The Sacramento Kings are heading into 2026-27 training camp with a 19-man group that mostly looks exactly like you’d expect: the core is there, the rookies are there, and the battle for the final roster spots is about to get real.
At the top of the newcomer list is Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 overall pick in June. The former Arkansas standout gets his first chance to work alongside Sacramento’s veterans after a summer that had its share of highs and lows in Las Vegas. He’ll be joined by fellow rookies Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp as the Kings open camp.
The veteran backbone is in place too. Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, De’Andre Hunter, Keegan Murray and Precious Achiuwa are all on the roster, giving Sacramento a familiar group to build around as the season approaches.
Beyond the established names, camp will also serve as a proving ground for players trying to carve out a role at the end of the roster. Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud, Tristen Newton, Daegwon Plowden, Elfrid Payton and Ron Simmons are all in the mix, while Mogbo and Adam Flagler are listed as two-way players.
This camp also marks a new chapter on the sideline. Doug Christie is entering his first full season as head coach, and he’ll have associate head coach Mike Woodson alongside him, with Brendan Suhr, Mike Miller, Chris Darnell, Leandro Barbosa and DJ Ham rounding out the staff.
For Sacramento, the next few weeks are all about sorting through the fit. There’s a blend of veterans, young talent and three rookies trying to make their mark, which should make training camp a competitive one from the start.
In Other News...
Kings Interest In Jalen Duren Just Got A Lot More Serious
Jalen Durens contract situation in Detroit has suddenly become one of the more interesting plot lines on Sacramentos radar. After declining a five-year offer from the Pistons, he is now in a stalemate with the team as Thursdays deadline to accept a one-year qualifying offer approaches. For the Kings, that only sharpens the appeal of a big man who has already drawn mutual interest from Sacramento, whether through a trade or a future free-agent pursuit.
The catch is the same one that has shadowed Sacramentos pursuit from the start: the Kings do not have the cap room to sign Duren to a max deal right now. So the focus has turned to creating a path, and that has reportedly included exploring a Domantas Sabonis trade to clear the necessary space. If Sacramento can get that flexibility, Duren becomes a much more realistic target either before or during the 2026 season, or when he reaches free agency in 2027. [Read more 🡒]
Kings New-Look Roster Is Already Fueling A Brutal 2026-27 Debate
On The Matt George Podcast, Josh Lloyd of Locked On Fantasy Basketball took a long look at where the Kings could be headed in 2026-27, and his read was not exactly comforting. He pointed to the possibility of defensive issues lingering on a roster that is still trying to sort out its identity, even as the front office adds new pieces and hopes the fit improves.
Lloyd also raised questions about whether newcomers Darius Acuff Jr. and DeAndre Hunter will live up to the expectations attached to them, which only adds to the uncertainty around Sacramentos next step. And if the Kings do decide Domantas Sabonis is part of the answer they want to move off of, Lloyd suggested they may have to be more realistic about the trade return than they would like. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Final Two-Way Spot May Be Down To One Young Guard
The Kings have brought Tristen Newton into 2024 training camp, putting the former UConn guard squarely in the mix for one of the team's two-way openings. Newton arrives with a G League-heavy resume and some real pedigree, since he was a 2024 second-round pick by the Pacers before Sacramento picked up his rights in a trade involving the Stockton Kings.
For a roster still sorting out its final developmental spot, Newton is the kind of player worth a long look: young, experienced in the G League grind, and familiar enough to the organization through the Stockton connection. He also went on to earn All-NBA G League First Team honors in 2026, which only adds to the intrigue around whether the Kings see him as the right fit for that last two-way slot. [Read more 🡒]