A small accounting move may end up meaning a lot for the Sacramento Kings.
By spreading DeMar DeRozan’s remaining contract over the next three seasons, the Kings have kept themselves below the luxury tax line and created just enough cap room to address their last two open roster spots. It’s the kind of transaction that doesn’t grab headlines on its own, but it could keep this season from going off the rails.
Sacramento had already been headed toward this kind of decision. DeRozan was never a natural fit for the rebuild, and his deal only carried $10 million in guaranteed money for 2026-2027. The Kings took that amount and divided it roughly evenly across three years, trimming almost $7 million from this season’s payroll in the process.
That matters because it keeps Sacramento clear of the first apron, along with the luxury tax and the penalties that come with it. It also gives the front office room to finish the roster, even if those final additions have to come on very cheap deals, like veteran minimum contracts.
And that flexibility could be especially important for Darius Acuff Jr.
At the moment, Acuff is the only dedicated point guard on a rebuilding roster. He does have a couple of shooting guards who can handle the ball in a pinch, but that is not the same thing as real backup support for a rookie. The Kings can now change that by signing at least one veteran point guard, and possibly two, to help ease the load and give Acuff some legitimate bench help.
The team has already worked out several possible additions, including Ben Simmons and Cam Payne. Victor Oladipo is also in the mix, though he is primarily a shooting guard and Sacramento already has plenty of bodies at that spot. Even so, a combination of those three remains a possibility.
For now, the Kings at least have choices. They may not all be ideal, but they do have room to maneuver. And if Acuff gets some real help at the one, Sacramento should be able to avoid major problems with his development and usage.
In Other News...
Kevin Durants Reaction To Russell Westbrooks Retirement Will Hit Thunder Fans
Russell Westbrooks decision to retire after 18 NBA seasons closed the book on one of the leagues most electric careers, and it also sparked a familiar round of reflection from one of his most notable former teammates. Kevin Durant, in a recent interview, said Westbrooks announcement caught him off guard while looking back on the years they shared together in Oklahoma City, where the two helped define a memorable era for Thunder basketball.
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 🡒]
Kings Face A Brutal Reality Fans Know All Too Well
The latest ESPN NBA Summer Forecast is not exactly a comforting read for Sacramento, putting the Kings at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 19-win projection for the 2026-27 season. It is the kind of forecast that lands especially hard for a franchise already coming off a 22-60 finish, even if the bigger picture still points toward a rebuild built around a young core.
Rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr. is the face of that next wave, and the hope in Sacramento is that development and chemistry can make the gap between expectation and reality a little less bleak. The forecast itself leaves room for that possibility, suggesting the Kings could land closer to 25 wins if the right pieces stay healthy and start fitting together, which at least gives this roster something more concrete to chase than another long season of empty nights. [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 🡒]