The Sacramento Kings may spend the 2026-27 season getting judged by the wrong thing.
Yes, the wins and losses will matter. They always do.
But for rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr., the bigger story is whether Sacramento can help him grow into the player it drafted him to be. Acuff, taken seventh overall in June, is expected to be thrown right into the mix for a team that could take its share of lumps.
Bobby Gerould of Hoop Obsession thinks that’s the right lens to use. On Sactown Sports’ The Matt & Kayla Show, he said rookie point guards usually need time to sort things out, pointing to Cade Cunningham, Trae Young, Kyrie Irving and John Wall as examples of the usual learning curve.
“I think you just want to see progress,” Gerould said. “It takes time.”
That kind of patience is always easier to preach than it is to practice, especially in Sacramento, where Kings fans have heard plenty of versions of the same message. Gerould acknowledged that reality, but still argued that letting Acuff develop without rushing the process is the smartest path.
“Kings fans will have to be patient again, which I know is a hard ask because that’s seemingly every year it’s be patient,” Gerould said. “But I think that’s the prudent path here is to give Darius Acuff some time to get it figured out and get it together.”
Gerould also wasn’t interested in the idea that Sacramento has to go hunting for a veteran point guard just to act as Acuff’s guide. In his view, mentorship can come from anywhere in the organization, not only from someone who plays the same spot.
“I’m just one who believes that the mentor doesn’t have to be someone who plays your position,” Gerould said.
That same thinking carried over to the roster around Acuff. Gerould was firmly against adding players like Ben Simmons or Elfrid Payton, saying the Kings can’t afford to lose even more spacing after finishing near the bottom of the NBA in three-point shooting and attempts last season.
Instead, he pointed to Malik Monk as Sacramento’s best backup point guard option. Gerould liked Monk’s feel for the game and his connection with Domantas Sabonis.
“He has instincts and passing ability, and certainly a connection with Domas that others just don’t,” Gerould said. “He’s someone who would definitely be a high-tier backup in the NBA, in my opinion.”
Gerould also sees Maxime Raynaud settling in as the backup center behind Sabonis after a strong rookie season. He believes Raynaud’s added size makes it less likely Sacramento will use him mainly at power forward.
The concern, though, is what happens on the defensive end. Gerould said the combination of Acuff, Zach LaVine and Sabonis could leave the Kings exposed unless the group makes major improvements there.
“The defense has not been addressed enough, and I think that’s why the Kings are likely to struggle,” Gerould said.
As for De’Andre Hunter, Gerould said the key is shooting. If Hunter can score efficiently, defend and provide veteran stability, he could be the kind of glue player this roster needs.
In the end, Sacramento’s season may come down to something bigger than the standings. The real question is whether Acuff and the rest of the young core can take shape as the base of the next Kings team that actually moves forward.
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Kings Rebuild Pressure Is Already Falling On Darius Acuff Jr
Darius Acuff Jr. arrives in Sacramento with more than the usual first-round expectations. Taken seventh overall, the guard is already being talked about as the kind of player who can anchor the Kings next phase, with analysts and commentators projecting him to outpace DeAaron Foxs rookie production and eventually grow into the franchises leading point guard.
That is a lot to ask of any rookie, especially on a team not expected to reach the playoffs this season. But Acuffs rsum gives the Kings a reason to dream: he led the SEC in scoring and assists as a freshman at Arkansas, and his first year in Sacramento is likely to be read less as a learning curve and more as a measure of whether the rebuild is actually taking hold. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Face A Backup Guard Debate With Bigger Long Term Stakes
Sacramentos search for another ball handler has quickly become more than a simple depth conversation, because the Kings are weighing whether the spot should go to a veteran voice or a younger developmental piece. Names such as Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton, Cam Payne and Ben Simmons have all surfaced as possible fits to help mentor Darius Acuff Jr., giving the front office a chance to add both insurance and experience to a backcourt that could use it.
Tristen Newton is part of the other side of that debate, a younger option who was recently waived by the Houston Rockets and arrives with strong G-League and college credentials. His profile makes the choice interesting for Sacramento, since the Kings are not just shopping for a stopgap, but trying to decide whether immediate steadiness or longer-term upside better fits the rosters needs. [Read more 🡒]
Keegan Murray Faces Real Pressure As Kings Suddenly Have Options
Keegan Murray arrived in Sacramento with the kind of draft status that usually buys a little patience, and his rookie season suggested the Kings had found a long-term piece. Since then, though, the progress has been harder to spot, with his follow-up seasons showing little improvement and some dips in important areas, even as the organization made the commitment of a five-year contract extension.
Now the pressure is different because the Kings are no longer short on alternatives at power forward. That changes the conversation around Murray quickly, because a player once viewed as a foundational fit can become a trade candidate if the development curve does not turn soon enough. For a team trying to keep its roster moving forward, the next step from Murray may matter more than ever. [Read more 🡒]