The Sacramento Kings have no shortage of scoring options, but the real separator next season could be who gives them the cleanest looks from deep. With that in mind, three guards stand out as the team’s top perimeter threats heading into 2026.
At the top of the list is rookie Darius Acuff Jr., and there’s a real case that he could finish first on the team in three-point shooting. In 2025 with the Arkansas Razorbacks, Acuff was lethal from outside, knocking down 44 percent of his attempts and going 91-for-207 from three.
For a freshman in the SEC, that kind of volume and efficiency jumps off the page. Sacramento is expected to hand him the starting point guard job, which means the ball will be in his hands often and the offense may run through his decisions.
Even so, Acuff isn’t limited to one type of shot. He can create off the dribble with his speed and ball-handling, and he’s also dangerous as a catch-and-shoot option.
Right behind him is Zach LaVine, who proved again that his jumper remains one of the most reliable parts of his game when he’s on the floor. LaVine appeared in just 39 games, but he still hit 39 percent from three in 2025, finishing 125-for-142 from beyond the arc.
That blend of self-created offense and spot-up shooting gives Sacramento a lot of flexibility. LaVine can manufacture a look himself or punish defenses when the ball swings his way.
Over his career, he’s a 39.1 percent three-point shooter, and that kind of steadiness makes him an easy bet to stay near the top of the Kings’ perimeter group.
Malik Monk rounds out the trio, and he remains a valuable weapon off the bench. In 2025, Monk shot 39.5 percent from three and connected on 124 of his 314 attempts.
He’s built a reputation as a dependable scorer, and his career mark of 35.5 percent from deep shows why defenses can’t afford to ignore him. Monk can hurt opponents pulling up off the dribble or waiting for the pass and firing in rhythm.
Heading into 2026, he should again be a major scoring option for Sacramento, and if he pushes up to the 40 percent range from three, it would mark the second time in his career he’s reached that level and likely put him among the Kings’ best perimeter shooters once more.
In Other News...
Devin Carters Next Chance May Depend On One Concern Miami Cant Ignore
Devin Carters next stop could end up being shaped as much by Miamis roster math as by his potential. The 2024 first-round pick, whose father Anthony Carter once played for the Heat, is suddenly available again after being waived by Atlanta, and he brings the kind of two-way upside teams tend to circle this time of year. He has flashed scoring touch and defensive energy, which helps explain why the Heat remain a natural fit with their open roster space and cap flexibility.
Still, Miamis interest may come with a familiar caveat for a player trying to restart his momentum. Carter has had trouble staying healthy and finding steady minutes, and Heat insider Ira Winderman noted the team could choose to keep its powder dry rather than move quickly. For a club that likes to weigh fit carefully, the question is not just whether Carter belongs in the mix, but whether Miami wants to use one of its chances now or wait for a different name to surface on the buyout market. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Are Quietly Making Changes That Could Shape Their Entire Support Staff
The Kings have spent the offseason making a series of quiet but meaningful changes behind the scenes, adding and elevating personnel across basketball operations in a way that could reshape the day-to-day work around the roster. Brendan Suhr has been brought in as an assistant coach, while DJ Ham and Jason Maxiell were promoted to assistant coach and player development coach, respectively, signaling a renewed push to strengthen both the bench and the development pipeline.
Joe Ajike is in as head of player development, and the rest of the updates stretch well beyond the court, with new names and promotions in scouting, security, data science and video coordination. For a team trying to tighten every edge it can find, those moves matter because they speak to how the Kings want to operate, even if the most important part of the picture is still the one they have not fully shown yet. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Will Want To See What Boston Sees In Devin Carter
Devin Carter is getting another shot, this time with the Boston Celtics after the Hawks waived him and opened the door for him to land with a new team. The former first-round pick will head into training camp competing for a roster spot or a two-way deal, which gives him a fresh path after a brief stint with Sacramento last season.
For Kings fans, the intrigue is obvious because Carter showed enough in his time in Sacramento to keep his name in the mix elsewhere. He averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 18.4 minutes over 38 games, and now Boston gets the chance to see whether there is still more to unlock in a player Sacramento already had a look at. [Read more 🡒]
