ESPN’s 2026-2027 NBA Summer Forecast doesn’t leave much room for optimism in Sacramento. The outlet pegged the Kings for a 19-63 season, dead last in the Western Conference and second-worst in the league behind only the Nets. That’s a brutal number for a team that is clearly not being viewed as a contender, but it still feels low for a roster that’s changing and, at least on paper, getting some pieces back in place.
The Kings were already near the bottom of the standings last season, finishing 22-60 with the fifth-worst record in the league. They weren’t close to the playoffs, though they did play a little better over the final weeks of 2025-2026. That late push may have cost them a better draft slot, but it also helped set up a draft haul that came back strong.
The argument behind ESPN’s projection is easy to follow: Sacramento is rebuilding around a young core and leaning on rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr. to organize everything. Those are fair concerns. But the forecast still feels like it’s underrating both the talent on the roster and the possibility that this group takes a step forward simply by being more experienced.
No one is pretending the Kings are suddenly a playoff team. They’re not.
Getting above .500 would be a shock. A finish in the bottom five of the West still looks like the most likely outcome.
Even so, 19 wins feels too harsh.
Last season gave Sacramento some encouraging signs from Dylan Cardwell, Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford, and Precious Achiuwa, who showed they can be effective together. Now they’ve got more reps and, with that, more confidence. Add the incoming rookies, and there’s at least some room for incremental improvement.
There’s also the possibility that the starting group finally gets a cleaner run. A healthy core of Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Zach LaVine, De'Andre Hunter, and Acuff could settle into a rhythm, and the presence of an actual point guard - even a rookie - should matter a lot for this team, especially with the starters.
Injuries are another piece of the puzzle. If Sacramento simply avoids the kind of health issues that piled up last season, that alone could move the needle.
ESPN may be right that the Kings are stuck in the West’s basement, but a 19-win season still looks too bleak. A more realistic number might be closer to 25, which is still a rough year, just not quite as rough as 2025-2026.
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Kings Just Created Flexibility Around Darius Acuff Jr's Biggest Need
The Kings have quietly opened a little more breathing room in their roster construction by restructuring DeMar DeRozans remaining deal, spreading the $10 million owed across the next three seasons and trimming about $7 million from this years payroll. The move keeps Sacramento below the luxury tax threshold and gives the front office some much-needed flexibility as it works to round out the roster.
That matters because rookie Darius Acuff Jr. is currently the only dedicated point guard on the team, and the need for another organizer is obvious. Sacramento is now in position to pursue veteran help for those final two spots, with names like Ben Simmons and Cam Payne in the mix as the Kings try to stabilize the backcourt around their young guard. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Durants Reaction To Russell Westbrooks Retirement Will Hit Thunder Fans
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Westbrook had offers from the Kings and the Wizards before deciding to walk away, a reminder that there were still paths left if he wanted to keep going. Instead, he leaves with an MVP award, multiple All-Star nods and a legacy that already has people around the league revisiting what he meant to the Thunder, and Durants reaction only adds another layer to a retirement that will linger in Oklahoma City for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Sabonis Still Holds The Key To The Kings Ceiling
Domantas Sabonis remains the center of nearly everything the Kings want to do. As Sacramentos starting big man and a three-time NBA All-Star, he gives the offense a familiar hub in pick-and-roll action, and his presence should also help in guiding Darius Acuff Jr. as the roster looks to knit together around him. After missing significant time last season because of a torn meniscus, Sabonis is back in the conversation as one of the leagues better frontcourt pieces, with The Athletic placing him No. 13 among NBA big men.
The bigger question for Sacramento is how far his value can carry the team on both ends. Sabonis is expected to remain a major offensive force, but his defensive limitations and the lingering concern over his recent injury history keep the ceiling talk from getting too comfortable. With Sabonis returning to health alongside other key players, the Kings can reasonably think about a more competitive season, but the extent of that rise still seems tied to how much he can anchor the middle. [Read more 🡒]