The Sacramento Kings are gearing up for an exciting new chapter, as they prepare to introduce their latest draft picks at a press conference this Monday at Golden 1 Center. General Manager Scott Perry will be on hand to welcome first-round selections Darius Acuff Jr. and Alex Karaban, along with second-round pick Emanuel Sharp, into the Kings' fold.
In last week's NBA draft, the Kings secured Acuff with the No. 7 pick, a move that has been widely praised by analysts. Following a savvy trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, they also acquired Karaban, who was originally picked at No.
- Rounding out their draft haul, Sacramento picked up Sharp with the 45th overall selection.
The buzz around the Kings' draft choices has been overwhelmingly positive, with many experts awarding them top marks. Acuff, Karaban, and Sharp will join the ranks of 2025-26 rookies Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud, and Dylan Cardwell, forming a promising young core. This group represents a strategic shift as Perry looks to rejuvenate a roster that had become both aging and costly before his tenure.
Darius Acuff Jr. arrives with a stellar reputation, having made history at Arkansas by becoming just the second player, alongside the legendary Pete Maravich, to lead the Southeastern Conference in both scoring and assists in a single season. Meanwhile, Alex Karaban brings a winning pedigree from UConn, where he was a two-time national champion. Emanuel Sharp adds defensive prowess to the mix, having been recognized on the Big 12 Conference All-Defensive Team during his time at Houston.
As the dust settles from the draft, Perry and the Kings are already setting their sights on the next phase of their offseason strategy, with free agency and summer league action looming on the horizon. Free agency kicks off at 3 p.m. Tuesday, allowing teams to begin negotiations with free agents, although contracts won't be finalized until after the moratorium lifts on July 6.
Given their current salary cap situation, the Kings aren't expected to make big waves in the free agent market. ESPN's Bobby Marks reports that Sacramento is currently $16 million over the luxury tax threshold.
However, there's a potential path to financial flexibility. By waiving DeMar DeRozan, whose $25.7 million salary is only partially guaranteed, and utilizing the stretch provision, the Kings could find themselves $12.5 million below the luxury tax line.
This maneuver would open up the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and help them sidestep significant apron penalties.
While Perry and his team navigate the financial landscape, the Kings will be busy on the court as well. They'll participate in the California Classic from July 4-6 in Sacramento, followed by the Las Vegas Summer League from July 9-19.
These events will feature some highly anticipated rookie matchups for Acuff, as he faces off against fellow top picks AJ Dybantsa, Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr., Brayden Burries, and Yaxel Lendeborg. It's an exciting time for the Kings and their fans as they look to the future with a blend of young talent and strategic planning.
In Other News...
Kings Just Sent Another Clear Message About Their Backcourt Future
The back end of Sacramentos roster has been in motion for a while, and Killian Hayes is the latest guard to lose his spot. The Kings brought him in during an injury-ravaged stretch of the 2025-26 season, first on short-term help and later on a deal with a team option, but the move always looked like a stopgap rather than a long-term commitment.
What comes next says even more about how the Kings view their backcourt. Daeqwon Plowden has been in the mix and has flashed enough to stay on the staffs radar, and the organization is now weighing a bigger role for him as it trims down its guard picture. For a team trying to sort out who really belongs in the rotation, this is another small but telling signal about where the future is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Free Agency Plan May Signal A Much Bigger Frontcourt Shakeup
The Kings are heading into free agency with more frontcourt questions than usual, and Precious Achiuwa looks like one of the cleaner answers on their board. Sacramento is expected to pursue a return for the big man, a move that would keep a familiar piece in place while the team sorts through a busier set of possibilities around its interior rotation.
At the same time, the picture around the rest of the front line is anything but settled. There has been ongoing buzz around Jonathan Kuminga, though the reporting on Sacramentos level of interest has not been consistent, and Russell Westbrook is also expected to move on even as Washington has shown some interest. Taken together, it has the feel of a summer in which the Kings may be preparing for a much bigger reshuffle than a routine depth move. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Free Agency Buzz Just Raised The Stakes On A Franchise Pivot
The opening of free agency always tends to ripple beyond the teams making the first splash, and Sacramento has already been pulled into the conversation. Around the league, the Warriors are being tied to a possible run at LeBron James and a trade for Anthony Davis, while Kristaps Porziis has already agreed to stay in Golden State and Draymond Green and De'Anthony Melton have declined their options. For the Kings, that kind of early movement matters because the West is shifting quickly, and every front office is watching which names come off the board first.
Zach LaVines decision to opt into his contract for 2026-27 is another piece of the domino chain, especially with other contract calls and trade discussions still taking shape. Sacramento has spent the opening stretch of free agency in the same current as the rest of the league, where one move can alter the market for everyone else, and the next few days could tell the Kings whether they are looking at a narrow upgrade path or something far more dramatic. [Read more 🡒]