Why Trae Young-Zach LaVine Trade Was Turned Down by Kings Revealed in New NBA Rumors

The Sacramento Kings reportedly passed on a chance to trade Zach LaVine for Trae Young.

ESPN 1320 Sacramento's James Ham said on Monday's episode of the Locked on Kings podcast the Kings declined the potential deal for Young, who was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to Washington Wizards in January.

"According to a source of mine, they said no because they knew the second he got off the plane he would want an extension, and the Kings were not fully prepared to be in the long-term Trae business," Ham said around the 4:00 mark of the podcast.

Ham continued, "They have their own agenda here, and it did not include bringing in Trae Young on a potential $250, $300 million extension."

Young agreed in June to a four-year, $212 million deal that is set to keep him in Washington, D.C. through at least 2028-29 with a player option for his age-31 campaign in 2029-30.

The Kings only have LaVine under contract for one more season after he opted in to his $49 million option for the 2026-27 campaign.

Dealing with LaVine's expiring deal rather than Young's new extension will give Kings general manager Scott Perry more flexibility to navigate the franchise's future either with or without Domantas Sabonis.

ESPN's Anthony Slater recently reported the Kings have previously discussed trades for Sabonis and "aren't interested" in discussing an extension past the 2028 expiration of the big man's current contract.

With De'Andre Hunter also heading into next season on an expiring contract, Perry could look to give the Kings a fresh start ahead of next season by potentially moving on from Hunter and LaVine while considering a possible Sabonis trade .