Zach LaVine is taking securing the bag to a whole new level.
The Sacramento Kings guard LaVine pulled a cold move on the team this offseason, Kings reporter James Ham revealed this week. Sacramento informed LaVine, prior to LaVine making a decision on his $49 million player option this summer, that they were willing to work with him on finding a sign-and-trade.
However, LaVine decided to pick up his option instead. As a result, the Kings are now effectively stuck with LaVine for the foreseeable future.
The two-time NBA All-Star LaVine, 31, was mismatched in Sacramento last season. He averaged just 19.2 points per game (his lowest since 2017-18) and was limited to 39 games played before undergoing season-ending hand surgery. Meanwhile, the Kings ended up tied for the worst record in the Western Conference at a dismal 22-60.
If LaVine had agreed to pursue a sign-and-trade, Sacramento could have gotten back some assets in exchange for the good-faith gesture of finding LaVine a preferred new home. But now Sacramento is stuck with a depreciating asset who does not fit with their roster and who can leave for nothing in free agency next summer.
You can’t be mad at LaVine though for making the right business move as a sign-and-trade would have almost certainly resulted in a lower salary elsewhere. That said, there is still one option on the table for the Kings to potentially rid themselves of LaVine.
