Could Kings Leverage LaVine as Midseason Trade Asset?

MatthewFeldmanWed, July 22, 2026 at 12:35 AM UTC·2 min read

With the Sacramento Kings selecting Darius Acuff Jr. at the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the front office has manufactured a dynamic offensive backcourt.

3-time All Star Zach LaVine recently picked up his $49 million player option, making him Acuff's main running mate.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

Throughout the offseason, the idea of moving LaVine has been floated, but due to his pricy contract and lack of consistent play, it seems unwise to move him when his value is low.

On Tuesday, Sactown Sports 1140's Dave Carmichael dove into an alternative possibility.

"There's no reason to just trade him to trade him," Carmichael said. "He's a $49 million asset coming off the books at the end of the year."

Carmichael discussed the possibility of a contending team looking for a scoring punch taking a flier on LaVine during the season, and said that getting back a first-round pick would be a great outcome.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

However, it remains difficult to move LaVine because the team trading for him would also have to supplement his price tag in someway or another.

The best option remains to see how the former Chicago Bulls standout fits next to Acuff, and monitor his value throughout the beginning of the year.

LaVine has still displayed the ability to fill it up, averaging 19.2 points per game on solid 48-39-88 splits last season.

However, injuries and his lack of defensive intensity make his team-fit a bit slimmer.

With Acuff, LaVine, and the offensive-minded Domantas Sabonis playing together, the defense will certainly suffer, but the offensive potential is high.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

LaVine has also backed the Kings' young talent and has expressed belief that the team can get back to winning ways.

"As a team, we didn’t do what we were supposed to," LaVine said as his postseason presser. "Talent-wise, you can put us up against a lot of people. But we just didn't do what we were supposed to."

While Sacramento certainly underperformed in 2025, LaVine says he was still able to take some positives away from the season.

"The camaraderie, obviously. This team was actually a group of really good guys that really got along and never really quit," LaVine said. "Always tried, always communicated. Everyone was pulling for each other."

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

He added that the team worked harder than other groups he has been around during his 12-year career, saying that there weren't "many days off" around the training facility.

This mindset will only grow by bringing in players like Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban, who come from two of the most taxing, yet rewarding, collegiate porgrams in the country (UConn and Houston).

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.