When the offseason hits, the Sacramento Kings are going to have a lot of work to do. That includes making some hard choices about all of the free agents on their roster this summer. They have a limited number of spaces available and some serious future planning to do.
As crazy a season as it has been for the Kings, it's nothing compared to what's going to happen in the offseason. One major milestone will be the 2026 NBA Draft. Sacramento has three picks to work with, one in the first round and two in the second. They did pretty well with last year's second-round pick.
The other factor will be free agency. Sacramento has a total of ten players who will be free agents of some kind. Four of them will be unrestricted free agents, four will be restricted, one will have a team option, and the last one has a player option to decide on. There are a lot of moving parts.
Making big decisions with the Kings
Zach LaVine is the one with the player option, and he has not announced his plans. If he stays, the last year of his Kings' contract is worth nearly $50 million. If he leaves, he'll get signed to another team, but likely for less money. It all depends on whether LaVine wants a ring or wants the cash.
The Kings also have three players on two-way contracts, some of which they're going to need for their new draft recruits. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Sacramento part ways with Isaiah Stevens and Patrick Baldwin Jr. Hopefully, they find a way to hang onto Daeqwon Plowden.
Sacramento will also have to make a decision on Killian Hayes, whom they recently signed to a two-year contract. That contract has a team option in it next season, so there's another decision to make. Hayes has been playing well for the Kings, so it seems likely he'll be hanging around.
Sacramento's rebuild takes shape
Free agents like Doug McDermott and Drew Eubanks are likely to be let go to make room for new players. Both Precious Achiuwa and Russell Westbrook are also free agents, and they should be re-signed. Achiuwa has made it clear that he wants to stay, and the Kings need Westbrook.
One player who isn't a free agent is DeMar DeRozan. He has one year left on his contract, but is a strong candidate for a buyout. If they lose DeRozan, Eubanks, McDermott, Stevens, and Baldwin, that gives the Kings five roster spots to work with and only three incoming draft picks.
That means they can re-sign Nique Clifford, who is a restricted free agent this summer, and finally put Plowden on a full contract. And if LaVine decides to leave for an immediate contender, then the salary cap gets blown wide open for Sacramento. It could be a big offseason for the Kings.