The 2024–25 NBA season was full of drama for the Sacramento Kings. Things started on a high note with the signing of midrange maestro DeMar DeRozan.
Bold moves followed. The Kings fired head coach Mike Brown and later traded longtime franchise centerpiece De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs. They then made a splash by acquiring Zach LaVine. But despite all the headlines, the season ended on a sour note — Sacramento missed the playoffs.
Earlier in the year, the Kings were linked to rumors suggesting they might trade one of their stars for a marquee name to push them into contention. Now, it looks like they’ve zeroed in on a potential long-term replacement for Fox.
Darius Garland to the Kings? Sacramento Eyeing All-Star Guard
The Kings are in the market for a point guard, and according to Grant Afseth in his latest report, Darius Garland is on their radar. Garland signed a five-year, $197.2 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022 and has emerged as a top trade candidate this summer.
The 25-year-old had a solid regular season, averaging 20.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists across 75 games. In the playoffs, he posted 18.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, making him a reliable option. One concern for potential suitors, however, is his health.
Garland underwent toe surgery earlier this offseason and is expected to miss significant time. Per ESPN, he’s expected to be sidelined for four to five months, putting his training camp and early-season availability in doubt. The injury, first reported in March, was aggravated during Cleveland’s first-round series against the Miami Heat.
Sacramento is motivated to find a long-term solution at point guard and has shown interest in Darius Garland and Trae Young, per @GrantAfseth pic.twitter.com/acZU98vZJy
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 10, 2025
The interest in Garland comes amid reports linking the Kings to other guards, including the Suns’ Tyus Jones and Hawks superstar Trae Young. However, Afseth noted that talks between Sacramento and Atlanta have stalled. Young continues to surface in trade rumors, and it wasn’t surprising that the Kings explored him as an option to boost their postseason hopes.
Sacramento also leaned on sharpshooter Malik Monk at point guard at times, but the results — and a crowded Western Conference — made their needs clear. They’re looking for a bona fide floor general and a playmaker who can ignite the offense.
For Cleveland to move Garland, they’ll need a return that complements Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Any deal from Sacramento would likely require including one of LaVine, DeRozan, or Domantas Sabonis, along with draft picks and possibly other assets.
The NBA offseason is shaping up to be full of blockbuster trades, and all eyes will be on whether the Kings can land their next lead guard in Darius Garland.