June has arrived, meaning that the start of NBA free agency is right around the corner.
Which current members of the Sacramento Kings will become free agents when the NBA’s free agency period begins on Monday, June 30th (3 p.m. PT)?
With new general manager Scott Perry, assistant general manager B.J. Armstrong, and head coach Doug Christie all being signed to their new positions in the early stages of the offseason, all eyes will soon shift to how this Kings roster is constructed for the 2025-26 season.
Sacramento is fresh off a 40-42 season that concluded in disappointing fashion–a blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center in the ninth vs. tenth seed Play-In Game, putting the finishing touches on a tumultuous season that included the firing of head coach Mike Brown and the trade of star guard De’Aaron Fox.
Not even one hour removed from their season-ending loss to Dallas, the Kings announced that 2022-23 Executive of the Year winner Monte McNair would not return as general manager.
Perry, who assumed the role as GM the following day, will have to make decisions on the following free agents once the NBA Finals conclude (teams can begin negotiations with their own free agents the day after the Finals end):
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2025 NBA Free Agency: Sacramento Kings
F – Trey Lyles – 2024-25 salary: $8 million
Lyles, one of the staples in Sacramento’s rotation over the past four seasons, will enter NBA free agency for the second time since joining the Kings during the 2021-22 season’s trade deadline.
Following a strong 2022-23 season that saw Lyles provide Sacramento with valuable minutes as the team’s backup power forward, the Kentucky product inked a two-year, $16 million deal to remain with the Kings.
Two seasons later, with averages of 6.9 points and 4.5 rebounds on 43/36/70 shooting splits over 127 games under his belt, Lyles will once again enter free agency as Sacramento will have to make another decision on the backup power forward spot.
It’s almost certain that Lyles won’t return for his $8 million salary, but the Kings could reunite with the 29-year-old for a lower number if the two sides want to run things back for another season, especially if a reunion with Jake LaRavia doesn’t take shape.
F – Jake LaRavia – 2024-25 salary: $3.6 million
Speaking of LaRavia, Sacramento will be handcuffed in what they can offer the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent.
Due to inconsistencies during his first two-plus seasons with Memphis, the Grizzlies declined their fourth-year option on LaRavia before this season, making the 6’8 forward an impending unrestricted free agent.
This means that LaRavia will be free to negotiate with all 29 other NBA teams. Due to CBA limitations and restrictions, the Kings will be capped at an offer that includes a first-year salary of $5.1 million.
LaRavia recently stated that he would be open to returning to Sacramento, adding that he enjoyed playing for new head coach Doug Christie during the final months of the 2024-25 regular season–one that was cut short for LaRavia due to a wrist injury.
The Kings could look to add LaRavia to a short, two-year deal that includes a player option on the second year, which would open the door for a longer deal and higher salary if the forward’s play mirrors his brief contributions with Sacramento: 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.9 steals on 38 percent shooting from three-point range.
Bringing back LaRavia appears to be a priority for the Kings, who could benefit from having a floor-spacing, physical presence on the roster that can defend multiple positions.
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G – Keon Ellis ($2.3 million team option) – 2024-25 salary $1.7 million
Like LaRavia, the Kings have decisions to make on Keon Ellis’ contract situation in the coming weeks.
Ellis, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2024-25 that saw him average 8.3 points and 1.5 steals (11th in the NBA) per game while shooting an impressive 43 percent from three-point range (8th in the NBA), is at the mercy of Sacramento’s decision in whether or not to pick up a $2.3 million team option for 2025-26.
If the Kings choose to pick up the option, Ellis will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season, meaning he will be free to negotiate and sign with any team–Sacramento will not have the right to match offers.
However, if the Kings decline the team option, Ellis becomes a restricted free agent on June 30, which opens the door for Sacramento to sign him to a long-term contract, but also allows other teams to make their pitches in restricted free agency.
The Kings would own the right to match any offer in restricted free agency, which they appear likely to do, seeing that Ellis was one of their most important players during the 2024-25 season.
Christie’s defensive experience and expectations for the roster going forward make a player like Ellis an ideal fit for the future, and Sacramento is in no place to let their best defender walk in free agency.
Either choice is a roll of the dice for the Kings, but the expectation remains that retaining Ellis is a priority this offseason.
F – Doug McDermott – 2024-25 salary: $3.3 million
McDermott was fun to watch at times this season, especially at the end of games when he had multiple instances of three-point barrages.
Well-liked in the locker room, well-liked by the fanbase, and having three-point depth doesn’t hurt. Still, Sacramento will likely seek upgrades across the board in NBA free agency, even for spots near the end of the bench as they aim for improvements in every aspect.
F – Jae Crowder – 2024-25 salary: $2.6 million
Crowder rarely took the floor for the Kings, instead making his impact off the floor thanks to his experience and veteran leadership.
Another spot that Sacramento will seek to upgrade this summer.
G – Markelle Fultz – 2024-25 salary: $981k
Fultz joined the Kings late in the season and assumed backup point guard duties at times, but looked shaky in those instances. Sacramento will be in the market for a starting point guard this summer (adding via the trade market, rather than NBA free agency), but it’s unlikely that Fultz will be in that mix.
F – Isaac Jones ($2 million team option) – 2024-25 salary: $1 million
Jones, who started the season on a two-way contract, earned a standard NBA deal thanks to his impressive play in the G-League (21.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) and hustle with the Kings over 40 appearances.
Sacramento has until June 29th to make a decision on its $2 million team option for the 2025-26 season.
Two-way contracts: Mason Jones & Isaiah Crawford
Jones, the NBA G League Finals MVP, will be a restricted free agent this summer–as will forward Isaiah Crawford.
Crawford still has eligibility for a two-way deal if the Kings want to bring him back, while Jones is no longer eligible to sign a two-way deal and would have to be on a standard NBA contract if he were to remain in Sacramento.
More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports
Nobody would be surprised if the Sacramento Kings shook up the top of their roster at the beginning of Scott Perry’s general manager regime in California’s capital. Rumors have been swirling around DeMar DeRozan, but some of their key depth pieces are currently in the balance as well.
Keon Ellis has a complicated contract scenario, leaving Sacramento to decide if they want to decline his option and allow the two-way guard to enter unrestricted NBA free agency this offseason. Another contract negotiation will likely take place with forward Jake LaRavia.
The Kings acquired LaRavia from the Memphis Grizzlies via a mid-season trade for Alex Len, Colby Jones, and a second-round pick. He was relatively cheap due to Memphis having declined his fourth-year rookie-scale option, limiting their ability to pay him in the looming offseason.
Grizzlies GM Zach Klieman admitted that, in hindsight, declining the option was a mistake.
Former GM Monte McNair facilitated the deal, but now Perry inherits LaRavia and his contractual restrictions, limited to a starting salary of roughly $5.1 million.
Signing a shorter-term deal to re-negotiation shortly isn’t out of the question, and that may be a fair price tag for the 6’8 forward, but it’ll ultimately be the free agent market determining his value.
LaRavia reflected on his short time with Sacramento in an interview with Basketball Insiders.
Read more below:
Jake LaRavia: “I could see going back [to Sacramento] as an option”
Upcoming offseason schedule for the Sacramento Kings:
Wednesday, June 25th – 2025 NBA Draft
Monday, June 30th – NBA free agent negotiations can begin
Sunday, July 6th – NBA free agents can officially sign with teams
July 10th-20th – Las Vegas NBA Summer League
August TBD – Release of 2025-26 regular season schedule
September TBD – Start of NBA training camps for the 2025-26 season
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