Report: Kings Remain Interested In Trading For Zach LaVine, Brandon Ingram

According to NBA writer Mat Issa of Sportscasting, the Sacramento Kings remain interested in trading for Zach LaVine or Brandon Ingram. 

LaVine plays for the Chicago Bulls, while Ingram plays for the New Orleans Pelicans. 

The Kings acquired DeMar DeRozan from the Bulls in the offseason. DeRozan and LaVine were teammates in Chicago for three seasons. 

Ingram is in the final year of his contract. He’ll make $36 million this season. The Pelicans are open to trading him. 

Meanwhile, the Bulls have been trying to trade LaVine for over a year. The shooting guard has low trade value around the NBA due to his contract and injury history. 

Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks for the Pelicans in 2023-24 while shooting 49.2% from the field, 35.5% from beyond the arc and 80.1% from the free-throw line.

The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Pelicans in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.

LaVine played in only 25 games in 2023-24. He underwent season-ending right foot surgery in February.

A two-time All-Star, LaVine averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 45.2% from the field, 34.9% from beyond the arc and 85.4% from the free-throw line.

Ingram has career averages of 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks with the Los Angeles Lakers and Pelicans. He won the 2019-20 Most Improved Player of the Year Award. 

A UCLA product, LaVine has career averages of 20.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Bulls. 

LaVine signed a five-year, $215 million contract with the Bulls in July 2022. He’ll make $43 million this season and $45 million in 2025-26.

The Kings missed the playoffs in 2024 after making the postseason in 2023 for the first time since 2006. Sacramento has a “Big 3” of DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox. 

Last season, the Kings were ninth in the NBA in points per game, 17th in points per game allowed, 13th in offensive rating, 14th in defensive rating and 17th in net rating.