The Kings haven’t made any promises to Zach LaVine regarding his role with the team after the two-time All-Star shooting guard exercised his $49MM player option for 2026/27, according to James Ham, who covers Sacramento for ESPN 1320, TheKingsBeat.com, and Locked On Kings. The team was open to facilitating a potential sign-and-trade for LaVine before he picked up his lucrative option, but that’s no longer a possibility. Ham also clarified that the Kings have no interest in using the stretch provision on LaVine in the event of a buyout agreement. “I do know for a fact the Sacramento Kings will not buy out and stretch provision Zach LaVine,” Ham said. “ … I was told very specifically by someone I trust with the Sacramento Kings that they have absolutely no interest in (waiving and) stretching him.