Matt Johnson
The Sacramento Kings were one of the biggest losers in the NBA Draft lottery, sliding all the way to the seventh overall pick after a 22-win season. Fortunately for the club, it appears they may still have a shot at landing a prospect they love in the 2026 NBA Draft.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Kings front office is “enamored with” Arkansas Razorbacks point guard Darius Acuff Jr. and would love to land him with the seventh overall pick.
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- Darius Acuff stats (ESPN): 23.5 PPG, 6.4 APG, 3.1 RPG, 48.4% FG, 2.5 3PM per game, 44% 3PT
Familiarity certainly plays a part in this. Kings general manager Scott Perry coached at Eastern Kentucky (1997-2000) when Darius Acuff Sr. played there. Nearly three decades later, Sacramento’s head decision-maker has a chance to add Acuff to his team.
The pick would also address Sacramento’s woes at point guard. While veteran Russell Westbrook played relatively well at that spot last season, the Kings haven’t had a long-term plan at the lead guard spot since the De’Aaron Fox trade with the San Antonio Spurs.
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Acuff, an All-American as a freshman, certainly elevated his stock in the months leading up to the 2026 NBA Draft. However, there are significant concerns regarding his ability to defend, with some viewing him as one of the worst defenders in the draft class.
At a time when NBA teams have started to shy away from smaller guards who struggled defensively, Sacramento would be taking a gamble. With that said, Acuff’s scoring prowess and playmaking ability may ultimately prove too enticing for Perry to pass on.
