The Sacramento Kings are already bracing for another brutal stretch on the injury front, and the problem is spilling straight into the 2026-2027 season.
There’s no shortage of issues this team has to clean up before it can matter in the league, but staying on the floor has become its own crisis. Last season’s wave of injuries never really let up, and it’s doing plenty of damage again as Sacramento heads into a new year.
Ben Simmons is the biggest hit right now, both because of how serious it is and because of the timing. He had just worked his way back from a nagging back injury when he tore his Achilles, ending another season before it really started. That’s rough luck, plain and simple.
The preseason only added to the mess. Maxime Raynaud was hurt when he collided knees with Stephen Curry, damaging one of Raynaud’s patella.
There’s no timeline for his return, but the expectation is that he’ll miss multiple games early in the season. Given the contact, it could have been even worse.
Then there’s the rest of the pileup: Dylan Cardwell has a strained calf, Precious Achiuwa is dealing with an injured ankle, and Malik Monk along with Keegan Murray are both listed with “ankle soreness.”
That label stands out because it’s so vague, and it almost reads like a convenient way to keep both players off the floor.
Simmons is out for the season, but the others are expected back once their issues clear. If all five are unavailable for opening night, Sacramento could already be down six players. If the recently waived Adam Flagler hasn’t been replaced, make it seven.
And the concern isn’t just the immediate damage. Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and others are coming back from major injuries of their own last season. If any of that flares up again, the Kings could be staring at another long stretch with key names stuck on the bench.
Darius Acuff Jr. is a major worry in that mix. If Monk can’t go, Acuff has no backup behind him. That would mean heavy minutes and a lot of pressure on the rookie, and that sort of workload is exactly how injury problems snowball.
If that happens, Sacramento’s season could be over before it ever gets rolling.
In Other News...
Kings Suddenly Have A Point Guard Chance They Cant Waste
Kevin Porter Jr. is suddenly in the middle of a front-office decision that could matter for Sacramentos backcourt. After being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, he is expected to hit unrestricted free agency, and the Kings are among the teams reportedly interested as they look for help at point guard after injuries and roster moves have thinned that spot.
Sacramentos pitch is obvious: there should be minutes available, and a real pathway to carve out a role right away. Minnesota is also in the mix, though, which gives Porter a very different kind of choice, between a team trying to piece things together and one with a clearer path to contention. For the Kings, the question is whether they can make the most of a chance that may not stay open for long. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Lose A Planned Starter And Keegan Murray Felt It Immediately
The Kings plans for their new-look lineup took a major hit before the season even got moving, with Ben Simmons going down in practice and shutting the door on what had been a fresh start in Sacramento. Simmons was brought in with the expectation that he would be part of the starting group, and his absence changes the tone of the roster conversation immediately. For a team trying to build around its pieces early, losing a veteran piece before opening night is as harsh a setback as it gets.
Keegan Murray did not hide how much the injury landed with the group, pointing to both the severity of the setback and the difficult road Simmons has already traveled. The Kings now have to recalibrate without a player they had penciled into a prominent role, while Simmons faces the reality of missing two straight NBA seasons. For Sacramento, the challenge is not just replacing minutes, but absorbing the loss of a player whose presence was supposed to help stabilize the first unit from day one. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Suddenly Have A Real Shot At A Guard Fans Know
Walter Clayton Jr. is suddenly back on the board after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies ahead of the roster deadline, and the guard is already drawing attention from multiple NBA teams. Among the clubs monitoring him are the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings, two teams with very different paths but a shared interest in adding a young guard who could provide backcourt depth without much fuss.
Dallas may have the edge on paper because it has a two-way roster spot available and a pre-existing relationship with Clayton, which could make that an appealing landing spot if he clears waivers. Still, the next step may come down to something simpler than team fit alone: where he can actually get minutes, and how that lines up with the long-term direction he wants for his career. [Read more 🡒]