Notable update emerges on Zach LaVine’s future

Zach LaVine may be angling for a second trade within a span of just one year.

The Sacramento Kings guard LaVine wants to move on from the team, James Ham of ESPN 1320 Sacramento reported on Tuesday. Ham made the revelation during an appearance on the “Locked On Kings” podcast.

“Zach LaVine would absolutely love to move on from Sacramento,” said Ham. “He would … He’s a straight-up hostage at this point [with the Kings]. That’s what it feels like.”

LaVine, the two-time NBA All-Star, was just acquired by the Kings in a trade with the Chicago Bulls at last year’s deadline. This season for Sacramento, LaVine is averaging an underwhelming 19.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.

Owed $47.5 million this year with a $49 million player option for next year as well, LaVine’s stance makes perfect sense. The Kings are the second-worst team in the Western Conference this season at a wretched 12-35, and there isn’t a lot of reason for them to keep around a ball-dominant scorer like LaVine who is coming out of his physical prime (he turns 31 years old in March).

LaVine has also had a complicated relationship with the local fans in Sacramento and even had a heated incident with a Kings fan during a game in November. Now it sounds like LaVine is a very strong candidate to be shipped out of Sacramento with just over a week to go before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.