The 2025 NBA offseason is rumored to be one of historic player movement. With the free agent market limited, teams will rely on trades more than ever before to make improvements and adjustments to their roster. Among the many teams expected to be active in the offseason if the Kings, who have some major decisions to make about the future of their franchise.
After another season of mediocrity, the Sacramento Kings are uncertain of the path ahead, but they hope to break the cycle this summer with a series of trades that will completely reset their timeline. With De’Aaron Fox already gone to the Spurs, the Kings have already taken the first steps toward a rebuild, but their next task is daunting: finding a new home for the veteran core.
As long as DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Domantas Sabonis are together, the Kings will always be in purgatory, and the only way out is to trade them one by one for the best possible value in return. With the ideal trade packages, the Kings could set up for a prosperous future, rich with young talent and draft picks that can help them establish themselves as a rising threat in the West.
DeMar DeRozan
Proposed Trade Details
Sacramento Kings Receive: De’Andre Hunter
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: DeMar DeRozan
At 35 years old, DeMar DeRozan’s best days on the court are already behind him, but he may still have years left to give as a productive NBA starter. In 77 games for the Kings this past season, he averaged 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game on 47.7% shooting.
With another two years and $50.2 million, DeMar’s contract might seem like a liability at first, but he proves his worth with results on the court, culminating in six All-Star appearances over 15 years. In Cleveland, he could help take the Cavaliers to the next level after years of disappointing playoff runs. His game would mesh well with Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen, who bring a mixed skillset of interior and perimeter play.
In return, the Cavaliers get back 27-year-old De’Andre Hunter, a young swingman who can stay in the position for years to come. While his upside may not be as high as DeRozan’s was, he’s a fitting replacement given his mobility, size, and similarly impressive ability to put the ball in the hoop. In 64 games this season, he averaged 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game for the Cavs.
Zach LaVine
Proposed Trade Details
Sacramento Kings Receive: Desmond Bane, GG Jackson
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Zach LaVine
Starting from the Timberwolves and then to the Bulls, LaVine’s latest stop is with the Kings, where he has been trying to recover his reputation with hard work on the court. In 74 games this past season, he averaged 23.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 51.5% shooting. Despite his lack of playoff success or experience, Zach is still a highly coveted asset due to his shooting and scoring abilities.
In a potential deal with the Grizzlies, the Kings would give up LaVine for Desmond Bane, who is four years younger and $10 million cheaper. He would likely not be a permanent stay for the Kings, but he could help lead the transition into their new era after averaging 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game in the 2024-25 campaign. They’d also get GG Jackson in the deal to increase their roster depth.
LaVine, meanwhile, would head to the Grizzlies and team up with Ja Morant to form a powerful new duo. As great as Desmond Bane has been for Memphis, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the team needs a fresh start, and adding LaVine to the mix in place of Bane would likely redefine their entire identity.
Domantas Sabonis
Proposed Trade Details
Sacramento Kings Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns
New York Knicks Receive: Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray
As the longest tenured Kings player of this bunch, Sabonis arguably has the most value of all his teammates, and his trade has the potential to cause the greatest ripple effect. The 29-year-old is in his prime and coming off an impressive season with averages of 19.1 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game on 59.0% shooting.
For a Knicks team that needs a major overhaul this summer, Sabonis may be the perfect way to return to form and get back to trending in the right direction. As a much more robust playmaker and post-player than Towns, Sabonis could unlock something new for the Knicks and possibly elevate their offense to an entirely different level. If that wasn’t enough, they’d also get promising young forward Keegan Murray in the deal to further replenish their frontcourt depth.
With Towns at the helm, the Kings would essentially have their star to build around, and he still has a lot of time left ahead of him at just 29 years old. While Towns may not stick around for the entirety of his three-year, $171 million contract, he’s a solid return for the Kings, and he could sweeten their situation amid a tough rebuild.
For a team that was competing in the playoffs just a few years ago, the situation has devolved fast in Sacramento, and now they are facing a long and difficult road ahead. After firing Mike Brown and parting ways with their franchise point guard, the Kings have reached a point of major uncertainty, and starting over may be their best path forward. The only small level of comfort for them is knowing they have enough veteran players to build a serious haul for the future.
