{"id":240256,"date":"2026-03-28T02:49:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T02:49:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/240256\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T02:49:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T02:49:25","slug":"what-is-the-long-term-plan-for-the-sacramento-kings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/240256\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the long-term plan for the Sacramento Kings?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Matt George<\/a> and Kayla Anderson<\/a> of Sactown Sports\u2019 The Matt & Kayla Show<\/a> painted a realistic\u2014but cautiously optimistic\u2014picture of the Sacramento Kings and how long it may take to truly turn things around.<\/p>\n

Will the next two to three years define the franchise\u2019s direction?<\/p>\n

At 19-55, the Kings are entering the final weeks of a season that many would like to forget. Sacramento owns the worst record in the Western Conference and is firmly slotted into a top-four finish in the NBA Draft Lottery standings.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis year being a necessary evil\u2026 did this year have to happen, the ripping off of the band aid in order to actually start to heal the wound?\u201d George asked, framing the current struggles as part of a larger reset.<\/p>\n

\"SACRAMENTO,<\/p>\n

(Photo by Rocky Widner\/NBAE via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

That leads into what they called a \u201chybrid rebuild\u201d\u2014not by design, but by circumstance. \u201cIt\u2019s a hybrid rebuild out of necessity,\u201d George explained. \u201cI have these players. I\u2019m not going to be able to get rid of them.\u201d With major contracts still on the books, the Sacramento Kings are expected to remain competitive while developing young talent, rather than bottoming out completely.<\/p>\n

The short-term goal? Stay competitive enough to sniff the postseason while prioritizing growth. George outlined a best-case scenario where the Kings \u201chit on their draft pick,\u201d and that rookie becomes \u201ca core piece of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pair that with internal development and a partial roster reshuffle, and Sacramento could potentially reach the Play-In Tournament as soon as next season.<\/p>\n

But the real turning point comes in 2027. That\u2019s when significant money comes off the books, giving the Sacramento Kings the flexibility they haven\u2019t had in years.<\/p>\n

\"SACRAMENTO,<\/p>\n

(Photo by Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Zach LaVine\u2019s $49 million salary will come off the books at the end of next season, as will De\u2019Andre Hunter\u2019s $24 million contract. Malik Monk has a $21 million player option for 2027-28, while DeMar DeRozan\u2019s $25 million salary (if the Kings guarantee his deal) will also fall off Sacramento\u2019s finance sheet.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow Perry can start to cook,\u201d George said, referring to the front office finally having cap space and control.<\/p>\n

From there, three paths emerge: stay the course and build through the draft, trade for a young co-star, or dive into free agency. Anderson leaned toward a balanced approach, emphasizing sustainability over splashy moves.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t feel like Scott Perry has ever given off a desperate vibe,\u201d she said. \u201cIf I were going to do anything, it would maybe use your future draft assets to trade for a partner, for a new star.\u201d<\/p>\n

Free agency, while tempting, comes with skepticism.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust because you have cap space doesn\u2019t mean you know how to properly use it,\u201d George cautioned, noting Sacramento\u2019s historical struggles attracting top-tier talent.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the Sacramento Kings\u2019 path forward hinges on patience, smart drafting, and disciplined roster building.<\/p>\n

As Anderson put it, the goal isn\u2019t a quick fix\u2014it\u2019s building \u201csustainable success\u201d and opening a multi-year competitive window, not just a fleeting playoff appearance.<\/p>\n

How long will that take? This summer will give us a strong indication if it will be a slow burn or if we can start dreaming come training camp this fall.<\/p>\n

Check out the full conversation at the top of the page or by heading over to the\u00a0Sactown Sports YouTube channel.<\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to and watch Sactown Sports\u2019\u00a0The Matt & Kayla Show<\/a>\u00a0with Matt George & Kayla Anderson, airing weekdays from\u00a010 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT on Sactown Sports.<\/p>\n

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports<\/p>\n

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?<\/p>\n

The Sacramento Kings will continue their final road trip of the season on Saturday afternoon when they face the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.<\/p>\n

Sacramento dropped a 133-100 blowout loss to the Hawks on November 12th, as Jalen Johnson poured in 24 points, grabbed 10 boards, and handed out 8 assists in the win.<\/p>\n

Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Atlanta Hawks action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 3:00 PM PT on Game Night before a 4:30 pm PT tip-off from downtown Atlanta.<\/p>\n

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season<\/p>\n

Saturday, March 28th \u2013 @ Atlanta Hawks \u2013 4:30 PM PT
\nSunday, March 29th @ Brooklyn Nets \u2013 3:00 PM PT
\nWednesday, April 1st @ Toronto Raptors \u2013 5:00 PM PT
\nFriday, April 3rd vs. New Orleans Pelicans \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nSunday, April 5th vs. Los Angeles Clippers \u2013 6:00 PM PT<\/p>\n

Thank you for reading\u00a0SactownSports.com<\/a>. Follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Google News<\/a>, and subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0channel.<\/p>\n

Follow @FCartoscelli3<\/a><\/p>\n

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