The Sacramento Kings are heading into 2026 with a roster that looks very different from the one that stumbled through last season, and the big question now is how far this group can realistically climb.
Sacramento has been busy. The Kings signed veteran guard Ben Simmons, added rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. in the draft, and most recently brought in veteran guard Elfrid Payton on a training camp deal. Those moves only add to a roster that already has plenty of familiar pieces, and they set up a fascinating picture before the season even starts.
What stands out first is the backcourt. There is no shortage of scoring options there, with Zach LaVine, Darius Acuff Jr., Malik Monk, Nique Clifford, Ben Simmons, Emmanuel Sharp, Daeqwon Plowden, and possibly Elfrid Payton if he earns a spot after camp.
That kind of guard depth gives the Kings a lot of firepower, but it also creates a real rotation puzzle for Doug Christie. Somebody is going to have to miss out, and how Christie sorts through that group could shape the season.
The front court looks more stable, at least on paper. Sacramento has DeAndre Hunter, Keegan Murray, Precious Achiuwa, and Alex Karaban at forward, along with Domantas Sabonis, Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, and Jonathan Mogbo at center. There’s enough depth there to feel decent about the group, especially if the younger players keep improving as the year goes on.
Sabonis remains the projected center for now, though his future has been the subject of offseason rumors. There has been talk that he could be traded, with the Kings potentially getting Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren in return. For this projection, though, Sabonis is still on the roster, so the outlook is built around him being in Sacramento for 2026.
Last season, the Kings finished 22-60 and sat near the bottom of the Western Conference. Injuries were a major factor in that collapse, with Sabonis, LaVine, and Murray all missing significant time. That kind of disruption made it hard for Sacramento to find any real rhythm.
Even so, there is a path to improvement here. Most of the roster is back, the team has added more depth, and several veterans should be healthier this time around. That’s why the ceiling for this Kings team looks like a play-in tournament berth, with a projected range of 35-41 wins and a chance to fight for a playoff spot.
If the younger players develop and the veterans stay on the floor, Sacramento has a shot to take a meaningful step forward. At the very least, this looks like a team that can get back into the play-in mix. If things break right, the postseason is in play.
In Other News...
Kings What If From 2017 Still Cuts Deep Today
Seven years later, the Kings 2017 draft still lingers as one of those franchise touchstones that gets revisited whenever the conversation turns to what might have been. Sacramento took DeAaron Fox at No. 5 overall and Zach Collins at No. 10, moves made with a clear eye toward building around speed, fit and familiarity. In hindsight, a Bleacher Report redraft swapping in OG Anunoby and Josh Hart only sharpens the sense that this was one of the pivotal nights in the organizations recent history.
Former Kings executive Vlade Divac has spoken about why the team stuck with Fox instead of chasing Luka Doni, pointing to market fit and relationships as part of the equation. Those are the kinds of decisions that can define a front office for years, and for Sacramento, the 2017 class remains a reminder of how thin the line can be between a foundation and a missed opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Karaban Could Push Into The Kings Rotation Faster Than Expected
Alex Karaban arrives in Sacramento with a profile the Kings can at least imagine using sooner rather than later. Drafted by Cleveland at No. 29 and then sent to the Kings, the UConn product brings the kind of size and efficient offensive game that can make a rookie easier to fold into a rotation, especially for a team always looking for useful minutes on the wing and up front.
Karabans college track record gives him a real case for early opportunity, with 151 games at UConn and steady production across the board. The bigger question for Sacramento is whether that success translates cleanly to the NBA game, because that answer will go a long way toward determining how quickly he can push into the Kings' rotation during his first season. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Face One Real Roster Question With Final Spot Still Open
The Kings still have one open roster spot, and it has become the kind of late-summer question that can quietly shape the rest of a season. Sacramento already has 17 players under contract, including Ben Simmons and Elfrid Payton, so any addition now would be less about filling a headline need and more about deciding whether the last place goes to another veteran option or a younger player who might grow into the role.
Cam Whitmore is one of the names worth watching after being waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers, since he fits the Kings timeline as a young wing. The issue, as always with a crowded roster this time of year, is whether there will be enough playing time to make that kind of upside move worthwhile. Sacramento has not announced any signing involving Whitmore, which leaves the final spot open and the decision very much unresolved. [Read more 🡒]