The two-time All-Star secures his massive payday, committing to a roster eager to prove its health and potency alongside rising star rookie Darius Acuff Jr.
As expected, two-time NBA All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine opted into his $49 million player option with the Sacramento Kings on Monday, likely keeping him on the roster for the 2026-2027 season.
LaVine, who the Kings traded for in February 2025, missed most of the 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.
Unfortunately for the Kings, the team never really got to gel together due to all of the injuries suffered by key members of the roster, with starting center Domantas Sabonis and young power forward Keegan Murray missing most of the year.
In his postseason presser, LaVine gave encouraging remarks regarding his future in Sacramento, saying the team wasn't able to display their talents in full.
"Where I'm at in my career is, I want to win," LaVine said. "This is not the year we wanted. It's not the year that you want individually, but you take the cards that you're dealt and keep moving forward."
Going into next season, LaVine should help alleviate some of the offensive pressure being put on Darius Acuff Jr. heading into his highly anticipated rookie campaign.
However, beyond next season, it will be interesting to see how the front office handles LaVine and his lucrative price tag, as he may not fit alongside Sacramento's young, rebuilding timeline.
While moving LaVine still remains an option, his hefty contract and recent injury history may make it difficult to do so.
One team that had previously showed interest in the 3-level-scoring ability of LaVine is the Detroit Pistons, who ran into offensive struggles throughout last postseason.
"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," NBA correspondent Marc Stein said.
LaVine's 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.
Sharpshooting forward Duncan Robinson is a sign-and-trade candidate, while point guard Daniss Jenkins had a breakout year, taking advantage of Cade Cunningham's missed time late in the year.
Whichever direction General Manager Scott Perry and the front office decide to go with, LaVine will help this team continue to rebuild, either as the team's main/secondary scoring option, or as a valuable trade piece.
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