The Sacramento Kings are one of the NBA’s most disappointing teams through the season’s first month. It has become clear that the pieces don’t fit, and with the Kings also having one of the league’s oldest rosters, the trade speculation has begun. One of the Kings’ most interesting trade chips is former All-Star Zach LaVine, who is one of the NBA’s premier volume scorers. A top NBA insider recently clarified LaVine’s trade market at the moment.
What Did A Top NBA Insider Say About Zach LaVine’s Trade Market
NBA insider Jake Fischer discussed LaVine and the Kings in the latest edition of the Stein Line newsletter. Fischer said “Establishing a market for LaVine also figures to be difficult. The Bulls needed two trade deadlines to finally find a workable deal, and I have been consistently told that the Kings and Golden State were the only two teams that registered legitimate interest in the lead-up to the three-team deal that made him a King.”
Fischer added “I’ve heard multiple teams say that a LaVine market could indeed take shape if he were willing to bypass his $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season and replace it with a longer term deal at a lower salary.” LaVine is currently averaging 20.5 points per game for the Kings, who currently sit 13th in the Western Conference standings with a 5-13 record.
good morning from us, goodnight three from 1️⃣3️⃣ 🏹 🙂 pic.twitter.com/MC7WCBu1iB
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) November 25, 2025
While LaVine currently has an elite 63.2% true shooting percentage, his 106.7 offensive rating is his lowest in seven years. LaVine has also established a reputation as a pure scorer, but someone who provides little besides that. While the Kings have been bad overall, LaVine is currently giving his critics more ammunition this season. His current 124.6 defensive rating is the highest of his career, and his current plus/minus rating of -13 also adds fuel for critics who believe he doesn’t impact winning.
Now a veteran player who has been in the NBA for over a decade, LaVine has yet to win a playoff series in his career. In many ways, it’s easy to see why Fischer said that the trade market for LaVine hasn’t been great the last several years.
As Fischer notes, LaVine is in the last guaranteed year of his $215.2 million max contract, as he has a player option for next season. Fischer’s report that many teams would prefer if LaVine waived his player option for a new long-term deal at a lower annual salary is probably a sign that the league doesn’t view LaVine as a franchise-altering player.
The new salary cap rules have caused teams to make tougher decisions on which players are truly worth being paid at the top of the market.
LaVine’s next deal will be interesting, as he enters the market as a one-dimensional player.
