The Sacramento Kings are heading into what looks like year two of their long rebuild, and the roster is being shaped far more by the draft than by any splashy offseason shopping. That’s not by accident.
The Kings didn’t land any major free agency additions, largely because the salary cap has kept them boxed in. So the heavy lifting has fallen to Scott Perry, who put together two strong draft classes in 2025 and 2026.
Between those two years, the Kings added three new young stars apiece, with one of those arrivals technically coming as an undrafted signing.
With that in mind, these are the five players most likely to turn heads in 2026-2027.
Dylan Cardwell has already carved out a place with the fanbase. His climb from undrafted player to two-way contract to standard NBA deal happened in less than a year, and he didn’t just stick around - he made noise.
Cardwell’s rim protection, alley-oop finishes, and nonstop energy made him an instant favorite in Sacramento. Now that he’s got a year of NBA experience under his belt, year two could be his breakout.
Emanuel Sharp also arrives with momentum. Sacramento took him in the second round of the 2026 draft, and he rewarded that choice with a strong Summer League showing that gave fans a clear idea of what he can bring.
The hurdle is opportunity. Shooting guard is crowded, so his minutes may be limited.
Still, when Sharp gets on the floor, the expectation is that he’ll make the most of it.
Alex Karaban’s path has been a little less smooth, but the upside is easy to see. An injury kept him out of the California Classic, though he did make it back for Las Vegas.
The first couple of games were about shaking off the rust, and then he started to look terrific. His value as a combo forward gives him a cleaner route to playing time, which means fans may get familiar with him quickly.
Maxime Raynaud was one of the biggest surprises of the group. Perry selected him deep in the second round of the 2025 draft, and there wasn’t much certainty about what kind of player he would become.
What followed was a rookie season that put him among the league’s best first-year players. He earned a starting role while Domantas Sabonis was out, and he impressed on both ends of the floor.
That kind of showing doesn’t go unnoticed, and he looks set to keep climbing this season.
At the top of the list is Darius Acuff Jr., the player who might end up defining the whole group. When a rebuilding team spends its best draft pick on you, that says plenty about how much it believes in your talent.
Summer League was rough on Acuff, but that comes with the territory for a teenager stepping into the NBA for the first time. Once he catches up to the speed of the league, the Kings believe he’ll be the point guard they need.
In Other News...
Kings May Have To Wait On A Russell Westbrook Reunion
Russell Westbrook is not on the Kings roster right now, and the reason is less about fit than finances. Sacramento does have two open roster spots, but with no salary cap space to work with, the team simply cannot add players at the moment.
The squeeze comes largely from the contracts already on the books, which leaves the front office waiting for a cleaner path to bring in outside help. That is why any talk of a Westbrook reunion feels more like a future possibility than an immediate move, with some speculation pointing to the 2027 trade deadline if the cap picture finally loosens up. [Read more 🡒]
Zach LaVine Just Raised The Stakes For Sacramento's Next Step
Zach LaVines decision to stay put gives Sacramento a very different kind of offseason headline than the one many expected. The Kings had been looking at possible trade paths, but LaVine chose to opt into his $49 million player option, keeping him on the roster and immediately raising the importance of what comes next for a team trying to steady itself after an injury-hit season.
LaVine said he still believes in the culture and the potential around the group, and he pointed to the promise of a backcourt pairing with rookie Darius Acuff as part of why he sees a path forward. Sacramento has also tried to reinforce that vision by adding new players out of strong college programs, a sign the front office is still betting on cohesion and development as much as talent. [Read more 🡒]
Keegan Murray Could Shape The Kings Offense In A New Way
The Kings are heading into a transition season with a roster that blends established veterans and younger pieces, and the early emphasis is likely to be on finding new ways to make the offense more dynamic. Sacramento also has seventh-overall pick Darius Acuff Jr. in the mix, which only adds to the sense that the team will be experimenting with different lineup combinations as it tries to build around both present-tense scoring and long-term development.
One of the more interesting possibilities involves Keegan Murray in pick-and-roll actions with Acuff, a pairing that could give the Kings another layer to explore. Murray has not spent much time as a screen-setter, but if that part of his game grows, it could open up more options for Sacramento and help unlock a different kind of offensive flow than the one fans have seen before. [Read more 🡒]