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Kings Reportedly Not Discussing Zach Lavine Buyout After Player Option Exercised

Kings reportedly not discussing Zach LaVine buyout after player option exercised originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After exercising his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 NBA season, Zach LaVine is set to remain with the Kings.

Though this summer appeared to signal the start of a rebuild in Sacramento, both LaVine and Domantas Sabonis remain on the roster. And that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon, at least in LaVine’s case.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported this week the Kings aren’t looking to let go of LaVine, as they did recently to DeMar DeRozan.

“One source close to the process told The Stein Line that the Kings are operating under the premise that LaVine will start the season as a King and added that “no buyout” is being discussed,” Stein wrote in his Substack on Monday.

As Sacramento seeks a transition to a new core centered around 2026 NBA Draft No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff Jr., LaVine’s future with the Kings was a question mark entering the offseason. But after some unsuccessful trade discussions around Sabonis, both veterans seemingly will be back for the upcoming campaign.

Like Sabonis, LaVine is coming off an underwhelming season in which he played just 39 games before undergoing season-ending finger surgery in February. The 31-year-old averaged 19.2 points per game — his lowest average since 2017-18 — as well as 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists on 47.9-percent shooting and 39.0 percent from deep.

Now, LaVine will be expected to help mentor the Kings’ younger players as the organization looks to build for the future.

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Kings Reportedly Not Discussing Zach Lavine Buyout After Player Option Exercised

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