Amick: Zach LaVine not expected to decline $49 million player option
Sam Amick reports Zach LaVine is not expected to decline his $49 million player option, making a return to the Sacramento Kings likely.
Watch: Sam Amick On Zach LaVine's Opt-out & Sacramento's Top Choice For The NBA Draft | 26 mins
According to The Athletic‘s Sam Amick, Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine is not expected to decline his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season.
Speaking with Sactown Sports’ The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross, Amick said LaVine and his camp have explored alternatives, but walking away from the final year of his contract has never been viewed as a realistic possibility.
“I mean, [LaVine and his camp] are not,” Amick said when asked whether LaVine could opt out. “Here’s what I knew before. Previously, they’re not leaving that money on the table, so he’s not opting out.”
LaVine has until June 29th to decide whether to exercise the player option. If he does, he would return to Sacramento for his age-31 season on a deal worth approximately $49 million.
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)
More on Zach LaVine
Amick noted that the Kings have been open to discussing other scenarios involving the veteran guard. Specifically, Sacramento would have been willing to facilitate a sign-and-trade if LaVine’s representatives found another team interested in bringing him in on a new contract.
“They essentially were greenlighted to explore other scenarios where if Zach and his camp could find a team that was interested enough to do a sign-and-trade, then you opt out,” Amick explained. “The Kings have been amenable to that.”
However, Amick added that he has not heard of LaVine’s camp finding much traction on those possibilities.
“I just haven’t heard of LaVine’s camp having any luck with those scenarios,” Amick said. “Doesn’t mean they don’t exist, but that from a process standpoint is how Zach and his people have been attacking this.”
Amick reiterated that LaVine is “absolutely not just choosing to get his freedom and opting out and jumping into free agency.”
LaVine is coming off an injury-shortened 2025-26 campaign in which he appeared in just 39 games. Despite the limited availability, he remained productive when healthy, averaging 19.2 points while shooting 48 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc.
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Kings currently project to be above the NBA’s second apron, limiting their roster flexibility entering the offseason. If LaVine (and center Domantas Sabonis) returns, Sacramento could face difficult decisions regarding roster construction and how heavily to feature the veteran guard while also prioritizing the development of younger players.
At his end-of-season press conference in April, LaVine acknowledged that winning remains his primary focus.
“Where I’m at my career is, you know, we want to win,” LaVine said. “We’ll go back and look at everything. Look at all the scenarios. Watch the playoffs and see what happens.”
Based on Amick’s latest reporting, the most likely scenario appears to be Zach LaVine returning to Sacramento for the 2026-27 season. Of course, whether that means he finishes the season in a Kings uniform is another conversation.
Check out the full conversation regarding Zach LaVine at the top of the page or by heading over to the Sactown Sports YouTube channel.
Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PDT, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
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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
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Comments
1 Comments
ZLV knows it's his last pay day, so has no choice. He'll be on Buddy style 10M deals the rest of his time in the league.
- 'I just haven’t heard of LaVine’s camp having any luck with those scenarios,” Amick said. “Doesn’t mean they don’t exist, but that from a process standpoint is how Zach and his people have been attacking this'
They pretty much don't exist Lol