u/eric7899487

Trying to understand what the Kings’ options look like once Zach LaVine and De’Andre Hunter’s contracts expire.

Do we actually gain meaningful cap space when those deals come off the books, or are we still likely to be over/near the cap because of the rest of the roster?

Also, are either of those expiring contracts
realistically tradeable before they expire? Could their value actually increase as expirings, or is the better move just letting them fall off the books and getting the flexibility?

Curious what people think the best path is from here.

*What would be the ideal outcome once this cap space frees up? That we use it up on crappy contracts to get 2-3 first rounders?

Everyone keeps saying “just get through this year, 2027 fixes it when Lavine/Hunter contracts drop off and we get another top draft pick” I looked into both halves of that and I don’t think either one holds up.

The tank isn’t worth what it used to be. Vegas has us at 22 wins, worst in the league. But the 2027 draft is the first one under the new 3-2-1 lottery, and the bottom three records now get 5.4% at the No. 1 pick instead of the old 14%. 16% at a top-3. Being the worst team in basketball is now roughly a 1-in-19 shot at the top pick. We’re eating a full season of losses for a way cheaper lottery ticket.

The cap space is fine, not special. Here’s projected max cap space for 27-28, all 30 teams:

So what’s the actual plan? I get that LaVine’s $49M and Hunter’s $25M coming off is real. It’s better than being OKC at –$39.9M. But cap space only matters when it’s scarce, and in 2027 it won’t be.

When half the league can offer the same money, it comes down to timeline, roster, and whether we can attract other stars guy to be in Sacramento. Is the hope for Acuff to improve enough that he he’ll have another pull to attract another player to come play here?

If the tank gives us 5.4% and the cap space puts us 14th, what’s the thing that actually moves the needle? Genuinely asking. What am I missing?