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• Updated Apr 15, 2026 at 8:40pm

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Zach LaVine has had an up and down season for the Sacramento Kings.

Former All-Star Zach LaVine has talked about exploring his options for the offseason, and he may have a chance to join the Detroit Pistons. Multiple teams would have interest in LaVine since he’s a great scorer and a multi-time All-Star. The Sacramento Kings had a nightmare season that is seeing a lot of their biggest names hoping to jump ship as the franchise fully enters a rebuild.

Fadeaway World named Detroit as one of the ideal options if LaVine opts out of his contract to enter free agency:

“Zach LaVine probably would not arrive here as a star-level starter who gets to dominate the ball. That would miss the point. On the Pistons, he would make more sense as a lower-usage veteran scorer, someone who can juice second units, punish teams that load up on Cunningham, and close games when more shot-making is needed.”

The main reason for LaVine considering Detroit would see him needing to take a step back compared to past roles. An incredible season behind Cade Cunningham saw the Pistons finishing in the top seed and hoping to have a deep playoff run this postseason. However, Detroit lacks a deep roster of established names to warrant looking at scorers this offseason.

Why Zach LaVine Could Join Pistons

The biggest variable in this topic is LaVine’s motivation in the offseason. LaVine has a player option to decide if he wants to remain with the Kings for one more season or if he chooses to fully enter free agency to pick his next NBA home.

The player option is for a whopping $48 million, but that is a figure he will likely never get again in the NBA if he gives it up. LaVine would have to settle for less than half of this since Detroit is not going to overpay a scorer with his defensive flaws.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Chicago Bulls are the only other teams with strong cap space. None of them make sense in the big picture since they all have other goals far away from LaVine’s skill set. LaVine would have to truly desire the chance of contending above all other factors to give up the money and join a winning team.

Pistons Postseason Will Dictate Their Offseason

Detroit had a dominant season to shock the entire league by winning 60 games for the first time since 2006 and only the third time in their franchise history. Cunningham and Jalen Duren are the only All-Star caliber players on the roster compared to lower seeds having greater depth and experience.

The Pistons must get past an eighth seed and the eventual Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors winner to make the Eastern Conference Finals. Anything less than the conference finals will be viewed as a disappointment after such a great year.

Detroit falling short would likely tempt them to use some of their money on LaVine or another proven player. Duren is a free agent who will require most of their cap space, but they’ll have the chance to add another player to the rotation if they want.