The season wasn’t a complete disaster for the Kings, as second-round pick Maxime Raynaud (No. 42) has been a standout rookie. He represents the direction the franchise needs to take, getting out of heavy, bloated contracts for players that don’t fit together, and getting into younger, raw talent to build around. A high lottery pick in June will help.
Investing in Murray wasn’t a mistake, but doing so while diminishing his role with too many scorers like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk didn’t add up. They need to give opportunities to youth like Nique Clifford, Dylan Cardwell and whoever joins from the draft and trades; they need less of the older, big-name scorers who have had great careers but are past their prime.
The good news is that nearly all the Kings’ big-money contracts will come off the books after the 2026-27 season. Expiring contracts are often movable via trade. While Sabonis has an additional year through 2027-28, he, too, should have suitors among other NBA franchises.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X @EricPincus and Bluesky.