Report: Kings forward seeking exit from team

Vezenkov signed a three-year, $20M contract with Sacramento last summer. His $6.66M salary for 2024-25 is fully guaranteed, while his $6.98M salary for 2025-26 is a team option.

According to Stefanou, Vezenkov has yet to decide whether he wants to continue his NBA career or return to Europe. The 2022-23 EuroLeague MVP would generate “huge interest” overseas, Stefanou adds.

Still, as Keith Smith of Spotrac observes via Twitter, the Kings will certainly have a major say in what transpires. Since Vezenkov’s deal for next season is guaranteed, they have no incentive to waive him unless he’s willing to give back that money in a buyout.

In our Kings offseason preview, which was released Friday, Luke Adams identified Vezenkov as a possible salary-dump candidate due to the team’s proximity to the luxury tax.

Vezenkov, 28, averaged 5.4 PPG and 2.3 RPG on .440/.375/.800 shooting in 42 games last season for Sacramento (12.2 MPG). He missed 22 games with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain, but even when he was healthy, he wasn’t a consistent part of the team’s rotation.

Interestingly, the former Olympiacos star said he had no regrets about coming stateside when the Kings’ season concluded in April.

“I made the right choice, no doubt about it,” Vezenkov said.