Zach LaVine is staying in Sacramento for at least one more year. That’s not necessarily because the Kings wanted him to. It’s because nobody else wanted him enough to make it worth leaving.
LaVine officially opted into his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season on Monday, per Shams Charania. That means he’s locked in with the Kings at that salary, and he won’t hit unrestricted free agency this summer. Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul confirmed the decision to ESPN.
The move was expected. LaVine is a talented scorer, but $49 million is a massive number for a guy who’s been hurt and inconsistent. If the Kings were hoping to move him at the February trade deadline, they already found out the hard way that there wasn’t much of a market. This option just closes the door on any chance they had of him walking for nothing.
Injury problems are the main reason LaVine’s stock has dropped. He played only 39 games this season because of an ankle issue and a finger injury. His production took a hit too. He averaged 19.2 points per game, his lowest mark since his fourth season in the league. His rebounding (2.8) and assist numbers (2.3) were career lows. Not great for someone making that kind of money.
LaVine can still fill it up on a given night. He’s averaged over 24 points per game in three different seasons and he’s a career 38 percent three-point shooter. But the Kings are paying him like a franchise cornerstone, and the production hasn’t matched the price tag lately. Sacramento has to figure out how to build around De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis while carrying that contract on the books.
It’s not a total disaster for the Kings. LaVine has an expiring deal after next season, which makes him a trade asset if they want to go that route. But for now, they’re stuck with a guard who’s been dropping off and getting hurt. That’s not a great place to be in a loaded Western Conference.
Maybe LaVine stays healthy next season and reminds everyone why he was an All-Star. Maybe the Kings find a deal that works. But Monday’s news made one thing clear: they weren’t going to find a better option in free agency.
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