The Sacramento Kings didn’t do much moving around this offseason, but the roster still has a different look thanks to three rookie additions and a healthier group coming back into the fold. That’s the bet now: less drama, more continuity, and a coaching staff pushing with urgency under Doug Christie.
That’s not the kind of setup ESPN Insiders were bullish on Monday, though. In their NBA record projections, Sacramento landed at the bottom of the Western Conference at 19-63. The report pointed to the Kings’ biggest addition, Darius Acuff Jr., while also warning that there could be "growing pains" early.
Acuff is expected to carry a heavy load right away, and the numbers from his 2026 NBA Summer League show both promise and some rough edges. He averaged 19 points, 5.3 assists, and one steal per game, while his efficiency wasn’t especially sharp. Even so, he kept showing why Sacramento invested in him, threading pinpoint passes, reading pick-and-rolls well, and finding shooters on the perimeter.
The Kings are counting on more than just the rookie wave. Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, who are set to make nearly $100 million combined this upcoming year, are back to full health and should help shoulder the offense alongside Acuff. They were both mentioned as trade possibilities over the offseason, but for now they remain in Sacramento.
Defensively, the trio is not going to solve everything. The source material describes LaVine and Sabonis as solid defenders on the perimeter, and the Kings will need that kind of support to help cover for an offense-first group.
DeMar DeRozan’s role with the young Kings has also shifted. He was a steady veteran influence for Sacramento’s rookies last season, but with the team getting younger and leaning more toward guards, a reunion became less likely. His departure does open the door for Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp to get meaningful minutes, and both arrive with the kind of pedigree teams like to point to when they talk about building a winning culture.
Sharp said after his introductory press conference that he believes his college success can carry over.
"I bring a lot of winning DNA...we know how to win. If we just buy in to the coaching staff and what they're telling us, I think this team will be great," Sharp told ABC10 News' Kevin John.
Karaban brings a resume that fits the same theme. He’s been to three National Championships and won two of them.
In Other News...
Kings Are Weighing A Risky Ben Simmons Gamble
Scott Perry is in Florida taking a close look at Ben Simmons as the Kings continue to explore veteran help at point guard. For Sacramento, the interest makes sense on paper: Simmons still brings size, ballhandling and playmaking to a roster that could use another organizer in the backcourt, and the team is clearly doing its homework before making any move.
The concern, of course, is the same one that has followed Simmons for years. His injuries have cost him significant time, and Sacramento is weighing whether the upside is worth the uncertainty. If the Kings do decide to move forward, a short-term deal would be the logical way to manage the risk while leaving themselves room to reassess what Simmons can still provide. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans May Need More Patience Than They Want With Darius Acuff Jr
Darius Acuff Jr. has quickly become one of the more closely watched pieces in the Kings rebuilding picture, and it is easy to see why. The rookie point guard arrived with a reputation for offensive upside after showing real scoring touch in college, the kind of skill set that can make a young guard stand out right away in Sacramentos long-term plans.
The early NBA adjustment, though, has made the case for patience. Acuff has already run into the usual growing pains that come with life at the next level, especially on defense and in finding more reliable scoring from night to night, and that is where the Kings and their fans may have to give him time to settle in before the picture gets clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Reset Will Feel Different When Two Former Players Return
The Kings summer reset was never going to be subtle, but the moves that cleared DeMar DeRozan and Devin Carter from the roster made the direction even clearer. Sacramento waived DeRozan and sent Carter to Atlanta in a cost-cutting push aimed at creating financial flexibility, a sign the front office is trying to rebuild with a sharper eye on salary commitments after consecutive losing seasons.
What will make those decisions linger is the familiar sight of both players back on the schedule. DeRozan landed with the Nuggets on a one-year deal, and the Kings will eventually have to see the veteran forward in another uniform while Carter, too, returns as part of the Hawks matchup. For a team trying to move forward, those games will serve as a reminder of how abruptly the roster shifted. [Read more 🡒]