The 2026 NBA free agency cycle kicked off on June 30. Since that date, the Sacramento Kings have re-signed two free agents, Daeqwon Plowden and Precious Achiuwa. They waived DeMar DeRozan (and may potentially stretch his contract) and Isaiah Stevens, and signed two players, Jonathan Mogbo and Adam Flagler, to two-way contracts. Other than those small moves, the Kings have been sidelined with their rivals getting better and stronger every day.
What’s stopping the Kings from landing free agents?
Kings’ Financial Troubles
Despite rebuilding, the Kings have the NBA’s 10th-largest payroll. Thanks to them waiving DeRozan’s guaranteed money, they saved up to $15.7 million. Five players are owed over $20 million this season, with Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine each owed over $40 million.
Because of their financial standing, the Kings have spent this summer offloading salary. Some moves they’ve made include the aforementioned waiving of DeRozan and Stevens, letting players like Russell Westbrook walk in free agency, and trading former first-round pick Devin Carter to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the draft rights to 30-year-old Alpha Kaba.
After going through with these moves and signing all three rookies drafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Kings find themselves with just one open roster spot to work with. They currently sit below the luxury tax, but offering a player a contract as small as a minimum would put them over. This would force the organization to pay progressive cash fines.
The team does have the option of converting a player on a two-way contract to a standard one. However, this would push them over the line if done now. They also have the option of converting a player like Mogbo later on in the season, so as not to pay him a full season’s salary.
Scott Perry Is Trying to Bring in Free Agents
That being said, the Kings can still acquire another piece via a sign-and-trade. Last offseason, they were in talks to trade for Golden State Warriors restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. This offseason, they had a chance to trade for Detroit Pistons All-NBA center Jalen Duren, who met with general manager Scott Perry.
Since Perry took charge, more players have been interested in joining the Kings, but trades have never worked out. Perry does a solid job getting his foot in the door and appealing to stars, but he can’t get them to sign on the dotted line.
The Warriors shied away from any offers the Kings brought up, signing Kuminga to a two-year $46.8 million contract before trading him to the Hawks. The Kings have dangled Sabonis in negotiations for Duren, but the Pistons have no interest. They’ve yet to offer Duren a contract he likes, though.
The question on fans’ minds is: Do these players want to join Sacramento for the culture or simply because the team is overeager to pay them? Perhaps neither of the two are “bad things.” For years, not even an overpaid contract was enough to pique players’ interest in joining the Kings.
Sacramento’s Appeal Gap
Sacramento has the 23rd-largest population among NBA cities. It doesn’t have the nightlife of Miami, the big-city feel of New York City or the ocean-view high-rises of San Francisco. For young, up-and-coming stars, Sacramento is not the most desirable location.
Some players enjoy the quiet nature of Sacramento and its surrounding cities. Sabonis lives in Napa with his family, where he owns and operates a vineyard. More veterans decide to make the switch to the City of Trees than players nearing or in the middle of their prime.
Another reason free agents haven’t tended to pick Sacramento is the culture. The Kings have made the postseason once over the last twenty seasons. A string of poor decisions on draft night and questionable trades by the front office have forced the franchise into a perpetual state of losing.
The one thing the Kings have going for them is their incredible fanbase. Despite poor outcomes every season, fans still show up and generate some of the loudest “crowd pops” in the entire NBA.
In the past, the Kings have pursued numerous All-Stars, but they chose to sign elsewhere, like Andre Iguodala in 2013.
One outlier was DeRozan, who chose to be a part of a sign-and-trade to the Kings in 2024.
Overall, most free agents overlook the Kings, as many seek the limelight that larger markets provide.
A Culture Change is Coming
As LaVine and De’Andre Hunter‘s contracts expire after this season, along with Sabonis’ the following year, Sacramento’s culture is changing. A wave of young talent is embracing what the city has to offer. The Kings drafted difference-makers this year in Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban, and Emanuel Sharp.
Some teams draft purely for untapped potential, but Perry tends to take chances on older prospects who’ve proven to be great players and people. For instance, after Karaban finished his workout with the Kings, he stayed and encouraged others throughout their workout processes. Perry’s picks are character selections.
Can Sacramento Become a Top Destination?
In the midst of a chaotic, mismatched lineup, a young core has emerged. Duren and Kuminga were the first examples of players seeking out Sacramento after the Perry administration’s initial moves. While trades for the two haven’t worked out, Perry is utilizing his connections and respect around the league to his advantage.
Sacramento itself is a changing city. It currently possesses a major league baseball team in the Athletics. While the Athletics will be moving to Las Vegas later this decade, Sacramento is working hard to be the host of one of the two expansion teams created in the next cycle. They also recently announced a multi-million dollar sports and shopping complex for their soccer club, Sacramento Republic FC.
For years, the draft felt like the Kings’ only path to improvement. That may be changing. A stronger culture and future cap flexibility could eventually make Sacramento a more attractive free-agent destination.
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