His mix of perimeter and interior scoring is still appealing to teams like Detroit, who are looking for another shot creator and scorer, giving the Kings some flexibility with his value.
Outside of additional draft compensation, the Pistons have some young, intriguing players who Sacramento could target.
Physical big man Isaiah Stewart is one player who has been floated as a potential asset on the move, alongside point guard Daniss Jenkins, who showed flashes of lead-guard potential during Cunningham's missed time late in the year.
While it will remain difficult to offload LaVine's large contract, teams showing interest in the former Chicago Bull is a positive sign for Sacramento.
If the Kings opt to keep LaVine, he will fit nicely next to Sacramento's supposed new point guard taken at the No. 7 overall pick.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join, simply by clicking the yellow button at the top of the homepage. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Continue reading...
