yahoo - 6/4/2026 10:22:36 PM - GMT (+2 )
The 2026 NBA Draft is less than three weeks away, as NBA teams have hosted pre-draft workouts for this year's draft prospects.
The Sacramento Kings missed out on a top-5 pick but still landed the No. 7 pick after ending the 2025-26 season with a 22-60 record, tied for worst in the Western Conference.
Sacramento has a number of questions that need to be answered going into the draft, but none bigger than what they will do to address their point guard situation. The Kings need a player, specifically a point guard, who has the caliber to change a franchise.
The team has been searching for someone who can fill those shoes since they shipped their franchise player, De'Aaron Fox, in a three-team trade to the San Antonio Spurs in Feb. 2025. They received in return Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks (2025 from Charlotte, 2027 from San Antonio, 2031 from Minnesota), and three second-round picks.
Last season, they finished with Russell Westbrook, who is 37 years old, as their starting point guard. The future Hall of Famer was a productive contributor on the floor and showed up as one of the team's vocal leaders.
However, he was on a one-year deal, and he'll be 38 next season. Kings should prioritize bringing Westbrook back and adding a guard who can learn under his tutelage.
In USA TODAY's latest NBA mock draft 15.0, Bryan Kalbrosky has Sacramento going after Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. as the perfect guy to take the throne for the Kings.
Kalbrosky wrote: "The speedy guard led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but is one of the most exciting offensive prospects in recent memory. It's also worth noting Kings executive Scott Perry coached Acuff's father in college."
Here's who sports experts predict the Sacramento Kings will draft with the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft:
More: NBA mock draft 15.0: Projecting entire first round
USA TODAY Sports: Darius Acuff Jr.- TEAM: Arkansas
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Michigan
- HEIGHT: 6-3
- DRAFT AGE: 19
The Kings need a potential star and according to Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor, folks around the league "widely believe" they are targeting Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. right now. En route to the Sweet 16, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. The speedy guard led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but is one of the most exciting offensive prospects in recent memory. It's also worth noting Kings executive Scott Perry coached Acuff's father in college. – Bryan Kalbrosky, USA TODAY
ESPN: Kingston Flemings- TEAM: Houston
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Virginia
- HEIGHT: 6-4
- DRAFT AGE: 19
"The Kings drew a short straw on lottery night but will have an opportunity to address their need for a point guard at this spot, with Acuff frequently tied to them, and Flemings and Mikel Brown Jr. also potentially still on the board. In what order Sacramento prioritizes those players -- and whether they value Acuff enough to consider moving up to get him -- remains to be seen, but it was a point of speculation from other teams at the combine.
"Flemings measured smaller than his listed 6-4, at 6-2½ barefoot with just a plus-1 wingspan, but he unsurprisingly tested quite well athletically. Though the size factor might not help him as lottery teams split hairs among the guards, the feedback was positive on his interview process, reaffirming the intangibles that helped make him successful at Houston." – Jeremy Woo, ESPN
Yahoo Sports: Darius Acuff Jr.- TEAM: Arkansas
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Michigan
- HEIGHT: 6-3
- DRAFT AGE: 19
"Weeks ago I reported the Kings are widely believed to be targeting Acuff with this pick. That reporting has since been supported by others in the industry, and that belief remains unchanged around the league. That said, the Kings are still working out other players and nothing is locked in. Just consider Acuff the favorite here. Acuff is not the biggest guard or the most explosive athlete, but he reads defenses like someone who's been in the league for a decade. He emerged as a freshman as a skilled, low-turnover playmaker. And that's not even what he's best at. Acuff is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor with a quick trigger, slippery handle, and a feel for manipulating defenses. He has a knack for clutch moments too. The question that follows every undersized guard into the draft is whether the brilliance survives contact with bigger, longer, faster defenders." – Kevin O'Connor, Yahoo Sports
CBS Sports:Mikel Brown Jr.- TEAM: Louisville
- POSITION: Guard
- BORN: Florida
- HEIGHT: 6-4
- DRAFT AGE: 20
"Brown is a lead guard with unlimited range and zero conscience as a 3-point shooter. A nagging back injury during his freshman season at Louisville underscored concerns about the durability of his slender frame. But his combination of shot-making, athleticism and floor vision makes him a potential All-Star." – David Cobb, CBS Sports
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kings NBA mock drafts: Can Darius Acuff Jr. save Sacramento?
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