Pistons show interest in Zach LaVine–but is a deal possible?

NBA insider Jake Fischer’s report linking Zach LaVine to the Detroit Pistons sparked intrigue among Sacramento Kings fans, but a potential trade may be easier to discuss than to complete.

On the latest edition of Sactown Sports’ The Matt George Podcast, Matt George was joined by Locked On Pistons host Ku Khahil to break down Fischer’s report that Detroit has interest in LaVine, who is widely expected to exercise his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season.

According to Fischer, “Other players regarded as potentially available and said to interest Detroit include Charlotte’s Coby White, Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Joe, and possibly even Sacramento’s Zach LaVine.”

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

More on Zach LaVine

Zach LaVine, who turns 31 next season, averaged 19.2 points while shooting 48 percent from the field and 39 percent from three in an injury-shortened campaign in which he played 39 games.

Despite the disappointing season, the two-time All-Star has maintained that his focus remains on winning.

“Where I’m at in my career is, you know, we want to win,” LaVine said during his end-of-season press conference in April. “We’ll go back and look at everything. Look at all the scenarios.”

Khahil believes LaVine’s offensive strengths address Detroit’s biggest weakness, but questions remain about whether the fit would translate to winning basketball.

“His strengths fill what the Pistons’ weaknesses are,” Khahil said. “He would definitely help the shot creation, the added shooting and offensive firepower.”

Zach Lavine #8 of the Sacramento Kings stands on the court during their game against the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center on January 06, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

However, Khahil acknowledged concerns that have followed Zach LaVine throughout his career.

“There is a healthy level of skepticism in the Pistons community,” Khahil said. “There are aspects of his game that you can track from every single stop he’s been at that do contribute to not winning behavior.”

George agreed that Detroit’s interest makes sense on paper, but questioned whether any team would actually absorb LaVine’s $49 million contract.

“I don’t see Zach walking away from that money, and I don’t see a team jumping this offseason to acquire that money,” George said.

Khahil was even more direct.

“I would be very shocked if they traded for him on this current contract,” he said. “I can’t imagine there’s a team out there that wants to trade for his contract right now at all.”

Instead, both hosts suggested the most realistic scenario could involve Sacramento keeping LaVine into the season before revisiting trade discussions closer to the February deadline.

“I think Zach’s picking up his option,” George said. “I think the Kings are going into next year and just going to try and make it work as best as possible, and then hope like hell they can turn him into some sort of value at the trade deadline.”

With The Athletic’s Sam Amick previously reporting on Sactown Sports that LaVine is expected to exercise his option, the Kings may ultimately be forced to navigate another season with the veteran guard before determining their long-term path forward.

Check out the full episode of The Matt George Podcast and share your thoughts in the comments.

Subscribe to The Matt George Podcast on Sactown Sports

Subscribe to The Matt George Podcast on Apple & Spotify. You can also watch all episodes of The Matt George Podcast on the Sactown Sports YouTube page & sactownsports.com.

You can also hear Matt on Sactown Sports alongside Kayla Anderson on The Matt & Kayla Show, airing weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

The Sacramento Kings are preparing for a crucial 2026 NBA Draft, which is set to take place from Tuesday, June 23rd, through Wednesday, June 24th.

Sacramento owns the 7th pick in the Draft, giving them a chance at selecting a talented player with upside, such as Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., Houston’s Kingston Flemings, and Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, among others.

Be sure to stay locked into Sactown Sports for pre-draft workout news, player breakdowns, draft rumors, and MUCH more.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings & NBA Offseason Schedule

• Tuesday, June 23rd – NBA Draft (Round 1)
• Wednesday, June 24th – NBA Draft (Round 2)
• Tuesday, June 30th – NBA Free Agency negotiation period begins (3 PM PT)
• Saturday, July 4th – Monday, July 6th – California Classic at Golden 1 Center
• Thursday, July 9th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League begins
• Monday, July 13th – Free Agency moratorium ends / signings can become official

Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Related

UC Davis Football Ranked No. 6 In Stats Perform Top 25 Preseason PollChristian McCaffrey ranked No. 2 RB in Madden 2749ers sign DL Ogbo Okoronkwo, waive DL’s Givens & SampleTrent Williams ranked among top-5 OT’s in Madden 27Would Russell Westbrook be the perfect mentor for Darius Acuff Jr.?Faithful Flashbacks #26: Return of the Faithful