NBA analysts are singing Scott Perry’s praises following a strong showing in his first NBA draft as general manager of the Sacramento Kings, but now the real work begins.
The Kings have big shoes to fill and critical decisions to make with trade talks heating up and free agency about to begin. Sacramento needs a point guard after trading De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in February. Perry also wants to add frontcourt length and athleticism.
Teams can begin negotiating with all free agents at 6 p.m. ET on Monday. Free agent contracts can’t be signed until 12:01 p.m. ET on July 6.
The point guard position will be Sacramento’s top priority. The Kings had internal discussions regarding the likes of Jrue Holiday and Trae Young, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, but they are now pivoting to free agent options such as Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook and Tyus Jones. Marc Stein reported that numerous teams believe the Kings have the best chance to sign Schroder if he doesn’t reach an agreement to stay with the Detroit Pistons.
As for front court options, the Kings would prefer to find a power forward/center type who pairs well with Domantas Sabonis and allows Keegan Murray to spend more time at small forward. Sources told The Athletic the Kings have interest in Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, who could be a sign-and-trade target as he enters restricted free agency.
The Kings are expected to be well over the salary cap next season, so Perry will have to work with the spending tools and trade assets he has at his disposal. He can use the midlevel exception to pick up a player in the range of $14 million or less. He would need to expend draft capital and trade assets to acquire a higher-priced player.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the center of attention if he requests a trade, but there are few teams with the assets needed to acquire the two-time MVP. The Kings could make a play, via trade or free agency, for other players, including Kuminga, John Collins, Michael Porter Jr., Obi Toppin, Rui Hachimura, Jaylin Williams and P.J. Washington.
Perry also must decide what to do with a number of his own players while still getting to know the roster just two months after being hired to replace Monte McNair.
The addition of assistant general manager B.J. Armstrong and associate head coach Mike Woodson will help Perry assess the roster with fresh perspective. The return of vice president of player personnel Phil Jabour, vice president of player development Paul Johnson, head coach Doug Christie and assistant coaches Leandro Barbosa, Dipesh Mistry and Jimmy Alapag will help Perry understand how the current pieces fit.
Zach LaVine and Murray are eligible for big contract extensions, but The Athletic reported the Kings do not plan to prioritize a new contract for LaVine. The two-time All-Star is owed $47.5 million next season with a $49 million player option for 2026-27.
Trey Lyles and Jake LaRavia will be unrestricted free agents. Markelle Fultz, Isaiah Crawford and Mason Jones are unrestricted free agents.
Under rules of the collective bargaining agreement, the Kings can only offer LaRavia $5.2 million in the first year of a new contract because they inherited the terms of his contract via trade after the Memphis Grizzlies declined his team option for 2025-26. Other teams can offer more money. The best the Kings can do might be a two-year deal with a player option in the second year and a commitment to a more lucrative extension later.
Then there’s Keon Ellis, who presents an interesting conundrum for the Kings. They can exercise a super affordable $2.3 million team option for the 2025-26 season or allow him to become a restricted free agent.
The Kings would have the right to match any offer Ellis receives as a restricted free agent, which could be risky or advantageous. Few teams will have salary cap space, but any number of teams might be willing to give Ellis a portion of their mid-level exception. If the Kings pick up their option on Ellis, he could become an unrestricted free agent next summer, which might set him up for an even bigger payday.
Sacramento is expected to be well over the projected $154.6 million salary cap. The Kings can sign free agents using the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception and the $4.67 million biannual exception.
No player is off limits in terms of trade talks, but the Kings seem committed to Sabonis and would be reluctant to trade Murray or Ellis.
Sacramento is expected to receive offers for DeMar DeRozan, but his departure is not a forgone conclusion.Perry values DeRozan’s talent and professionalism — not to mention roster depth — and DeRozan has a reasonable contract.
DeRozan is a six-time All-Star who averaged 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season while shooting 47.7% from the field and 32.8% from 3-point range. He has two years and $50.5 million remaining on the three-year contract he signed with Sacramento last summer. He is owed $24.8 million next season and $25.7 million in 2026-27.
The Kings could also temperature check the market for Sabonis, a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection who averaged 19.1 points, a league-high 13.9 rebounds and 6.0 assists this season while shooting a career-high 41.7% from 3-point range. Sabonis has three years remaining on a four-year, $186 million contract. He is owed $43.6 million, $46.7 million and $49.9 million over the next three seasons.
Other players the Kings could move depending on trade targets and salary matching specifications include LaVine ($47.5 million), Malik Monk ($18.8 million), Murray ($11.1 million), Jonas Valanciunas ($10.4 million), Devin Carter ($4.9 million) and Ellis ($2.3 million).