Nique Clifford is still one of the key pieces in Sacramento’s rebuild, but the Kings need more from him if this thing is going to really take off.
A lot of the recent buzz around the roster has centered on Darius Acuff Jr., and for good reason. But Clifford remains a major part of the equation, and the gap between what he’s shown and what Sacramento needs from him is starting to matter.
Scott Perry’s first big move after taking over as the Kings’ general manager was nailing the 2025 NBA Draft. Sacramento came out of it with Clifford in the first round, Maxime Raynaud in the second and Dylan Cardwell as an undrafted signing.
On paper, it was a strong haul. By the time the regular season played out, it looked even better.
Raynaud and Cardwell both surged. Raynaud, taken 42nd overall, emerged as one of the league’s top rookies.
Cardwell quickly turned into the elite defender the Kings were looking for. Clifford, meanwhile, lagged behind the other two.
He didn’t adjust to NBA speed as smoothly, and the crowded guard rotation - especially at shooting guard - didn’t help him find his footing.
That logjam is still there to some degree, though it has improved. And now the challenge is even bigger, because the Kings are heading into 2026-2027 with three more talented rookies on the roster, including new starting point guard Acuff. There’s plenty of development still ahead, and Clifford can’t afford to get squeezed out of the picture.
He has the talent to matter in a big way at this level. The problem is that Sacramento has already seen other young players break through, while Clifford has been a step slower to arrive. That kind of drift would be bad for him, and it would be worse for the Kings.
The upside is obvious. Clifford has the chance to become an elite-level 3&D player, and he showed real growth in that role last season. If he reaches that ceiling, it would be a huge boost for Sacramento’s rebuild.
There’s also a practical side to all of this. Zach LaVine isn’t going to be around forever, and Clifford looks like the most natural candidate to step into that starting shooting guard spot when the time comes.
That makes his development even more important. If he’s not ready, it could knock the Kings’ plans off balance.
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