RADIO
Nique Clifford Traded to the Thunder
Sacramento Kings guard/forward Nique Clifford is being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for two second-round picks, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The move sends Clifford back to the franchise that selected him 24th overall in 2025 before dealing him to Sacramento on draft night. The 24-year-old had fallen out of the Kings' rotation, logging just 50 minutes across eight games this season after averaging 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists as a rookie. Oklahoma City is missing Jalen Williams (leg), Cason Wallace (shoulder), and Chet Holmgren (knee), giving Clifford a chance to compete for reserve minutes, though Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain remain ahead of him in the fantasy pecking order.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Zach LaVine Uncertain to Face Mavericks on Monday
Sacramento Kings guard/forward Zach LaVine (elbow) is questionable for Monday's game against the Dallas Mavericks with elbow inflammation. LaVine played a season-low 21 minutes in Saturday's lopsided loss to Memphis, finishing with 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting. The 31-year-old has yet to miss a game this season and is averaging 23.5 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 49.5 percent from the field. With Keegan Murray (ankle) already out, Darius Acuff Jr. and De'Andre Hunter would be the strongest candidates to take on more scoring if LaVine sits, while Malik Monk and Emanuel Sharp could also see more touches in the backcourt.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Malik Monk Probable for Friday
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (ankle) is listed as probable for Friday's matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. Monk has been dealing with left ankle soreness throughout training camp and missed Wednesday's regular-season opener. He averaged 12.5 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 three-pointers across 62 games last campaign. With Ben Simmons (Achilles) out for the season, Sacramento's backcourt depth is already being tested, so Monk's return could be a big boost. If he stays healthy, the 28-year-old could provide solid fantasy value with his scoring and three-point shooting.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Malik Monk Ruled Out Against Clippers
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Sean Cunningham. Monk did not appear during the preseason and has been managing left ankle soreness throughout training camp. He averaged 12.5 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 three-pointers across 62 games last season. With Ben Simmons (Achilles) also out for the season, Sacramento's backcourt depth is already being tested. Nique Clifford and Emanuel Sharp should pick up additional minutes, with Clifford carrying the stronger fantasy outlook after averaging 8.6 points and 3.8 rebounds as a rookie.
Source: Sean Cunningham
Source: Sean Cunningham
Zach LaVine Eyes Bounce-Back Season with Kings
Sacramento Kings guard/forward Zach LaVine (hand) is looking for a bounce-back season after undergoing surgery on his right pinky finger in February. LaVine told Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints that his standards remain "extremely high" while acknowledging that his exact role is still taking shape. The 31-year-old averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 39 games last season while shooting 39.0 percent from three. No. 7 pick Darius Acuff Jr. adds another ballhandler to Sacramento's mix, so LaVine's usage is worth watching in camp. His scoring and efficiency should remain useful if he keeps a prominent offensive role.
Source: Tomer Azarly
Source: Tomer Azarly
Zach LaVine Optimistic About Kings' Season
Sacramento Kings guard/forward Zach LaVine said his offseason is going well and that he is excited about the team's younger group, according to Logan Struck of Sports Illustrated. LaVine also touched on his leadership role, saying he already texted rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. and plans to connect with more of Sacramento's young players closer to camp. The two-time All-Star picked up his $49 million player option this summer after hand surgery ended his season at 39 games. LaVine averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from three. He should have scoring volume if healthy, but Acuff's arrival and Domantas Sabonis' playmaking keep LaVine more valuable for points and threes than assists.
Source: Logan Struck
Source: Logan Struck
Victor Oladipo Confirms Kings Interest
Free-agent guard Victor Oladipo said on Yahoo Sports that the Sacramento Kings have shown interest in signing him, as relayed by Evan Sidery. Oladipo added that "the feeling is mutual" as he pushes for an NBA comeback at 34 years old. The comments follow recent reporting from Marc Stein and Jake Fischer that Sacramento has explored adding a veteran guard to help mentor rookie Darius Acuff Jr. Oladipo has not played in an NBA game since 2022-23 with Miami, when he tore his left patellar tendon, and injuries have stripped away most of his fantasy appeal. With Russell Westbrook now retired, Sacramento could still use a veteran voice, but Oladipo would likely serve as a mentor rather than a fantasy-relevant option. Acuff remains the name to track for rookie-year minutes.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Kings Eye Victor Oladipo as Mentor
Free-agent guard Victor Oladipo, who has been out of the NBA for three years, is a mentor candidate for the Sacramento Kings alongside Russell Westbrook, per Jake Fischer. The 34-year-old two-time All-Star has been chasing a comeback after years lost to injuries, playing in China and the G-League, where he averaged 13.5 points for the Wisconsin Herd last season. He held a workout for scouts, which the Kings attended, as Sacramento seeks a veteran voice for No. 7 pick Darius Acuff Jr. For fantasy, this is a feel-good comeback story more than an actionable one: even if he signs, a deep-bench mentor role at his age would carry no reliable value.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Kings Weigh Russell Westbrook's Return
Free-agent guard Russell Westbrook could return to the Sacramento Kings as a veteran mentor for rookie Darius Acuff Jr., according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Victor Oladipo has also been mentioned as a possible option, with Sacramento looking for an experienced guard to help guide Acuff. Westbrook, 37, spent last season with the Kings, starting 58 of 64 games while averaging 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.3 steals for a 22-60 team. The role would likely be smaller this time, especially if Acuff opens the season as the starter. That caps Westbrook's fantasy appeal, leaving him as a deep-league assists-and-steals flier only if he signs and earns steady bench minutes.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Kings May Showcase Zach LaVine
Sacramento Kings guard/forward Zach LaVine should remain a featured part of the offense rather than ceding minutes to younger players like Nique Clifford and Emanuel Sharp, former Kings coach and executive Jerry Reynolds told Frankie Cartoscelli of Sactown Sports. Reynolds' logic is that strong production could rebuild LaVine's trade value before the deadline, while his $49 million expiring deal can simply come off the books after the season. LaVine, 31, exercised that player option after right-hand surgery ended his 2025-26 campaign at 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 39.0 percent from three across 39 games. For fantasy, a showcase role would protect his points-and-threes appeal, though the injury recovery, youth movement, and possible trade keep some risk attached.
Source: Frankie Cartoscelli
Source: Frankie Cartoscelli
Zach LaVine Could Seek Midseason Buyout
Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine is viewed by NBA insider Evan Sidery as a likely midseason buyout candidate if the rebuilding Kings start slowly. LaVine's $49 million expiring contract still carries negative trade value, making a release the cleaner path to a contender if Sacramento decides to move on. There have been no active buyout talks, but Sidery notes LaVine and Klutch Sports could eventually push for one. The two-time All-Star averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 39 games last season before right hand surgery ended his year. For fantasy, LaVine still offers points and threes when healthy, but managers need a signing and a defined role before treating him as more than a wait-and-see scorer.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Emanuel Sharp Paces Sacramento in Win Over Charlotte
Sacramento Kings guard Emanuel Sharp led six players in double figures with 16 points in Friday's 92-90 Summer League win over the Hornets, connecting on 4-for-9 from three while adding three steals, three assists, two rebounds, and one block over 30 minutes. The Houston product has been Sacramento's steadiest summer performer, pairing his shooting with disruptive perimeter defense that produced three or more steals in several outings. The No. 45 pick fits a specific need as a 3-and-D guard who can play off-ball next to lottery pick Darius Acuff Jr. His scoring efficiency has wavered in Vegas, so the defense and the outside stroke will be what earn a second-round rookie a foothold in the rotation.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Emanuel Sharp Scores 18 Points in Kings California Classic Win
Sacramento Kings guard Emanuel Sharp let it fly in the California Classic, scoring 18 points but needing 12 three-point attempts to get there, while adding seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals in the Kings' 91-85 win over Warriors Blue. The cold shooting is easy to forgive. Sharp is a genuine sharpshooter, a First-Team All-Big 12 pick who drilled 37.2 percent from deep on high volume at Houston and profiles as the 3-and-D floor spacer Sacramento needed after finishing last in threes made. Notably, he landed a standard three-year deal rather than the two-way most late-second-rounders get. Still, the fantasy path is narrow and role-gated: threes and steals if he wins the floor-spacer minutes behind Zach LaVine and Malik Monk, little if he's shuttling to the G League.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Daeqwon Plowden Earns Standard Deal With Sacramento
Sacramento Kings guard/forward Daeqwon Plowden agreed to a two-year, $5.1 million deal, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Plowden earned a standard NBA contract after two-way stops with Golden State, Atlanta, and Sacramento, averaging 10.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 26.4 minutes in 32 games with the Kings last season. The 27-year-old had some late-season scoring flashes, including a 20-point, nine-rebound outing, but his fantasy path is narrow with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and De'Andre Hunter ahead of him.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Zach LaVine Opts For Pay Day, Remains With Sacramento
Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine has opted into his $49 million player option for the upcoming season, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The decision was a no-brainer for the 31-year-old, who wouldn't command anything financially close to that number on the open market. LaVine scored 19.2 points per game last season, his lowest average since the 2017-2018 season. He also only appeared in 39 games, undergoing surgery on his shooting hand before the All-Star break. LaVine, alongside veterans DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis, should be openly available for trade as the Kings attempt a franchise reset. Still, the market for LaVine doesn't appear to be there.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
