Zach LaVine hits three triples, scores 22 points

LaVine is good to go after being listed as questionable on the initial injury report. He’ll occupy his usual place in the Kings’ starting lineup.

LaVine is dealing with right elbow inflammation. He hasn’t missed a game this season, but if that changes, Malik Monk could take on a bigger role, whether he starts or comes off the bench.

Fantasy managers rostering Sabonis received solid returns in rebounds and assists. However, the Kings center took just five shots on Saturday, matching his season low. Sabonis is averaging 9.2 attempts per game, his fewest since 2018-19. Zach LaVine (11 points, one assist) attempted nine shots on Saturday. With rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. having the ultimate “green light,” it will be interesting to see how vets like Sabonis and LaVine adjust.

After scoring 50 points in Sacramento’s first two games, LaVine recorded his first 30-point game of the season on Sunday. He was efficient, shooting 52 percent from the field. Sunday’s performance was an excellent way for LaVine to end Week 1, as the Kings begin a three-game Week 2 in San Antonio on Tuesday.

This is basically what you signed up for when you took Zach LaVine in the later rounds of redraft leagues and you should be pretty happy after this performance. Getting to the line seven times and hitting all seven is really good. You obviously wish he were a bit more efficient from the field, but it’s hard to complain when you get that kind of scoring.

After injuries limited him to 39 games in his first full season with the Kings, LaVine looked completely healthy on Wednesday. Without him and fellow veteran Domantas Sabonis, the Kings would have fared worse, but they still lost the opener 121-96. As long as he stays healthy, LaVine should return to being a reliable fantasy asset. The question is whether a good first half of the season would convince a contending team to acquire him before the February trade deadline.

In an unsurprising move, LaVine exercised his player option for the 2026-27 season, as he is set to make just over $49 million. Given the youth of Sacramento’s roster, the veteran guard’s role for next season is unknown. What is reportedly known is that the front office is not willing to put its long-term financial future at risk by waiving LaVine and stretching his contract. The contract makes LaVine a challenging player to move, which would not have been the case had he not picked up the player option. When at his best, LaVine can offer middle-round value in standard fantasy leagues. However, due to the Kings’ current position as a rebuilding team and LaVine coming off a season in which he played 39 games, his draft value may be knocked down a few rounds.

LaVine opting into the final season of his contract is unsurprising, as he will make a base salary of $49 million, a figure he was unlikely to match in free agency. The question now is where he fits within the Kings’ rebuild. Between the selections of Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud in last summer’s draft, and Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharpe last week, the franchise is clearly looking to build around its younger players. LaVine getting his usual offensive volume likely would not mesh with that, but his contract may be challenging to move if the Kings wanted to go that route.

Due to a right fifth finger injury, LaVine missed Sacramento’s final three games before the All-Star break. Apparently, the injury is more serious than the Kings may have let on, as the guard will reportedly undergo season-ending surgery after the break. LaVine, who appeared in 39 games and averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 2.5 three-pointers, has a player option for next season worth nearly $49 million. As for how his absence affects the Kings in the short term, rookie Nique Clifford has moved into the starting lineup and should remain there for the rest of the season.

Wednesday’s game will be the third that LaVine has missed with a right fifth finger injury. His absence has led to Nique Clifford moving into the starting lineup, while Devin Carter has picked up additional minutes off the bench. Expect the same against the Jazz.