The Sacramento Kings, who moved into the No. 24 spot via trade with Oklahoma City to take 23-year-old swingman Nique Clifford in the NBA Draft on Wednesday, still need a point guard — badly.

If you somehow missed it, the Kings traded De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in February and have had an opening listed for the position ever since. First-year general manager Scott Perry made that crystal clear in his introductory news conference in late April and has spent much of the time scouring the league’s landscape for the most viable, and realistic, option.

League sources say the Kings have explored the prospect of Jrue Holiday (before he was traded from Boston to Portland) but were ultimately concerned with both his age (35) and cost (a combined $104.4 million, including his player option in the 2027-28 season). Similarly, there was a push among some power-brokers for Sacramento to go after Atlanta’s Trae Young, but league sources say the Kings didn’t have interest because of his style of play (offense-first) and cost (he’s extension-eligible this summer but is slated to earn $45.9 million next season and has a player option worth $48.9 million in 2026-27).

Those situations are informative as it relates to the second wave of point guard pursuits, as the Kings are now pivoting to free-agency options that would be far more friendly for the payroll. As NBA reporter Marc Stein reported on Tuesday, league and team sources say the Kings indeed have serious interest in veteran Dennis Schröder. That is, of course, if he doesn’t get something done with the Detroit Pistons first (league sources say he’s been in talks on that front this week). Fellow free agents Tyus Jones and Russell Westbrook are also known to be options that the Kings are considering. Free agency formally begins at 6 p.m. Eastern on Monday.

Beyond the point guard vacancy, though, league sources say the Kings are open for business when it comes to discussing the various possibilities with their roster. No one should be surprised by the fact that they’re willing to listen on any player. They have a hodgepodge collection of pricey, mismatched talent that was amassed by the previous front-office regime of Monte McNair and Wes Wilcox (and with owner Vivek Ranadivé having significant influence).

Zach LaVine ($96.4 million combined, including a player option in the 2026-27 season) is chief among them. While the 30-year-old, two-time All-Star is extension-eligible this summer, team and league sources say there are no plans for the Kings to prioritize a new deal for LaVine. If they’re going to pay that sort of freight, it’s quite clear, it will be for a younger player who can be a long-term part of their picture. To that end, league sources say the Kings are among the teams that have interest in Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga and will be monitoring his market when his restricted free agency begins. And while it appears unlikely that Kuminga will ultimately come their way, it speaks to the vision, and the range of possibilities here, that they’re even focusing on players of that ilk.

In terms of building blocks, team and league sources say the Kings continue to signal a commitment to veteran big man Domantas Sabonis. While Sabonis’ frustration with the organization’s handling of the Fox saga has been well-chronicled, league sources say Sabonis has not asked for a trade and has had positive early discussions with Perry regarding the Kings’ aspirations for this summer. Sabonis, the 29-year-old, three-time All-Star who is owed a combined $140.3 million in the next three seasons, has remained patient with the process to this point.

He’d feel even better, of course, if the Kings were able to land a quality point guard.

(Photo of Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)