After finishing 22-60 last season, the Sacramento Kings are in no position to compete for a title. In fact, with the franchise focused on player development and building a basic identity, they could even get younger by trading away what’s left of their veteran core.
DeMar DeRozan is already gone, and likely headed to Miami, while Russell Westbrook may be done in the NBA entirely. That leaves Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine as the odd ones out, but their departures may not be far off. According to the latest intel from James Ham, LaVine’s future in particular has become increasingly uncertain after hard discussions about his role for the upcoming season.
“They’ve been honest with [Zach LaVine] and said, ‘Look, all bets are off if you opt in…We as a franchise have to make a business decision with regards to you, and if he’s going to get bought out it should happen now. Because after this it’s not advantageous to anybody.”
LaVine has a somewhat shady history in the NBA, including a falling out with the Chicago Bulls that led to his dramatic exit. Still, despite the baggage, he’s someone who can produce at a high level on the court, with averages of 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 47.9% shooting from the field in 2025-26.
LaVine’s contract was a big reason he was untradeable, as he’s making roughly $45 million per year as part of the five-year, $215 million deal he signed in 2022. But if he’s bought out, LaVine could sign to any team for the minimum, making him a highly lucrative free agent target. So far, we’re still waiting for the Kings to make their move, but we can think of several teams that could make ideal landing spots for the two-time NBA All-Star.
Miami Heat
The Heat have been looking for low-cost additions, and it doesn’t get much better than LaVine. In the aftermath of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, where they were forced to give up most of their best shooters (including Tyler Herro), they are lacking true perimeter threats, which has linked them to veteran targets such as Klay Thompson.
At 31, LaVine is the much better option, as his skills as a shooter and explosive isolation scorer would provide a much-needed spark on offense. He played just 39 games for the Kings last season, but he was productive on the floor and could thrive under the expert guidance of head coach Erik Spoelstra.
From LaVine’s perspective, the Heat offer everything he could want in his next team: a chance to take on a big role for a competitive team. Best of all, he’d get to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, who often generates easy looks for his teammates.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors struck out on all of their primary targets this summer, and now there are rumors that they are shifting their focus to the post-Steph era. But if they really want to make one last run with Curry, who plans to sign an extension, LaVine is an option that they cannot ignore.
As a three-level scorer, his arrival would make a huge impact for Golden State, and it would alleviate a lot of scoring pressure off Stephen Curry. Notably, LaVine could act as a replacement for Jimmy Butler, who may not be ready for action until midway through the season. At the very least, it gives the Warriors some much-needed youth and star power to help them stack up against their most elite competitors.
For LaVine, choosing Golden State would be less about winning right away and more about the opportunity to prove his worth and elevate his game. With the Warriors, he could learn from some of the NBA’s most iconic legends (Steph on offense, Draymond on defense) while enjoying the freedom to play at his own pace.
Detroit Pistons
It hasn’t been a great summer for the Pistons. As much as Cade Cunningham tried to recruit his fellow players, none of them are set to join him in Detroit. What’s worse is that they’ve already lost one of their own starters (Tobias Harris), while another holds off on extension talks in the pursuit of a better deal (Jalen Duren).
By adding LaVine, the Pistons can somewhat recover their losses and prove to Cade that they are serious about being competitive. With Zach, the Pistons may not be favorites in the East, but they’d stand a better chance to keep up against the top-tier backcourts in New York, Philadelphia, and Cleveland. The only doubt is whether they would want to extend his contract.
In Detroit, LaVine could become a hero by stepping up as the perfect sidekick for Cunningham. As a young team on the rise, the Pistons offer stability and a chance at meaningful games for years to come.
