ESPN has the Sacramento Kings at the very bottom of its 2026-27 playoff projections, and not by much of a margin. By the network’s calculation, the Kings have a 0% chance to make the postseason.
That leaves Sacramento grouped with the Brooklyn Nets as the only two teams given no shot at all. The Milwaukee Bucks, by comparison, were listed at 0.1%, while teams such as the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder landed at 99.9%.
The number is hard to swallow before the season even tips off, especially because there is still a path - however narrow - for the Kings to surprise people. They are in a difficult Western Conference, and Ben Simmons' season-ending injury did not help their outlook, but zero feels extreme when there is at least some talent on the roster.
Sacramento’s core still gives it something to work with. Darius Acuff Jr., Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Keegan Murray form the group most likely to shape the season, and Sabonis remains the kind of center who can drive real value when healthy. The concern, as always, is the defensive end.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater pointed to a different issue when he identified the team’s “biggest weakness” as the possibility that the veterans may not fully embrace what amounts to a rebuild-style year.
"The potential buy-in from a group of veterans that doesn't necessarily see a long-term future with the franchise. Perry has explored the trade market for Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk in the past year," Slater wrote.
"... To recharge their value, LaVine and Sabonis will need productive stretches to open the season, but that can be a difficult ask on an ill-fitting roster for a team that is prioritizing development of more unproven players."
Even so, this is not a roster that has to be read as youth-only. The Kings will almost certainly mix their younger pieces with established veterans, and Sabonis and LaVine should still get chances to remind everyone what they can do. In that way, the veterans may end up helping more than hurting, especially with contract-year motivation and something to prove.
Slater also framed the club’s “biggest strength” as the lack of “immediate pressure” to win right away. That kind of freedom can cut both ways, but it can also open the door for a team to outperform expectations.
There is a realistic scenario in which Sabonis and LaVine find their old level, Murray makes the leap into a two-way standout, and Acuff Jr. enters the Rookie of the Year conversation. If that happens, 38 wins and a play-in berth would not be out of the question. It is a long shot, but it is still enough to make a 0% projection look too rigid.
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 🡒]