Sacramento Kings face 'massive changes' in the 2024-25 offseason. DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, or Domantas Sabonis could be traded. Read more! (June 2025)
StatPro NBA Beat Reporter
Sacramento Kings fans, buckle up. Following another disappointing season that saw the team miss the playoffs for the second straight year with a 40-42 record and a play-in tournament exit, NBA executives are reportedly expecting 'massive changes' to the roster this summer. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Kings are likely to trade 'at least one' of their core trio: DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, or Domantas Sabonis.
We need to figure out how to win. I want to be part of a winning culture here. - Domantas Sabonis (paraphrasing his concerns about the team's direction, similar to De'Aaron Fox's past comments)
The winds of change are howling in Sacramento. The front office, now under new General Manager Scott Perry, seems poised to dismantle parts of the core that couldn't get over the hump. While DeMar DeRozan and center Jonas Valančiūnas are seen as movable contracts, the real shocker is the potential departure of one of DeRozan, LaVine, or Sabonis. It's a clear signal that patience has run out. On the flip side, Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes has identified Keegan Murray as an 'untouchable' asset, a silver lining for fans hoping to retain some young talent amidst the potential upheaval.
With the midseason trade of De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs leaving a significant void in the backcourt, the Kings are actively looking for solutions. One name surfacing is free agent point guard Tyus Jones. Known for his steady playmaking and low turnover rate during his stints with Memphis and Phoenix, Jones could provide much-needed stability and leadership at the point guard position. His acquisition would be a crucial first step in retooling a backcourt that struggled significantly after Fox's departure, contributing to the team's 40-42 record and play-in elimination.
Newly appointed GM Scott Perry, who took over from Monte McNair just last month, has walked into a pressure cooker. His immediate challenge, beyond navigating potential blockbuster trades, is addressing the concerns of star center Domantas Sabonis. The 29-year-old reportedly voiced frustrations about the team's direction following the season's end, comments eerily similar to those made by De'Aaron Fox before his trade. Perry's ability to reassure Sabonis, or make the tough decision to move him, will be a critical test of his leadership as he aims to transform the Kings into a genuine contender.
As the Kings grapple with their current predicament, a familiar face is shining on the NBA's biggest stage. Former Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton, now leading the Indiana Pacers, is currently battling the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. Haliburton recently reflected on being 'distraught' when Sacramento traded him in 2022. His subsequent All-Star trajectory and Finals appearance serve as a stark, painful reminder for Kings fans of what could have been, and intensifies the pressure on Perry to maximize returns and make astute decisions in any upcoming trades. The contrast between Haliburton's success and the Kings' recent 40-42 season and play-in exit is a talking point that won't disappear anytime soon.
This offseason is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal in recent Kings history. With a new GM at the helm and a clear mandate for change, the decisions made in the coming weeks and months will undoubtedly define the franchise's trajectory. Will Perry make the bold moves necessary to elevate the Kings, or will fans be left wondering 'what if' once again? Fasten your seatbelts, Kings fans, it's going to be a wild ride.
