Zach LaVine's $49M Player Option Choice Ignites Trade Buzz—Will the Kings Deal Him to the Bucks?

The Sacramento Kings’ backcourt picture just got even more complicated as star guard Zach LaVine continues his recovery from February’s season-ending surgery on a torn tendon in his right hand, a procedure that officially shut him down for the remainder of 2025-26 and halted any chance of a late-season audition with his new team. Now, with the NBA calendar flipping to the final two weeks of June, league executives are watching whether the two-time All-Star will exercise his massive $49 million player option for 2026-27. Multiple reports out of Sacramento indicate LaVine is leaning toward opting in, a move that would give him financial security while giving the Kings a sizable trade chip once he is medically cleared. If LaVine does lock in that final contract year, rival teams expect Sacramento to explore the market rather than commit to a long-term partnership. Front-office sources say the Wizards, Pistons and Clippers have already inquired about LaVine’s availability, viewing the explosive scorer as a buy-low candidate whose value dipped after averaging 19.2 points on 41.6 percent shooting before the hand injury. In Detroit, a reunion with former Bulls teammate Coby White has been floated as a way to reignite the Central Division rivalry that once defined both players’ early careers. Sacramento’s stance has been fluid. Internally, the club is comfortable paying LaVine next season if head coach Doug Christie believes the 31-year-old can fit alongside De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis once healthy. But the Kings are also coming off a 24-58 campaign and own limited draft capital, making LaVine an obvious path to replenishing picks or landing younger, cheaper wings. From the player’s side, sources close to LaVine say he is prioritizing a situation where he can “get back to being a primary option” rather than ride shotgun behind established stars. The hand is expected to be out of a protective brace by mid-July, and the guard plans to resume full basketball activity by early August. Two scenarios are gaining traction around the league: 1. LaVine opts in and is moved before training camp, giving an acquiring team 12 months to evaluate him ahead of 2027 free agency. 2. He opts in, starts the season in Sacramento and uses a strong early-season stretch to rebuild value before the February trade deadline. Either outcome keeps the former Slam Dunk champion firmly in the rumor mill—something he has grown accustomed to since his Chicago days. For cap-strapped contenders like the Bucks or Suns, a mid-season salary-dump route could emerge if the Kings are willing to attach minor assets to jettison the final year of the contract. In the meantime, fans should keep eyes on two key dates: June 29, the deadline to pick up the player option, and July 6, when teams can begin officially processing trades after the moratorium. LaVine’s decision—and the ripple effect it creates—will shape an offseason already primed for backcourt movement across the league. Search interest in his next step is spiking for a reason: wherever LaVine lands, the 6′5″ scorer still owns the athletic burst and three-level scoring punch that can swing a playoff race. The only question left is which front office will bet big on his comeback story.