Zach LaVine is coming off a down season and holds a $49MM player option for 2026/27. The Kings guard won’t opt out of that contract just to leave Sacramento, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, who discussed LaVine’s situation on Sactown Sports 1140’s Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross (Twitter video link).

“[Zach LaVine and his agency] are not leaving that money on the table,” Amick said. “So, he’s not opting out.

“The only question was … they essentially were green-lighted to explore other scenarios, where if Zach and his camp could find a team that was interested enough to do a sign-and-trade, then you opt out, presumably [sign] at a lower number … and do a deal that way. 

“That scenario, the Kings have been amenable to,” Amick continued. “I just haven’t heard of LaVine’s camp having any luck with those scenarios. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist. But that, from a process standpoint, is how Zach and his people have been attacking this. 

“But he’s absolutely not just choosing to get his freedom and then opting out and jumping into free agency.”

We have more on the Kings:

• ESPN 1320 insider James Ham, who also covers the team at The Kings Beat and Locked on Kings, said during a radio appearance (Twitter video link) that free agent big man Precious Achiuwa is likely to remain in Sacramento. “The word I’m hearing is it’s very, very likely that Precious Achiuwa will be back next season,” Ham said. While Achiuwa impressed the Kings last season, which is why they want to bring him back, Ham suggested the 26-year-old forward/center probably won’t get a major pay increase, perhaps returning on another minimum-salary contract or maybe a small raise, given the team’s financial situation. Sacramento will have Achiuwa’s non-Bird rights, limiting what the team can offer unless it sheds salary to use another cap exception. For his part, Achiuwa expressed a desire to re-sign with the Kings in March.
• Sacramento’s projected payroll for 2026/27 will have a major impact on the team’s moves this summer, Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron (Substack link) writes in his Kings offseason preview. Trading some high-priced veterans or agreeing to buyouts could be in the works, since there’s no reason for the Kings to be a taxpayer (they currently project to be over the first apron) after being one of the NBA’s worst teams in ’25/26, Gozlan notes. They’ll also be looking to add a long-term cornerstone with the seventh pick in next week’s draft.
• In case you missed it, the Kings reportedly hosted Darius Acuff and Kingston Flemings for private workouts last week. Both point guards are considered top options for Sacramento at No. 7.