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The Zach LaVine watch in Sacramento is officially on, and the rumblings are starting to sound like a Friday night garage band warming up.
NBA insider Marc Stein says teams are already poking around on the Kings guard, but only if LaVine is willing to do something he’s never done: decline that massive $48.9 million player option for 2026-27 and take a longer, cheaper deal.
“If he was willing to decline the option and take a longer-term extension at a lesser number,” Stein said, “I think there would be some trade interest in Zach LaVine.”
And that’s where things get messy.
LaVine is making $47.5 million this season. He’s putting up good numbers — 20.7 points on 49% shooting — but the Kings are 5-16 and sinking.
League sources told DallasHoopsJournal that GM Scott Perry “desperately” wants to move him, frustrated by LaVine’s defense and overall buy-in. Coach Doug Christie hasn’t exactly been thrilled either.
This all comes one year after Sacramento traded for LaVine in the De’Aaron Fox blockbuster. Perry wasn’t a fan of the move then, and sources say he’s definitely not one now.
LaVine has been in the playoffs once. He’s 30. He’s expensive. And if you listen closely, you can hear the Kings quietly sliding veterans onto the rebuild shelf.
Teams sniffing around? The Bucks have already done their homework, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
February is coming. Sacramento wants out. And the only question now is whether LaVine wants out badly enough to leave $48.9 million on the table to make it happen.
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