The Sacramento Kings landed at the bottom of ESPN’s latest future projections, a blunt reminder that optimism around the franchise is in short supply despite a possible step forward in 2026.
In the projection, NBA insider Bobby Marks pointed to the Kings’ split identity. Sacramento has a veteran core featuring Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk, and DeAndre Hunter, while also trying to nurture a younger track led by rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr., who is described as looking like a young star. That dual-track setup leaves head coach Doug Christie with a difficult balancing act: deciding how much runway to give the younger players while still leaning on the veterans.
There is at least one bright spot in the outlook. Marks noted that Sacramento ranks top 12 in the NBA in draft picks and financial flexibility, giving the Kings some real options if the veteran group does not raise the team’s ceiling.
Still, the overall numbers were harsh. The Kings received a future ranking of 27, while the next team, the Los Angeles Clippers, came in at 34. NBA insider Dean Oliver said that the seven-point gap between Sacramento and the Clippers is the largest he has seen since at least the 2017 version of the power rankings.
That kind of separation leaves the Kings with a clear task ahead. Acuff has to develop quickly into one of the team’s top players, and Sacramento also has to sort out what comes next for the veterans. That could mean using them to help the young talent grow, or moving them in trades to bring back more draft capital and younger players.
The insiders may not be high on Sacramento’s long-term outlook right now, but steady progress from Acuff and second-year guard Nique Clifford, along with major moves from general manager Scott Perry, could change the picture and make the Kings one of the more intriguing teams to follow.
In Other News...
Kings Rebuild Just Reached A Spot Fans Often Overlook
The Kings offseason rebuild has moved beyond roster talk and into the kind of infrastructure changes that can shape a season just as much as a trade or signing. On Sept. 14, the team announced a significant overhaul of its coaching staff, promoting D.J. Ham to assistant coach and bringing in Joe Ajike as head of player development as it continues reshaping the people tasked with guiding the group day to day.
Jason Maxiell also moved up from the Stockton Kings to player development coach, while Brendan Suhr was added as an assistant coach and Imhotep Tap George came aboard as a coaching associate. It is the sort of behind-the-scenes reset fans can easily overlook, but for a franchise in the middle of a broader organizational rebuild, these are the hires that can determine how quickly the next version of the Kings starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Still Face One Big Sabonis Trade Decision
Sacramento has spent the offseason fielding the kind of trade chatter that follows any established star, but Domantas Sabonis has stayed put for one simple reason: the Kings are not treating him like a salary dump. Interest has surfaced from Charlotte, yet the asking price has been high enough that the two sides have not found common ground, with draft capital part of the discussion as Sacramento looks for positive value in return.
Jake Fischer reported that this has become a broader market issue, not just a one-team conversation. Other clubs have been hesitant to match the Kings demands or to give Sabonis the contract extension he wants, which leaves Sacramento in an awkward but familiar spot. For now, the Kings still have their All-Star center, and there is a growing sense they may choose continuity over a reset as they try to stay competitive through the 2026-27 season. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Expansion Draft Talk Puts Some Costly Veterans On Thin Ice
The NBAs reported target of adding two expansion teams in the 2028-29 season has already stirred up a familiar sort of roster anxiety around the league, and Sacramento is no exception. If an expansion draft were held now, each club could protect eight players, forcing front offices to make some uncomfortable choices about which veterans and rotation pieces they can live without.
Bleacher Reports early speculation on the Kings potential exposure included names such as Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, Alex Karaban, Daeqwon Plowden and Ben Simmons, with contract situations, injuries and overall roster balance all part of the discussion. None of that is official, of course, but it does underline the kind of pressure an expansion draft can create, especially for a team trying to keep enough proven talent while still preserving flexibility. [Read more 🡒]