Current team and contract status
As of the 2025‑26 season, Zach LaVine is a member of the Sacramento Kings. He was acquired by Sacramento in the De’Aaron Fox sign‑and‑trade deal completed in June 2025, after spending his previous seasons with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Kings hold a team option for the 2026‑27 season on his contract, and LaVine is expected to be a core rotation wing in their backcourt built around Fox and Domantas Sabonis. This status reflects the most recent offseason moves and the team’s stated plans for their veteran perimeter scoring.
Career overview and timeline
Zach LaVine established himself as a high‑flying scorer and two‑time NBA All‑Star after jumping from UCLA to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2014 draft. He spent six seasons in Minnesota, earning multiple All‑Star selections and the 2018 Most Improved Player award, before joining the Chicago Bulls in 2021. After three seasons in Chicago, roster and postseason timing led to a trade to Minnesota in early 2025, and shortly thereafter he was part of the blockbuster package shipped to Sacramento in the Fox sign‑and‑trade. The following table summarizes key team and contract milestones in his career.
| Date or period | Team | Event and relevance |
|---|---|---|
| 2014–2021 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Developed into an All‑Star; won 2018 Most Improved Player |
| 2021–2025 | Chicago Bulls | Primary scoring option; playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024 |
| February 2025 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Traded to Minnesota in sign‑and‑trade involving Karl‑Anthony Towns |
| June 2025 | Sacramento Kings | Acquired in the De’Aaron Fox sign‑and‑trade; became a Kings rotation wing |
| 2025–26 season | Sacramento Kings | Team option for 2026–27; expected contributor alongside Fox and Sabonis |
Contract details and team option
LaVine’s current deal with Sacramento is a multi‑year contract structured to reward his veteran scoring while giving the team control through team options. The Kings hold a team option for the 2026‑27 campaign, which they are widely expected to exercise given his fit alongside Fox and Sabonis and his ability to defend multiple positions off the bench or starting small forward. The precise annual values are not disclosed here, but the framework is designed to balance cap flexibility with retaining a proven rotation leader.
What the team option means
- If exercised, LaVine remains with Sacramento through 2026‑27.
- If declined, he becomes an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team, including returning to a contender or exploring a hometown discount scenario.
- The option decision will hinge on his health, defensive metrics, and how the backcourt depth shapes up in training camp.
Recent performance and role with the Kings
In the 2025 preseason and summer league, LaVine demonstrated steady midrange shooting, efficient drives, and above‑average on‑ball defense, which aligned with the Kings’ desire for a secondary creator who can relieve pressure off Fox. He has been positioned as a primary rotation wing, sharing the floor with Haliburton in pick‑and‑roll sets and running actions with Sabonis in horns sets. His scoring touch and veteran playmaking are intended to lift Sacramento’s second‑unit offense in a deep Western Conference.
Key factors affecting his 2025‑26 status
Going into the season, three factors will define LaVine’s role: health, defensive consistency, and the pace of the young core around Fox. Staying on the floor with a high‑usage star in Fox means shot opportunities will be abundant, but defensive assignments against elite wings will test the versatility he showcased in Chicago and Minnesota. Ankle and knee durability from prior seasons will also be monitored, as maintaining minutes in a crowded backcourt depends on staying healthy.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Zach LaVine with Sacramento for 2025‑26? Yes, he is under team contract with the Sacramento Kings for the 2025‑26 season.
- What team did he play for before Sacramento? He was with the Minnesota Timberwolves, acquired in a sign‑and‑trade from Chicago in February 2025.
- Does he have a no‑trade clause? He had limited movement language in the latter years of his Bulls deal, and the Kings’ acquisition was structured as a sign‑and‑trade that satisfied his preferences at the time.
- What is his likely role on a deep Kings roster? Expected to be a rotation wing and secondary creator, playing significant minutes alongside Fox and Sabonis.
Bottom line
Zach LaVine is with the Sacramento Kings for 2025‑26, coming to them via a sign‑and‑trade from Minnesota that completed a multi‑team deal centered on De’Aaron Fox. A team option for 2026‑27 keeps him in Sacramento pending health and performance, and he is positioned as a veteran wing who can create off the dribble and defend multiple positions. For fans and fantasy managers, tracking his minutes, defensive assignments, and the Kings’ backcourt depth will be the clearest indicators of his ongoing value.