The Sacramento Kings have opened Summer League with a perfect 4-0 run, and while nobody is handing out trophies for exhibition wins, the early returns are giving the front office something real to work with. Scott Perry and company are trying to steer this team back to the playoffs, and the first batch of games has at least offered a few encouraging signs.
The biggest one might be Emanuel Sharp. The second-round pick has been Sacramento’s best player so far, even if Darius Acuff Jr. may end up being the franchise name to watch down the line. Sharp has brought the same defensive edge and nonstop hustle he showed at Houston, and it has carried over right away.
That leaves the Kings with a pretty straightforward question: where does Sharp fit once the games count? Acuff is set to open at point guard, and Zach LaVine would likely be at shooting guard if he remains on the roster.
Malik Monk and Nique Clifford are also in the mix. Compared with last season, the backcourt isn’t overflowing with bodies, but the offseason is still active and Sacramento could still add another guard or two.
Even so, Sharp looks like the kind of player Doug Christie wants on the floor. He defends like a pest, fires away from deep with volume and efficiency, and there’s a case for giving him 20 minutes or more right away.
Another name making noise is Dylan Cardwell. The second-year center has been all over the court for Sacramento, and he’s looked like the kind of defensive anchor the Kings have been missing for years.
There’s still plenty of polish needed in his game, but he’s already taken steps on offense. If that keeps trending up, it gets tougher to leave him on the bench. The complication, of course, is the presence of Domantas Sabonis and Maxime Raynaud.
Sabonis’ future in Sacramento is still unresolved, but if he’s on the roster, he’s likely to soak up 30-plus minutes a night. Raynaud’s strong play, which earned him a spot on the All-Rookie second team, adds another layer to the logjam.
That’s why the most natural solution may be to lean into two-big lineups, something that’s showing up again around the league. Sacramento will get another look at that idea when Raynaud returns to Summer League, giving the team a chance to see whether he and Cardwell can share the floor. For that to work, Raynaud’s ability to stretch out and hit threes will matter a lot, because it’s what keeps defenses from packing the paint.
In Other News...
Kings Are Putting Darius Acuff Jr. In A Tough Spot Already
Darius Acuff Jr. is being asked to do a lot already, and Sacramentos guard picture only makes the assignment tougher. The rookie has been pushed into the starting point guard role because the Kings are thin at the position, with a crowded roster that still leaves the backcourt looking unfinished and little proven help behind him.
Isaiah Stevens could become part of the answer if he shows enough in summer action, and the Kings also have a few different ways to keep searching for help. Malik Monk remains on the roster and could be moved if the right opportunity comes along, while undrafted guards like Milos Uzan and Nick Boyd are the kind of developmental names Sacramento may have to consider as it tries to give Acuff some breathing room. [Read more 🡒]
Kings May Have Found Another Raynaud Style Rotation Answer
Emanuel Sharp has wasted no time giving Sacramento a reason to lean in after the 2026 NBA Draft. The Kings took the guard with the 45th pick, and his early Summer League work has looked the part of a player who can at least force his way into the conversation, from a strong showing in the California Classic to a debut in Las Vegas that turned heads for more than just his scoring. For a team that spent last season near the bottom in defense and at the back of the league in made threes, any young perimeter piece who can help on both ends is going to get a long look.
The caution, of course, is that Summer League can flatter almost anyone for a week or two, and Sacramento knows better than to crown a rookie on July results alone. Still, Sharp has done enough to create a real buzz around the Kings' backcourt mix, especially with Darius Acuff Jr. saying Sharp has been the team's best player over the last few games. Whether that holds once the games count is a different question, but the early signs have been encouraging enough to make him one of the more interesting names in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Can Feel This Kuminga Pursuit Getting Complicated
The Kings have spent the offseason trying to keep their options open, and Jonathan Kuminga has quickly become one of the more intriguing names on their radar. Sacramentos improved salary-cap flexibility gives it more room to work than it had before, but the club is still operating in a range where a straightforward free-agent payday may not be realistic for a player drawing this much attention.
That is where the pursuit starts to get tricky. A sign-and-trade appears to be the cleanest path if the Kings want to stay in the conversation, but they are hardly alone in trying to thread that needle, and the market around Kuminga could end up deciding which team is willing and able to go the furthest. For Sacramento, the interest is real, but so are the financial hurdles standing in the way. [Read more 🡒]