The Sacramento Kings thought they had turned the corner when they snapped their 16-season playoff drought in 2023. Sac-Town believed a new era had finally arrived. But with the Kings failing to return to the postseason since their 4-3 first-round loss to the Golden State Warriors, questions about the franchise’s future have only grown louder.
Sacramento finished the 2024-25 season with 40 wins and another Play-In exit. Fans expected new GM Scott Perry to make bold moves that would push the team forward. However, Perry hasn’t done much to move the needle this offseason, and his formula of “sustainable success” has earned Sacramento a disappointing grade in PFSN’s latest offseason evaluations.
Why Are the Kings Focusing on Long-Term Building?
The NBA Draft cleared Sacramento’s approach when they moved up to acquire the 24th overall pick, signaling their focus on the future. Meanwhile, the team has only added Dennis Schroder and Dario Šarić as notable signings. This suggests Sacramento recognizes its transition phase, even if GM Perry won’t publicly admit it.
While Schroder’s arrival gives the Kings a reliable point guard, the team has made it clear they won’t overspend unnecessarily. But Sacramento’s reluctance to make big moves isn’t just about rebuilding. It’s also because their assets hold low value after an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign.
The Kings have been active in trade discussions, with Malik Monk topping the departure list. However, Monk doesn’t appear to have much of a market right now, complicating things for Sacramento.
Due to these limitations and the Kings’ focus on the future, the organization was handed a “D” grade in PFSN’s offseason grades. The grade, however, could see change as talks around the departure of Sacramento’s stars get louder. And if the team manages to land a young star that fits the Kings’ timeline in return, the grade would see drastic improvement.
What Does Sacramento’s Big Three Situation Mean for the Future?
Sacramento’s desire to move DeMar DeRozan earlier this year was no secret. Now, NBA insider Michael Scotto suggests the Kings will explore trading at least one of DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Domantas Sabonis either this offseason or before February’s trade deadline. That means nobody is safe in Sacramento.
People around the league expect the Kings to consider trading at least one member of their Big 3, per @MikeAScotto
“Looking ahead to the offseason, rival NBA executives are monitoring the trio of Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan with the belief that Sacramento… pic.twitter.com/EDqyDX6FWd
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 4, 2025
Sacramento will continue searching the market for assets that better suit its situation. However, they don’t want to give away players at low value, which would hurt their rebuilding progress.
Keegan Murray remains Sacramento’s centerpiece for the future. However, rookie Nique Clifford has been making noise in the Summer League, and the team might have found Murray’s sidekick. Sacramento traded away its 2027 first-round pick to select Clifford 24th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. ESPN’s Kevin Pelton named him the top rookie who stood out during their second-place finish at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
So even though that disappointing ‘D’ grade in the offseason evaluation looks gloomy for Kings fans, the team’s direction is clear. Sacramento doesn’t just want to return to the playoffs. They want to make sure they’re ready for a deep run when they get there. Sac-Town needs to take a page from Philadelphia’s book and ‘Trust The Process.’
