On the same night the Sacramento Kings moved into the first round to draft —a versatile, NBA-ready wing—a report from Sam Amick shed light on GM Scott Perry’s early approach to reshaping the team.
According to Amick, Perry appears focused on building around youth, financial flexibility, and long-term fit, rather than investing in expensive veterans who don’t align with Sacramento’s timeline or identity. That philosophy reportedly led the Kings to pass on veterans like Jrue Holiday and Trae Young due to concerns about age, cost, and playstyle.
League sources say the Kings explored trading for Holiday (before he was dealt from Boston to Portland), but backed off due to his age (35) and contract ($104.4 million through 2027–28). A similar proposal for Trae Young was shot down due to his offense-first game and high price tag—he’s due $45.9 million next season and $48.9 million in 2026–27, with a contract extension looming.
This cautious approach suggests Sacramento is avoiding major financial commitments that could limit future roster flexibility. It also implies the front office isn’t entertaining unrealistic expectations—like turning into a contender with aging stars—just to chase the play-in tournament.
The Kings are putting a premium on roster balance and defense, not just big names. Perry emphasized Clifford’s two-way skill set in his post-draft press conference, praising his versatility and noting that depth and flexibility are key traits among recent Finals teams like Oklahoma City and Indiana.
Despite this direction, Sacramento still needs a point guard. Amick reports the Kings are shifting to more affordable free agents, with interest in veterans like Dennis Schröder, Tyus Jones, and Russell Westbrook—all short-term options. Of the three, Westbrook seems the least ideal due to his declining impact, while Jones and Schröder offer more practical solutions, though none are likely long-term starters.
Perry made it clear the next phase—free agency—is about continuing to shape the team’s identity around six core values: competitiveness, toughness, teamwork, accountability, discipline, and professionalism.
In another noteworthy point, Amick reports that the Kings don’t plan to pursue a new deal with Zach LaVine. If Sacramento is going to make a big financial commitment, it will be for a younger player who fits their long-term vision—someone like Jonathan Kuminga, a 22-year-old forward the Kings are reportedly monitoring.
This signals a realistic outlook. While LaVine can score, he hasn’t shown he’s a player you can build around, and the Kings don’t appear to be under that illusion—despite some behind-the-scenes pressure. If he remains on the roster, fine, but Sacramento seems unwilling to overcommit to him.
It’s also telling that the executive who traded De’Aaron Fox for LaVine is no longer with the team, and now the Kings are already signaling they’re not committed to keeping LaVine around long-term.
All in all, while this might seem like modest progress to fans elsewhere, for Kings supporters, this kind of clear vision—between drafting smart, avoiding costly mistakes, and targeting youth—is a welcome change and provides some much-needed hope for the future.