Zach LaVine Picks Up $49 Million Player Option — What It Means for the Kings
Zach LaVine Picks Up $49 Million Player Option — What It Means for the Kings
The Sacramento Kings will have Zach LaVine under contract for another season.James Mccauley|
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Sacramento KingsAs the offseason truly begins, a big domino in Sacramento’s offseason has fallen. In what should not surprise anyone, Zach LaVine has reportedly picked up his $49M player option for the 2026-27 season, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. This was the last day for LaVine to make his decision on next season.
How Did We Get Here?
LaVine, a two-time All-Star, was a key part of the return in the seismic three-team trade with the Kings, Chicago Bulls, and San Antonio Spurs back at the 2025 deadline. The former Bull is a career 20 PPG scorer and one of the better shooters in the league right now, a career 39% shooter on 6 3PA/game. The talent is undeniable.
Zach LaVine is one of the best shooters in the league pic.twitter.com/g2WTHiBoo2
— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) August 3, 2025
Unfortunately, that talent has not translated to winning. The 12-year veteran has played in just one playoff series, a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022.
There was hope that LaVine would decline the option and re-sign for several more years at a lower AAV. It had also been reported that Sacramento gave LaVine the opportunity to “sell himself around the league” in hopes that there would be interest in a sign-and-trade.
In that scenario, LaVine would agree to terms with that new team (almost certainly for a longer deal at a lower AAV), Sacramento would sign him to that contract, and trade him to that new team in exchange for other pieces - namely expiring salary or younger players.
Sacramento was on the receiving end of a sign-and-trade last summer. They sent menial draft compensation to Detroit to acquire Dennis Schroder. The CBA requires that contracts signed via S&Ts be three seasons, but only the first year needs to be guaranteed. So, LaVine’s new contract would need to run for at least three seasons, which could be why this did not materialize.
Though he is relatively far removed from his checkered injury history, it could still have been enough for teams to hesitate at committing money for more than two seasons. Alternatively, teams simply might not have wanted to pay him the value he was asking for.
There are scenarios where LaVine is able to recoup the $49M if he were to decline and opt for more reasonable values over the next 3 seasons. That is certainly what the Kings have tried to sell him, at least. However, turning down that much money right now is a tough sell for anyone in just about any scenario. Players have a finite window to maximize their earnings, and punting that much guaranteed money (as Trae Young did last week) would have been an incredibly bold decision.
Now, LaVine will make nearly $50 million dollars this season before hitting unrestricted free agency next summer.
How Does This Affect Sacramento’s Offseason?
This was a key variable in the Kings’ summer plans. The Kings now enter the 2026-27 season with $174M committed to LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, De’Andre Hunter, Keegan Murray, and Malik Monk this coming season ($189M if you fully guarantee DeRozan’s salary).
The salary cap is $165M, the luxury tax threshold is $201M, the first apron is $209M, and the second apron is $222M, for those interested. Sacramento’s projected cap sheet is below, with Precious Achiuwa returning on a minimum and Emanuel Sharp signed to a two-way contract.
Yes, that is the second apron red there. Not great. An extension along the lines of CJ McCollum’s would have helped the situation and reset LaVine’s value. There was a world where LaVine saw a 3/~$100M contract and thought that made sense. As mentioned earlier, though, he opted for the larger money right now and will figure his future out next summer.
Scott Perry and the front office were dealt a pretty rough hand here, and now they will need to dig themselves out of another compromised position. There are ways to do this, and this is a big variable in determining which path is best for the team’s long-term future.
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JAMES MCCAULEYJames Mccauley covers the NBA and Sacramento Kings for Sacramento Kings On SI.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
