Given the state of the Sacramento Kings, it's easy to understand why fans might be a little down on the franchise. Years of instability and bad decisions have left the team in a tough spot.
The short tenure of the Beam Team era didn't make things better. It only lasted one season before the head coach, top point guard, and general manager were all gone.
That being said, things might not be as bad as they seem. There is still hope in the Kings' locker room in the form of Zach Lavine.
Trading for Zach LaVine
Last season was a tumultuous one at best. Head coach Mike Brown was fired just after Christmas 2024. This was followed by De'Aaron Fox asking for a trade and Monte McNair getting turfed. All in all, it was a rough time to start with a new team.
Enter Zach LaVine.
The shooting guard was drafted by the Timberwolves in 2014, then built a solid reputation for himself during his seven and a half season run with the Chicago Bulls where he was a two-time All-Star.
Before last season's trade deadline, LaVine was part of a three-team trade that sent him to the Kings and Fox to the Spurs. This put LaVine right in the worst part of last year's maelstrom in Sacramento.
King LaVine takes the stage
This is a big season for LaVine. It will be his first full season with the Kings with a somewhat stable roster and about as stable a front office as the franchise seems capable of putting together.
Keeping that in mind, don't sleep on Zach LaVine in 2025-2026. He only played 32 games in an awkward, difficult season with the Kings but still averaged 22.4 points per game, 3.8 assists per game, and 3.5 rebounds per game. Those are not career best numbers for him but they're still solid.
Now that he's had time to settle into his new team, LaVine has every opportunity to play some amazing ball in Sacramento. With a Dennis Schroeder in place as his point guard and Domantas Sabonis at center, it could be the year of King LaVine.
If not, then moving on still might be best for everyone involved