The Sacramento Kings will close out Summer League this afternoon against the Charlotte Hornets without four familiar names in the lineup, shifting the spotlight to the rest of the roster for one final run.
Darius Acuff Jr., Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud, and Dylan Cardwell have all been ruled out for the finale. Acuff, Clifford, and Raynaud are listed as out for rest, while Cardwell is dealing with left thumb soreness.
That leaves the Kings with a chance to get a longer look at some of the younger pieces who have flashed at different points in Las Vegas. It also leaves a few players with one more opportunity to make a case before the preseason arrives.
Cardwell’s Summer League has included some strong moments, but his offensive game still looks unfinished. Among the four players ruled out, he may still have the most to prove heading into his second season. For now, though, his next step will have to wait.
Clifford and Raynaud came into Summer League with expectations attached. Raynaud even said the goal was to dominate.
That hasn’t quite happened. Clifford has been solid overall, but he hasn’t had the kind of breakout game that would really grab attention.
What he has shown, again, is a well-rounded game and a knack for doing the smaller things that help a team win. The scoring burst many were waiting for never came, and that leaves him with work to do before the regular season.
Raynaud’s path has been uneven as well. He opened well, then followed it with a rough second game in which turnovers outpaced points. There’s also the possibility that he and Acuff simply need more time to build chemistry in the pick-and-roll, something they’ll have plenty of time to work on as two of the team’s main building blocks for the coming season.
With those four sitting, the attention turns to Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban. Sharp has been one of the most impressive Kings throughout Summer League and has already made a strong case for real rotation minutes. Karaban had his breakout against the Boston Celtics, putting up 21 points and 8 rebounds while hitting 5-of-7 from deep.
Jonathan Mogbo and Adam Flagler are also worth watching. Mogbo has stood out and could push for minutes behind Keegan Murray and Precious Achiuwa. Flagler hasn’t popped in the same way, but he’s been steady and efficient, the kind of player who can quietly work his way into consideration, especially with Sacramento still thin at point guard.
Viktor Lakhin and Marquel Sutton round out the names to track. Sutton looked sharp during the California Classic but has been quieter since Las Vegas started.
Lakhin has shown enough to suggest he can protect the rim and hold his own as a sturdy center. Both still have a long climb ahead, but this finale gives them one more chance to add to their film before the summer ends.
In Other News...
Kings Close Summer League With The Kind Of Finish Fans Needed
The Kings finished Summer League on a high note Saturday at Cox Pavilion, edging the Hornets 92-90 in a game that gave Sacramento a little of the late-game poise it had been looking for. Emanuel Sharp led the way with 16 points, Jonathan Mogbo added 14 points and eight rebounds, and Alex Karaban also finished with 14 as the Kings got useful production from a group that has spent the month trying to sort out roles and rhythms.
Sacramento did it without several familiar faces, resting rookie Darius Acuff Jr. along with Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud, while Dylan Cardwell was sidelined by left thumb soreness. Even so, the Kings were able to close the door after letting a 15-point first-half lead slip away, and the finish offered a cleaner ending than the way the game had started. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Are Betting Big On Darius Acuff Jr Becoming More Than A Scorer
Darius Acuff Jr. has made a loud first impression in Sacramentos Summer League run, showing why the Kings were intrigued by his scoring punch in the first place. Through his first two games, the rookie has piled up 47 points while also contributing across the box score with rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, a reminder that his debut has been about more than just getting buckets.
The bigger question around Acuff is how quickly the rest of his game catches up, especially on defense, where there are still legitimate concerns. General manager Scott Perry is betting that Acuffs competitive edge, paired with Doug Christies system and a roster that now includes more defense-minded pieces, will help round him out into more than a scorer. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Cardwell May Be Giving The Kings Something They've Been Missing
As the Kings keep reshaping the roster, Dylan Cardwell has started to stand out for something that does not always show up in a box score. During the 2025-2026 season, he has been recognized for his leadership and the way he has influenced the teams culture, with a growing reputation as the kind of player who helps set the tone in a rebuilding locker room.
Cardwell has talked about accountability and the responsibility that comes with being one of the voices around younger players like Maxime Raynaud and Nique Clifford. For a Kings team trying to establish a new standard, that matters, even if there is still plenty of development ahead for both the roster and the role Cardwell is carving out for himself. [Read more 🡒]