De'Andre Hunter arrives at this season in Sacramento with more questions than certainty, and the Kings don’t have much time to sort it out.
Last season’s trade deadline brought Hunter to the Kings as a fix for an injury-ravaged roster, but his own season was cut short before he could really settle in. A freak eye injury limited him to just one and a half games in Sacramento, leaving the team with almost nothing to evaluate before the calendar flipped again.
Now he’s back in a very different spot. ESPN’s projected depth chart has Hunter listed as the starting small forward and the third-string power forward, but that kind of placement feels fragile with the season about to get underway. The Kings are slowly changing, and the minutes around him are already being eyed by younger players.
At small forward, Hunter is lined up ahead of Nique Clifford, Alex Karaban, and Daeqwon Plowden. Sacramento has every reason to prioritize those three as part of their development, which means Hunter’s hold on a role could disappear fast, even if he plays well early.
The tricky part is that nobody in the organization really knows what Hunter looks like in this version of the Kings. He barely got on the floor before the injury wiped out the chance to build any rhythm, and most of the team’s starting lineup was also sidelined at the time. That leaves Hunter effectively starting over.
There’s also a bigger roster decision hanging over the season. Hunter’s contract expires at the end of the year, and he’s set to make slightly less than $25 million. For a Kings team trying to build out its young core, that money could become a real asset if they decide to use it elsewhere.
Hunter’s path in Sacramento is clear enough: he has to carve out a place quickly, because the rookies and sophomores behind him are already waiting.
In Other News...
Kings Young Core Is Already Creating A Training Camp Question
The Kings young group has already spent part of the offseason trying to get ahead of training camp, gathering for open gym runs hosted by former assistant coach Rico Hines. Darius Acuff Jr., Emanuel Sharp, Nique Clifford, Alex Karaban and Dylan Cardwell were among the players taking part, with the sessions giving Sacramento a glimpse of how the next wave is trying to fit together before camp even opens.
What stood out most was the voluntary nature of it all, the kind of extra work that can matter when a roster is still sorting out who belongs in the rotation. Sharp drew attention for his shooting, while Acuffs playmaking looked like a piece the Kings could eventually use, but the bigger question now is how much of that chemistry can carry into a more competitive setting when the real evaluation begins. [Read more 🡒]
Domantas Sabonis Still Holds One Huge Key To The Kings' Future
Domantas Sabonis is moving along faster than expected in his recovery from a torn meniscus, and the Kings are planning with the hope that hell be ready for the 2026-27 NBA season as their starting center. Even with the questions that have followed him in Sacramento, his offensive impact still matters a great deal, especially for a team that has spent the last few seasons trying to define its core and sort out the frontcourt around him.
The bigger issue is what comes next. Sacramento has other young big men in the pipeline, and Sabonis long-term fit is still very much a live conversation because of the defense concerns and the contract value attached to him. For now, though, his return remains one of the clearest reasons the Kings can keep a door open on their future instead of having to make a hard decision before theyre ready. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Future May Depend On One Rookie Wing Taking A Real Step
The Kings enter the 2026-27 season with a few young pieces to sort through, but Alex Karaban is the rookie wing whose growth may carry the most weight. Sacramento used the 29th overall pick on Karaban, betting on a player with size and shooting ability who fits neatly into a future wing rotation that also includes other young names like Darius Acuff Jr. and Emanuel Sharp.
Karabans development this season is about more than just minutes for a first-year player. If he settles in and looks like a real piece, it could help clarify how Sacramento builds out the roster and where it can afford to be patient. If he stalls, the Kings may have to keep searching for answers on the wing, which makes his progress one of the more important storylines on the board. [Read more 🡒]