Insider provides update on Sasha Vezenkov's future in the NBA

Despite being drafted in 2017 by the Brooklyn Nets, Sasha Vezenkov didn't make his NBA debut until 2023-24 with our Sacramento Kings (who acquired his draft rights in a 2022 trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers). Last offseason, the 28-year-old signed a 3-year, 20-million dollar contract.

However, after an up-and-down rookie season that saw him appear in only 42 of his team's 82 games, there has been a ton of speculation as to whether the 2023 Euroleague MVP would leave the NBA and return back to his luxurious overseas career.

Fortunately for Kings fans, it appears that those claims are without any merit and that Vezenkov intends on honoring his contract. Here is a statement made by Kings Reporter Sean Cunningham (a great Twitter follow, by the way) on Thursday.

""While Sasha Vezenkov remains frustrated with the lack of playing time in his first NBA season with the Sacramento Kings, I’m told by several sources that there is no truth to the report of his desire to leave the NBA. One source close to Vezenkov called the report “off base” and that he will honor his contract."

"I’ve also been told the Kings want to keep him, but there’s also a market for him. Sacramento or perhaps another team that offers a larger rotational role remains to be seen.""

- Sean Cunningham, FOX40 News

This is great news for the Kings because Vezenkov is proficient at something that teams always need: shooting. Last season, Vezenkov shot 37.3% from three while being in the 90th percentile in volume (8.5 threes per 75 possessions, per Dunks & Threes).

Vezenkov's defense isn't anything to write home about (21st percentile in Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus), but he does give you some size (6'9) and defensive playmaking (76th percentile in steal rate).

It often takes players coming from overseas a year to get acclimated to the NBA game (just ask that fellow Dirk Nowitzki). If the same is true for Vezenkov, he could be a solid rotational player for the Kings. Or, at the very least, he could be a trade chip in a blockbuster deal for them this offseason.