The Sacramento Kings haven’t blown up the roster this offseason, and that alone gives them a real reason to keep looking ahead to 2026-27 with some confidence. Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis are still on the team for now, and while the front office has clearly started leaning toward a younger direction, there’s enough here to think the Kings can at least stay in the mix.
The offseason additions haven’t been splashy, but they’ve been purposeful. Sacramento waived DeMar DeRozan, signed Ben Simmons, brought back Precious Achiuwa, and added three draftees in Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban, and Emanuel Sharp. It’s not a total overhaul, but it does give the Kings a new layer of intrigue, especially when you stack this group on top of last season’s rookie class of Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud, and Dylan Cardwell.
That first-year group now moves into its sophomore season, and the Kings are adding an even more interesting wave behind it. Acuff Jr. is the headliner as the seventh-overall pick and Sacramento’s new franchise point guard.
The expectations are obvious, but the 19-year-old looks equipped to handle them. He brings an NBA-ready offensive package, with scoring and playmaking that could make an impact right away if things click early.
Karaban, taken 29th overall, may not come in with the same spotlight, but he fits a different kind of value. He arrives as a high-character leader with more championship experience than anyone else in the Sacramento locker room, and it’s easy to see why Doug Christie and Scott Perry wanted him in the fold.
Then there’s Sharp, who may have been the best bargain in the draft. Picked 45th, he profiles as a clear 3-and-D difference-maker at the NBA level and could eventually grow into Sacramento’s starting shooting guard next to Acuff.
Even with the focus shifting toward the young core, the Kings still need their veterans to carry real weight if they want to win. LaVine is in a contract year, and he’ll have every incentive to remind people why he belongs in that salary tier. He’s been tagged as one of the league’s more overpaid players, and this season gives him the chance to change that conversation.
Sabonis is a different kind of swing factor. He played only 19 games last season, and his name now tends to surface in trade and contract chatter.
But when he’s healthy, he remains one of the league’s most reliable big men. The Kings may end up looking to move him, but his availability matters now, and his presence alone gives the roster a much higher baseline.
Simmons is the other wild card. After signing with Sacramento, he’s already drawing criticism, but this is also a clean chance to reset his career. The former first-overall pick and three-time All-Star has the chance to prove people wrong after spending a year away from the NBA, and if he gets back anywhere close to his old level, the Kings suddenly become a much more dangerous team than people expect.
Put it all together and Sacramento has a mix that can work: veterans with something to prove, and young players carrying the future of the franchise. That combination could be enough to make the Kings a lot more interesting than outsiders think.
In Other News...
Kings Face One Sabonis Trade Problem They May Not Accept
Sacramentos offseason rebuild has run into the sort of accounting problem that can freeze a big move before it ever gets off the ground. The Kings are reportedly exploring a trade involving Domantas Sabonis, but talks with Toronto have hit a snag because Sacramento does not want to take back Jakob Poeltls hefty contract. Sabonis is under team control through the 2028 offseason, which gives the Kings a valuable asset to work with, but also makes any pivot around him more complicated than a simple star swap.
Torontos interest in Sabonis fits with a front office that has shown a willingness to chase major names, and the Raptors acquisition of Kawhi Leonard remains a reminder of how aggressive they can be when a target is available. For this deal to move, a third team would likely have to step in and absorb Poeltls contract, and that extra layer makes the framework harder to pull off. For now, the idea is there, but the math may be the bigger obstacle than the player. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Have A Murray Reunion Chance Fans Should Be Watching
Keegan Murray remains one of the most important pieces in Sacramento, but theres a sibling subplot that could matter down the line. Kris Murray, now with the Memphis Grizzlies, is reportedly in danger of being cut before the 2026-27 NBA season, and that has at least opened the door to a possible Kings reunion if the opportunity ever becomes real.
Sacramento has both roster space and cap room, which gives the front office a path to bring Kris in if he becomes available. A move like that would reunite the Murray brothers on the same team for the first time since college, and it would also fit neatly into the Kings rebuilding picture, even if it remains more of a possibility than a plan right now. [Read more 🡒]
Darius Acuff Jr. Could Change How Stars See The Kings
Darius Acuff Jr. has not played an NBA minute yet, but the buzz around him already feels bigger than a standard rookie profile. For a Kings team always searching for ways to raise its ceiling and reshape how the league views Sacramento, a potential star-level talent like Acuff brings more than on-court upside. It brings a different kind of attention, the sort that can alter how other players begin to imagine the roster.
Jalen Duren is still unsigned and is expected to return to the Detroit Pistons for another season, though Sacramento is one of the teams that could linger as a future possibility. That is where Acuffs potential becomes more than a development story for the Kings. If he looks like a player stars want to play with, it could help Sacramento in the long run when the next wave of talent starts weighing fit, trajectory and opportunity. [Read more 🡒]