Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine will miss the rest of the season following hand surgery, according to a report.
BREAKING: Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine will undergo season-ending surgery on his right hand after the All-Star break, league sources tell me. He averaged 19.2 points, shot 48 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc. pic.twitter.com/uph3thRMSD
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 14, 2026
LaVine is averaging 19.2 points (47% from the field and 39% from three), 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists. His season assist average is the lowest of his career and his rebounding averages are the lowest of his career since his second season in the league.
LaVine had been dealing with a pinky tendon injury. The last game he played in was the Feb. 6 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
He played in 39 games this season.
The tank rolls on without him now.
Well that was a good use of $47 million.
These guys live the good life don’t they
Should have traded him for an all-star PG. oh wait…
Fox / Lavine trade is the second worst trade in Kangz history after Vlade’s philly special.
I still don’t get how Monte didn’t get the 2031 pick swap back in this trade.
San Antonio Spurs get:
Sacramento Kings get:
Chicago Bulls get:
Just to play Devil’s advocate here, The Kings did get two free and clear 1st round picks in that deal and got out of Huerter’s contract. It was Perry who gave up the Spurs pick to acquire Nique. When I look at a fringe all-star like Trae Young and see what he got in return, I would argue the original return wasn’t as bad as it looks today.
Now, that being said, LaVine has been a horrible disappointment, but that is 100% on Vivek and I think we all know it. When Viviek wants something and directs his GM to get it, the return will almost assuredly not going be great (DMC for Buddy and a pick is an example).
The ones who made out on the trade looks to be the Bulls. They got their own pick back (became Noa Essengue) and Huerter got flipped for Jaden Ivey. The Bulls got two prospects for giving up LaVine. That’s pretty unreal.
Look what the Grizz got for Bane and for JJJ
True, but they a bit cheaper and have elite skillsets. Fox is an amazing player, but he doesn’t really make those around him better, he’s not an elite defender and not an elite shooter. Truth be told, I’d probably take either one of those guys over Fox if I were building a team.
We are also missing the Vivek factor and his tunnel vision for LaVine and Fox’s proclamation that he wanted to go to the Spurs. The Bane and JJJ deals were out of nowhere because the Magic and Utah or buyers. The Kings were hamstrung in dealing with the Spurs. It was just s shitty situation all around.
I feel when everyone knows you are trying to trade a guy (Trae Young), the return is generally going to be bad. The Luka trade is the anomaly in that return was also shitty.
I sort of have Trae, Ja, Fox on the same tier. We’ll have to wait and see what the Grizz eventually get for Ja, but it may end up the Kings got the most for their fringe star, especially if they do something with an expiring LaVine.
I disagree. The return for Fox was atrocious, but as you said, it was likely because Vivek wanted Lavine and so Monte’s hands were tied.
I think some view it as atrocious because of LaVine. For me it boils down to (what was) two firsts and matching salary and production. LaVine put up similar to better numbers at the time of the trade. He was averaging nearly 24, 5 and 5 while hitting the 3 ball at 44%. Does he play defense? No. Is he a bit of a black hole on offense? Yes, but those things could also be said about Fox. Fox will always be a fringe all-star, just like LaVine has been. It’s clear he’s not a #1 on a good team, and neither is LaVine.
Does Ja get Memphis 2 firsts? That remains to be seen, but Trae’s return was far worse. Another similar tier’d player, IMO, is Coby White and he was just moved for Ousmane Dieng, Colin Sexton, and some 2nd rounders. Or how about the Darius Garland trade? He got the Cavs Harden, while also costing the Cavs a 2nd round pick. Would you be happy with a Harden for Fox trade?
Garland, Trae, White, Ja, Fox are on near the same tier for me. Your milage may vary.
All these past trades put the Fox trade into a bit of a perspective for me.
I’m not saying the trade was good, but from a production standpoint it was on par. What makes it look so bad is LaVine’s horrible season and ridiculous contract, but kyou now what, I’m glad the Kings aren’t on the hook for Fox’s new deal. It will be interesting to see how the Spurs handle Fox’s $61M deal when he’s 32.
Now, had Monte been able to wait and make the trade after the season, we could be singing a different tune, but I think the sour taste in out mouths from the trade is not necessarily what Fox is worth, it’s that we got LaVine, this shit show of a season, and no cap space in it’s aftermath.
So, should that 2031 Minny pick turn out to be a stud while a 32 year Fox is coming off a $61M contract, would it be viewed as a good trade then? What if LaVine’s expiring deal or massive cap space bring in more draft assets, should we re-evaluate?
But to your point, yeah today the trade fucking sucks in large part because this season fucking sucks…I’m just saying time may tell us otherwise. Devil’s advocate and all.
the Fox extension was necessary for SAS but now with 3 PG’s, one of them will be gone within 3 years.
Exactly. It’s not that Fox was traded, it’s that the Kings took back LaVine.
the return for Fox was terrible an it was because the little cap was in love with LaVine.
I think Fox is better than Trae- no D at all, better than Ja- hurt too much.
Bad trade.
And I would posit that a PG is a more critical building block than a SG or PF- so I would take Fox over those two
Like I said, your milage may vary. IMO, all of those dudes are on or near the same tier. I’m trying to remove the purple glasses bias, but I’m sure fans of other cities may favor Garland, or White, or Trae, or whoever over Fox. I think we can agree that none are superstars and are likely best served as 2nd or even 3rd fiddle on a good team.
Put it this way, there are some quality young PGs on rookie scale deals that I would take over those guys I listed who are on their 3rd massive contracts. Guys like Keyonte George, Anthony Black, or the Spurs young duo may fetch more because of age and contract. Those factors should not be overlooked.
The Spurs traded for a Fox about to sign his third massive contract, that alone is a factor that lowers the return.
Also, if we had cissoko right now we would be feeling better
Nailed it.
the first from the Hornets easily conveyed to 2 seconds and either one or both is gone.
The first from SAS was converted to Clifford
Sidy started for the Blazers after Kings dropped kicked him
Great trade.
LaVine is useless
I have wondered, if Monte knew he was leaving and was sick of the owners and others interference and undermining his work, what was to stop him going if you really want Zach Lavine here he is
Get well soon Zach. Keegan, Sabonis, Lavine. I guess DeMar will be next.
Tank commander down! I repeat, tank commander down!
The Bizarro Tank.
We still have DeMar. I’m sure he can fill in admirably.
Welp. There goes our playoff chances.
*Play-in
Don’t forget, Vivek and SP’s plan all along was to get into the play-in.
Good. Our defense will improve with him on a gurney.
Only cost about 1.3 million per game . Per win likely about 5 million . I bet even Vivek gets glassy-eyed thinking about that .
Oh no… Whatever shall we do…
While I wish him no ill will and hope he has a quick and 100% recuperation, this is just about the best news this team could hope for. Too bad it didn’t happen 30 games ago. More PT for the younguns.
I left the Kings after the ironic deal with DeRozan… Double ironic
He’s more valuable to this team when he’s not playing.
R.I.P. Zach Lavine (kangz career)
2/3/25 – 2/13/26
Gruden
The basketball Gods made sure we were the worst team in NBA this year, justice served, Vivek got what he deserved. Franchise altering pick incoming.
I hope Vivek doesn’t screw this one up. I hope Perry doesn’t screw this one up. I wonder what the rest of you guys think about Peterson. With his injuries do we take a chance or go somewhere else?
I fear that regardless who the Kings pick, they will not want to be here and/or not be developed properly.
Jack, my starry eye friend – The worst record has never resulted in top pick. And Kings have a good chance to mess up worse record.
I have questions about Peterson- big talent but is he like Anthony Edwards?
Boozer? limited physically
AJ disappears in big games
I think the best pick is Flemings. PG. and if Kings as they will blow the first overall, this is a good back up but need to be in top 5 for that.
I like Flemings too. He does a lot of good offensively, and is a good defender. He seems like a really smart PG who knows what he is doing. He might not get 10 assist each game, but he is damn good.
There are no questions about Peterson. The clear number 1 pick
Plenty of questions about Peterson . Scored 10 points with no assists or rebounds today in loss to Iowa St .
If I had #1, I would take him but he raises some questions- I se him as entitled, as not willing to play hurt and a whole lot like an AAU trained player
I think Boozer will be good but he has a ceiling. AJ will be good but he might be Jonathan Isaac.
I don’t expect the Kings to get the #1, even if they have the worst record but that could be a disguised blessing- All good teams need a PG.
Murraytant we are on the same page. I really like Flemings. IMO could be the Kings future point guard.
I’m expecting the Kings to be 3rd or 4th in the draft. That means Peterson and Dybantsa are probably off the board. That leaves Boozer, Wilson, and Flemings. They would all help the Kings, and I think Flemings would be the best for Sac.
No Ceilings NBA on YouTube had a recent tape breakdown of Kingston. It was rather insightful.
Yes Jack ! we converge.
Now just shut Domas down and we’ll have the worst record in the league locked.
I don’t think it matters. The Kings have not played through Domas since Brown was fired. They have basically reduced him to someone that can rebound well. He does not shoot in volume, and he gets far fewer chances to facilitate.
No doubt, he is a far superior player to Max or Cardwell or Precious. But in Kangzworld he’s a modern day Reggie Evans.
For real. They have mightily decreased his value by total mismanagement. I feel someone will eventually trade for Sabonis for pennies on the dollar and will reap the rewards.
He would’ve been a nice fit on the Raptors. I was hoping for the Kings to pull the trigger on the trade just to see that songbird fly away from its cage.
Raptors would not give up FRP or the rookie PF. and wanted the Kings to take Poertl- 4 year contract
no deal
I cannot stress enough how much I do not care about the Kings future and just wanted to see Sabonis find greener pastures
The flip side is that domas’ value may actually go up by this offseason simply because his contract is slightly shorter at that point.
Hope we can move his expiring deal this off-season and he’s played his last game as a King.
They’ll be the only team in NBA history to add salary in a salary dump, for the second time, because Vivek doesn’t make the same mistake twice. He makes it over and over and over.
Paul George! You are a King!
Heaven forbid!
At this point, it won’t be a salary dump. It will be a matching salary for somebody else’s salary dump.
Eh, at this point, you probably just hold onto him until next trade deadline, when you can try to trade him for another bad multi-year contract PLUS picks. Ideally for a guy that’s serviceable and reliable, just way overpaid.
Well the plan should be to get him healthy for next year, have a good healthy first half and move him at the trade deadline for some draft capital or a young player.
As bad as things are currently , I can honestly see a path to a nice future. Make the 2026 draft pick count, move LaVine and DeRozan by next years trade deadline. I’d keep Sabonis for now. Start our number 1 pick immediately next season along with Murray, Raynaud, Sabonis, and Clifford and let’s see what the hell we have.
In the 2027 offseason perhaps take on a bad contract for draft capital and make the 2027 draft picks count and we should have a fun, bright future ahead. We have the assets for a path forward, I just don’t know if this front office is capable of executing. It really is that simple.
Detroit, Memphis, OKC, Utah all are taking or did take the tank route but all used old assets to get a jump start- The Kings cannot do that. Start from zero
The plan can be flexible depending on how the draft balls turn out. If you get real lucky and get Peterson the plan is much different than if you slipped severely with the draft position. If you get Peterson, you keep Sabonis IMO. Once LaVine and DDR and perhaps Monk are off the payroll, you have a lot of options. Cap space can get you draft capital and perhaps a young player.
If you get lucky and get Peterson and he’s the real deal after year one, you might consider free agency to get a position of need. Something like
Peterson, Clifford, Murray, Sabonis and perhaps Raynaud is a pretty good nucleus. You also potentially have a couple good picks in 2027. These things can turn around quickly with a little luck and just decent management which we haven’t had.
Question. Don’t we also have 2 second round picks? I think one is #31 not to far off first round picks. Could get lucky here also.
this year, there is a first, a high second and the Hornets second Root for Hornets to lose
We don’t rreally have to start from zero. Right now we have Murray, Clifford, Raynaud, Cardwell and maybe Carter.Precious and Hunter could be included but for now both are on the fence.
Eh, those are all likely 2nd teamers or perhaps, one or two roll players to slot in as the 4th or 5th options. You MIGHT be able to get away with starting two of those guys IF the other 3 starters are borderline All-Stars or better.
I agree, things can easily go from bleak to interesting, depending on how the odds fall with the lottery. But let’s say we get a top 3 pick, now you have a potential blue chipper to build around and still have the contracts of Zach, Domas, DDR and Monk to trade and those contracts will be shorter come this offseason or trade deadline.
But it all depends on the lottery odds come May.
Not that it wasn’t already a lock, but there’s no way he declines his player option this offseason now. He excels at shooting and doesn’t do much else and he’s having surgery on his finger. NOBODY is paying $45m+ for him other than the KANGZ.
And 1, I don’t think the league can make much of a case about the Kangz tanking. Maybe they’re dragging their feet bringing players back from injury but these injuries all seem legit. This team really does just suck worse than teams actually TRYING TO LOSE GAMES.
From what I understand, the league reviews injury reports and records to verify they are legit.
What I don’t understand is why the league punishes some teams but completely ignores others. Remember when OKC was in full tank and traded for Horford’s deal to gain draft capital? They then sent Horford home for the remainder of the season. He wasn’t injured, the just chose to send him home after he played 28 games in 2020-21. The league didn’t bat an eye.
Same reason David Stern did nothing when Clay Bennet broke all his promises to Seattle and moved the team to OKC. If you’re buds with the commish, the rules don’t seem to apply.
That’s money, that’s different and the commish works for the owners
Listening to Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe on Simmons pod over the weekend and they were summising a lot of the anti tanking talk was coming from OKC sources who get Utah’s pick if it falls past 8. If this is true its pretty rich coming from them, after all the stuff they pulled over the years
couple key good games coming up after ASG- Pacers vs. Wiards twice
root for who?
G-League vs. G league and final will be 11-10 in double OT
Talk to his agent and see, what he could get if he declined his deal. And/or how about if you tell him you won’t play next year, we will pay you but you’ll be on the bench and not playing, so good luck building value for your next deal
The hapless Vegas Raiders tanked a bit and got lucky and are in line to get a franchise changing player. They have to keep their idiot owner away from roster matters. Good model for the hapless Kings.
Send the little chap on a long cruise with no internet
Tanking and lottery luck can completely change a franchise on a dime. I haven’t been this excited about the Raiders in years. It’s going to take some luck for the Kangz to get out of this hole.
Mark Davis stepped aside and let Brady run things with the GM, I just don’t see Vivek ever stepping aside and really letting his GM cook. Plus, I’m out on Perry. There’s no coming back from his dumb moves last offseason.
I agree with this! I’m a Kangz fan first, boycotting this year and for the first time in a few years, I might commit to watching football again if the Raiders don’t screw up this off-season.
I am still watching the game but fast-forwarding a lot. I am enjoying seeing the young guys figure out the NBA and I think there is some talent there. I have several friends completely boycotting watching and none of us have been to a game in person. It’s a small thing, but we don’t want to feed that dope Vivek one more dime that we need to.
Was LaVine still on the team?
LOL, all-star break is literally the most irrelevant part of the regular season for Kings fans.
It’s also the most irrelevant part of the NBA yearly cycle, and it’s getting worse. The first week of July is more exciting than this weekend.
You can say that again. I watched part of the slam dunk contest for the first time in maybe 8 years — the dunks I saw are outdone by Malick Monk’s in regular games.
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