Kings’ Zach LaVine Facing Uncertain Role After Exercising Option

In his latest podcast appearance for Locked On Kings (YouTube link), Ham explained that Sacramento has been upfront with LaVine for months that he doesn’t have a long-term future with the team and the Kings aren’t interested in extending him. The team was open to facilitating a potential sign-and-trade for LaVine before he picked up his lucrative option, but that’s no longer a possibility.

Ham says he personally would have pursued a buyout with LaVine, particularly in early in free agency, when he might have been willing to give up more money if he had been offered a non-taxpayer mid-level exception type contract from another team, but he hears general manager Scott Perry hasn’t yet taken that route.

“That is not something that the Kings, at least to my knowledge at this point, have done,” Ham said. “They have not got close to closing the deal on a potential buyout.“

Ham also clarified that the Kings have no interest in using the stretch provision on LaVine in the event of a buyout agreement. As of now, Sacramento projects to be slightly over the luxury tax line, per Yossi Gozlan of CapSheets.com, but the team could move below that threshold if it stretches DeMar DeRozan‘s $10MM cap hit over the next three years, resulting in a $3.33MM annual cap charge through 2028/29.

“I do know for a fact the Sacramento Kings will not buy out and stretch provision Zach LaVine,” Ham said. “ … I was told very specifically by someone I trust with the Sacramento Kings that they have absolutely no interest in (waiving and) stretching him. … It would save you a ton (in the short term), but you would just be kicking the can down the road. The Kings aren’t doing it.”

As for LaVine’s role for the upcoming season, Ham said it’s possible the two-time dunk contest winner could start and play major minutes if he helps the team win games. However, Ham has significant defensive concerns about a backcourt featuring No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff Jr. and LaVine, and questions whether that pairing is capable of holding up on that end of the court to avoid a bottom-three finish in the standings.

Still, Ham views LaVine as the Kings’ second-best player right now and thinks he could relieve offensive pressure off the rookie point guard if he can stay healthy. LaVine was limited to just 39 appearances last season due to injuries.