The Sacramento Kings are heading toward some difficult roster choices as this rebuild keeps rolling, and not everyone on the current team is likely to make it to next offseason. Zach LaVine isn’t part of that conversation here, because his exit feels inevitable either by trade or simply by the time his contract runs out. Domantas Sabonis is also left out for a different reason: the Kings have limited trade paths with him, and with two seasons still left on his deal, he looks likely to stay put unless something dramatic changes.
That still leaves a handful of players whose futures in Sacramento look shaky.
Nique Clifford sits at No. 5, and he’s the kind of player fans want to root for. The Kings viewed him as a “steal of the draft” in 2025, but he was quickly overtaken by fellow rookies Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell.
Clifford’s first season simply didn’t stack up, and the situation gets tougher when you remember how crowded the Kings are at shooting guard and small forward. He has to make a fast jump if he wants to stick.
Daeqwon Plowden is right behind him at No. 4, and his departure might sting even more. He spent years grinding in the G League before finally landing his first NBA contract, so there’s a real story behind his rise.
But the roster math is unforgiving. Sacramento already has too many shooting guards, and Plowden is battling for the same developmental minutes as Clifford and Emanuel Sharp.
The Kings won’t be able to keep everyone in that mix.
Ben Simmons lands at No. 3, though his case is different from the rest. It feels harsh to talk about him being gone in the 2027 offseason when he hasn’t even officially returned yet, but the reality is simple: he signed just a one-year deal.
The only way he stays beyond that is if he blows past expectations. Even then, that could create a new problem, because other teams would come calling and give him a chance to leave anyway.
It’s a tricky setup from the start.
Malik Monk checks in at No. 2, and his situation sounds anything but settled. The Kings have sent mixed signals on him, and it’s hard to tell whether they want to keep him, move him, or even consistently play him.
Eventually, they’re going to have to choose. Monk also has some control himself, thanks to a player option for 2027-2028.
If he wants a more secure role, he may end up finding one elsewhere.
At No. 1 is De’Andre Hunter, and his spot on this list makes plenty of sense. The Kings brought him in at the 2026 trade deadline, but he only got a game and a half before an injury ended his season.
Since then, the depth at power forward has grown, and Sacramento’s focus on developing younger players makes his path even murkier. On top of that, the Kings may need the cap space from his expiring contract if they want to sign both Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Duren.
In Other News...
Kings Rookies Are Drawing Serious Respect Before The Rotation Battle
Before Sacramento even gets deep into the rotation conversation, its rookie class is already earning notice from the people who know them best. Darius Acuff Jr. was singled out by fellow 2026 NBA draft rookies as the classs best scorer and the most trustworthy option when the game is on the line, which fits the profile he built at Arkansas, where he led the SEC in scoring, and carried into summer league with his shot-making.
Emanuel Sharp got similar respect on the other end of the floor, where his peers picked him as the best defender in the group. His work at Houston already suggested that kind of value, and the Kings are projecting him as a 3-and-D guard who can bring balance to a young backcourt. For a team trying to sort out minutes and roles, having two rookies arrive with that kind of reputation is a promising place to start. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Interest In RJ Barrett Could Signal A Real Roster Shakeup
The Kings offseason has already had a few moving parts, and RJ Barretts name surfacing in Sacramento only adds to the sense that more roster reshuffling could be coming. The reported framework would bring Barrett from Toronto to a Kings team that has shown interest in him before, with the connection to general manager Scott Perry giving the idea a familiar edge rather than a purely speculative one.
On the other side, the Raptors have a crowded enough wing picture that a deal like this at least fits the kind of decision-making teams make when they need to sort out roles and fit. Sacramentos side would not be painless, since Malik Monk remains a useful piece and the inclusion of Nique Clifford and Daeqwon Plowden underscores that this would be more than a simple one-for-one swap. For now, though, there is no official trade, which leaves the question of whether the Kings are truly preparing for a real shakeup or just keeping tabs on another possible pivot. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Suddenly Have A Wing Decision That Could Shape The Rotation
The wing spot has become one of the more intriguing parts of the Kings roster puzzle heading toward the 2026 season. DeAndre Hunter is the clearest bet to open as a starter, but the rest of the group gives Sacramento a very different kind of depth than it has had at times in recent seasons, with Nique Clifford bringing two-way intrigue, Ben Simmons offering versatility and rookie Alex Karaban entering with a chance to carve out a role after a strong college run.
That mix gives the coaching staff options, but it also creates a real decision about how the rotation should be shaped and who deserves the most consistent minutes. Cliffords development could push the picture in one direction, Simmons changes it in another, and Karaban adds a young variable that makes the competition more than just a placeholder battle. For a team looking to maximize lineup flexibility, the wing rotation may end up being one of the quieter but most important roster calls of the summer. [Read more 🡒]