Here’s how the Kings look heading into Free Agency

Now that the draft is over, the next big step of the offseason is here as free agency is set to begin and the trade market heats up.  We’ve already seen some big moves go down, with Giannis Antetokounmpo going to Miami and LaMelo Ball heading to Miami, as well as Austin Reaves and Trae Young re-signing with their respective teams for max contracts.  So where do the Kings fit in?  Let’s take a look at the team’s current roster and cap situation heading into free agency.

Rostered Players and their 2026-27 Contracts:

1. Zach LaVine, $48.9 million (Player Option, almost certainly being picked up)
2. Domantas Sabonis, $45.4 million
3. DeMar DeRozan, $25.7 million (partially guaranteed for $10 million)
4. De’Andre Hunter, $24.9 million
5. Keegan Murray, $24.1 million
6. Malik Monk, $20.1 million
7. Darius Acuff Jr., $8 million
8. Devin Carter, $5.1 million
9. Nique Clifford, $3.2 million
10. Killian Hayes, $3 million (Team Option)
11. Alex Karaban, $2.9 million
12. Maxime Raynaud, $2.1 million
13. Dylan Cardwell, $2.1 million

Free Agents:

1. Russell Westbrook, PG
2. Drew Eubanks, C
3. Precious Achiuwa, PF
4. Doug McDermott, SF
5. Emanuel Sharp, SG (Unsigned Second Round Pick)
6. Isaiah Stevens, PG (Two-Way Player)
7. Daeqwon Plowden, G/F (Two-Way Player)
8. Patrick Baldwin Jr., F (Two-Way Player)

Cap Space & Luxury Tax Room:

Numbers provided by Spotrac.com

• Cap Space: -$93,318,227
• 1st Apron Space: -$1,009,538
• 2nd Apron Space: 11,990,462
• Tax Space: -$4,159,538

Available Exceptions:

• Jonas Valanciunas TPE ($4.96 million exception that expires on 7/13/2026)
• Dario Saric TPE ($5.42 million exception that expires on 2/1/27)
• Taxpayer MLE ($6.065 million)

The Kings can also generate the non-taxpayer MLE (projected $15.1 million) and the Bi-Annual Exception (projected $5.5 million) if they get under the 1st Apron. These exceptions would replace the smaller Taxpayer MLE.  Additionally the Kings can offer any player a veteran’s minimum contract.

What are the Kings likely to do?

We know that GM Scott Perry has been opportunistic but patient in looking for ways to move off of the team’s expensive veterans. Domantas Sabonis has generated the most interest but for now the Kings appear to be unwilling to let him go without acquiring some sort of first round draft capital.  The Kings would absolutely love it if Zach LaVine declined his player option but all indications from both him and his camp are that he isn’t doing that, and fair enough, as nobody else would be offering nearly that much in the open market and LaVine should still have a decent market after his current contract expires.  DeMar DeRozan on the other hand is almost certainly gone. Chris Haynes reported yesterday that the Kings are actively shopping DeRozan, but if no offers work for them, they will almost certainly cut him and just eat the $10 million guarantee.  I’m hesitant to believe there is much of a market for DeRozan, so I’m simply expecting him to be cut and sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.  Cutting DeRozan would bring the Kings under the 1st Apron and below the tax, opening up some room for bigger exceptions or re-signing free agents.

Speaking of free agents, the Kings only really have two decisions to make regarding current players whose contracts have expired. Drew Eubanks is almost certainly gone with the emergence of Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell last season, and Doug McDermott should probably move on now that the Kings have drafted Alex Karaban. The Kings have indicated they would like to bring back Precious Achiuwa however, and there is mutual interest there. Achiuwa signed with the Kings on a veteran’s minimum contract last season, but played well, averaging 10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 73 games.  He probably will command more than the minimum to come back, and may have interest elsewhere as well, but I don’t expect too much of a pay bump although it will probably take more than just a minimum this time.  Achiuwa seems like a good candidate for the Bi-Annual Exception ($5.5 million).

The other free agent the Kings might make a decision on is Russell Westbrook.  Westbrook joined the Kings on a minimum shortly before the season after getting zero interest from other teams, and he quickly supplanted free agent signing Dennis Schroder as the team’s starting Point Guard, averaging 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds over 64 games.  The Kings did just draft Darius Acuff Jr. to be their new lead guard, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Kings opt to keep Westbrook around as a veteran mentor if he’s up for it.  Just take a look at what the Kings did the last time Perry was around after they drafted De’Aaron Fox; They brought in George Hill, Vince Carter and Zach Randolph as veteran presences.  Reports indicate that Westbrook might want a pay bump to stay, and if that’s the case, I’d probably just say thank you for your time. But if he’s willing to take another minimum and come off the bench, I’d consider bringing him back.

The Kings will also need to sign second round pick Emanuel Sharp, and I think they will sign him to a real contract instead of a two-way deal.  It will probably be similar to the structure they gave Maxime Raynaud last season (3 years, $6 million) if I had to guess.  Sacramento can also decide if they want to bring back Killian Hayes or not as his contract is fully unguaranteed for next season.

Here’s what the Kings roster looks like with DeRozan cut:

PG: Acuff Jr. / Hayes
SG: LaVine / Clifford / Carter / Monk / Sharp
SF: Hunter / Karaban
PF: Murray
C: Sabonis / Raynaud / Cardwell

That’s 13 players and still a logjam at Shooting Guard.  Bringing back Achiuwa and Westbrook would put the Kings at the maximum roster size unless they cut Hayes (which I would imagine they would if they brought Westbrook back).  Assuming the Kings don’t find takers for LaVine or Sabonis, we could be seeing a fairly quiet free agency period for the Kings.  I would guess that the Kings try to get at least one new player in Free Agency, although I don’t think we’ll be seeing any Jonathan Kuminga-like pursuits this season like we had last year.  The Kings still have a dearth of size at PF and SF, so that’s what I’d expect the team to try to address if they can.  They’ll also probably look at another Point Guard if Westbrook moves on. I have a feeling that we might start to see more opportunities open up for the Kings by the trade deadline, as both LaVine and Hunter’s contracts are large expirings, and even Sabonis and Monk’s contracts won’t look nearly as bad.  This summer might be more about staying patient than anything as Perry deals with the mistakes of the prior regime.

Free Agency officially begins on June 30th.