Now that the Sacramento Kings 2024-25 NBA Season is behind us, it is time to take stock of the players we have on the roster heading into next season. To do this, we need to discuss how they looked this year and how they can build on it in the future. So, over the next couple of days, we are going to go over each key returning player for next year and assign them a grade for their production in 2024-25.
Now, without further ado, let the grading begin.
Zach LaVine 2024-25 Season
Zach LaVine's stock was at an all-time low heading into the 2024-25 season. After all, LaVine only played 25 games in 2023-24 and still had three years left on his five-year, 215 million dollar contract.
However, LaVine broke down the doors with his sizzling-hot start to this season. So much so that his value was rehabilitated enough for the Kings to trade their franchise icon with him as the primary return piece.
LaVine maintained his efficiency after joining Sacramento. In 42 games with the Chicago Bulls, LaVine had a true shooting of 63.7%. Meanwhile, in 32 games with the Kings, LaVine's true shooting was at 64.2%. He also had one of the greatest scoring games of his career with the Kings in a clash against the Charlotte Hornets.
LaVine was still an excellent scorer. What changed was his impact on winning. After having an +3.6 on/off per 100 possessions with Chicago, the Kings ended up being better with LaVine on the bench than him on the floor (-6.5 per 100).
Like with DeMar DeRozan, LaVine was hurt by the shortcomings of the Kings' roster. When you have DeRozan, Malik Monk, and Domantas Sabonis, your ideal fourth piece is someone who can handle the ball, shoot, and defend. LaVine is a wicked shooter (44.6% 3-point shooter), but he wasn't a good enough passer to fill the void left by De'Aaron Fox (38th percentile Passer Rating), and his defense is among the worst in the association (7th percentile Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus, per Dunks & Threes).
LaVine does not help this mismatched roster make any more sense, and because he still has two years left on his massive contract, it will be hard for the Kings to build around or trade him for a player(s) that can help their cause (especially now that his value has leveled out after the spike he had in Chicago).