The Sacramento Kings could have one of the worst contracts in the NBA with Zach LaVine and his deal heading into 2026.
The Sacramento Kings have a decent amount of veterans and young talent dispersed all over the roster, but there is something interesting to note about one of the veterans on the roster.
That veteran is shooting guard Zach LaVine, who may possibly have one of the worst contracts in the NBA.
Recently, Bleacher Report NBA analyst Greg Swartz predicted the top five best and worst contracts heading into 2026, and LaVine was included as one of the worst contracts on that list.
On the list, Swartz ranked LaVine as the second worst contract in the NBA, which had him only trailing Boston Celtics forward Paul George as the worst contract in the NBA.
In terms of LaVine's salary for the 2026 season, he will be making $48.9 million, which works out to be No. 22 overall and is 29.7 percent of the Kings' cap space for the 2026 season.
For the 2026 season, LaVine's $48.9 million comes as a result of his player option for the five year $215 million deal he signed with the Chicago Bulls in 2022.
The reason this contract may be one of the worst in the NBA is not just the money, but it is also the fact that LaVine is not as athletic as he used to be combined with his production being a lot lower than the money should suggest.
Last season, LaVine averaged 19.2 points per game on shooting splits of 47.9 percent from the field, 39 percent from three, and 88 percent from the free-throw line. While LaVine's efficiency was decent, his production as a scorer should be higher based on his salary.
Additionally, LaVine only played in 39 games last season, which was yet another season where he struggled with injuries. Entering 2026, LaVine is 31 years old, and in March he will turn 32, so it will be interesting to watch whether he can stay a lot healthier.
Another reason this contract looks bad for LaVine is the fact that in 2026 he will be making more money than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, and Kevin Durant. When looking at those players it is evident that LaVine is not on their level, yet he is making more money.
Overall, this contract for LaVine is not great especially when breaking it down and seeing the caliber player he is at this point in his career versus the players he is making more than.
LaVine must also prove he can stay healthy in 2026, otherwise, many teams could be very hesitant to pay him because they may be unsure how often he can play due to his injury history.
So, as LaVine heads into the 2026 season, it will be interesting to watch how he performs, if he can stay healthy, and if his performance suggests he is worth $48.9 million, or if he is clearly overpaid and will see a much smaller salary on his next deal.
