Despite New Zach LaVine Trade Rumors, the Kings Should Stay Out of It

The All-Star guard is tempting, but the Sacramento Kings don’t have to feel forced to make a move for him.

After a few months of speculation around the league, we finally got some forward progress on a potential deal surrounding Chicago Bulls G Zach LaVine. With questions revolving around the future and overall direction of the roster, the idea to send the 2x All-Star elsewhere has become increasingly popular.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Bulls and LaVine have become mutually open to exploring a trade. LaVine has spent the last seven seasons of his NBA career in Chicago, posting averages of 24.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.

Developing: NBA teams are probing the availability of Bulls two-time All-Star Zach LaVine and there is increased openness from both sides about exploring a trade, sources say.

Details at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/2UvELP2lMG

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 14, 2023

As it relates to the Sacramento Kings, the concept of adding an elite perimeter scorer next to All-Star G De’Aaron Fox is enticing. A hypothetical Fox-LaVine pairing would instantly become one of the top offensive guard duos in the league, also adding some comparable star power to match up with the rest of the Pacific Division.

However, the logistics of a deal to send LaVine to the Kings might have a bit more flaws than what meets the eye.

A top-tier scorer like LaVine presents value, sure, but is he really what this team is lacking right now? Sacramento maintained a statistically legendary offense a season ago, posting the best offensive rating in league history at 119.4. Adding a high-volume scorer might be more of a disruptor than a benefit, considering continuity has remained a key focus of the Kings’ team-building process.

It also adds a bit of uncertainty to what this team would provide on the defensive end. While LaVine can always provide an easy 20+ a night on some exciting threes and high-flying dunks, he’s also notorious for being a lackluster defender. For a Kings team that already has some issues on that end of the floor, making a deal for Zach would be a bit counterproductive.

Instead of piling in significant assets, whether it be in picks or players, on an offensive-minded guard, the Kings could use those pieces for someone who fits the team's needs better. It could be someone like a two-way wing or a frontcourt pairing that can complement Sabonis better on the defensive end, both of which make this roster much more well-rounded.

So yes, LaVine could be a perfect ingredient to get this team to score 125 points a night, but it doesn’t mean much if you let up 130 on the other end. When it comes to Sacramento making a blockbuster trade like this one, it might be better to stand on the sidelines instead of adding offensive star power because you can.

As the year progresses and the trade deadline gets closer, the Kings will have many other opportunities to improve the current roster. However, in my opinion, the answer is not Zach LaVine.

---

Follow Inside The Kings on Facebook and X.

Subscribe on YouTube for breaking Kings news videos and live-stream podcasts!