THE SACRAMENTO KINGS had been an NBA-worst 14-50 in early March, planted in prime place for a assured top-five decide in a loaded draft. However reasonably than embracing the tank — equivalent to a number of different groups did down the stretch — the Kings stored energetic a couple of of their productive veterans, leaned into their bettering youth and generated sufficient momentum to win eight of their closing 18 video games.
It might be categorized as their greatest and most self-destructive stretch of basketball of the season.
Due to the surge, the Kings leapfrogged the Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers within the standings and tied the Utah Jazz at 22 wins on the ultimate weekend of the common season. In that span, these 4 groups mixed for less than 11 wins, racing previous the Kings within the closing season the place full-on tanking was incentivized, earlier than the NBA’s lottery reforms kick in for the 2027 draft.
Per week after the regular-season finale, the Jazz gained a tiebreaker over the Kings for the fourth slot within the lottery. The next month, Utah used its improved positioning to leap to the No. 2 decide, finally deciding on Kansas guard Darryn Peterson. The Kings, in the meantime, stumbled to No. 7.
“Typically you want a little bit racing luck,” common supervisor Scott Perry advised ESPN final week.
Although the Kings did not get racing luck within the lottery, they nonetheless consider they received fortunate on draft evening.
Perry’s affinity for Arkansas level guard Darius Acuff Jr. was an open secret within the league within the weeks main as much as the draft on June 23. No one internally is claiming Acuff was first on the Kings’ closing large board, however he was actually ranked greater than seventh and, league sources stated, the workforce’s dream situation exterior of the consensus top-four prospects.
Perry ignored what the Kings’ entrance workplace seen as smokescreens from the LA Clippers (No. 5) and the Nets (No. 6), believing they did not must commerce as much as land Acuff. The native fanbase embraced the thought, roaring on the draft watch celebration when the Clippers went with Illinois guard Keaton Wagler and the Nets adopted with Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., leaving Acuff on the board. The will for a partnership was mutual.
“I heard the noise [about how much they wanted me],” Acuff advised ESPN at summer season league final month. “I wished to be part of this workforce and this group.”
Acuff, who turns 20 in November, steps right into a uncommon place for an NBA teenager — his fast-tracked improvement has develop into the focus of the Kings rebuild, coming into its second season beneath Perry. Success can be seen by means of the lens of his progress, not the stats and profession arcs of these round him.
That is a tough dynamic on a roster populated with established veterans, together with Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, their two highest-paid gamers — who the workforce thought of buying and selling earlier than finally deciding to maneuver on, given the tepid markets. Now, Acuff, a high-usage, score-first level guard with passing chops, is about to get the keys to an offense at a time when Sabonis and LaVine are trying to recharge their careers and reestablish their worth, both in Sacramento or elsewhere, relying on how this season goes.
“The purpose guard is a quarterback,” Perry stated. “So once you are available as a rookie, you are not simply coming in making an attempt to determine how far you will get your personal recreation. You have to be a pupil and anxious and understanding of everyone round you. There is a totally different expectation with that place.
“So there’s going to be loads on his plate.”
IT WASN’T LONG in the past that Sabonis, 30, was seen because the centerpiece of what seemed to be a profitable Kings rebuild. Sacramento’s earlier common supervisor, Monte McNair, struck a stunning February 2022 deadline deal, sending a younger Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers to accumulate Sabonis and pair him with De’Aaron Fox.
It was a extremely criticized transfer, however it generated probably the most success the Kings have had in almost twenty years: Sabonis was an All-Star in his first full season in Sacramento, ending seventh in MVP voting, incomes third-team All-NBA honors and main the Kings to 48 wins.
The Kings employed a coach, Mike Brown, they believed would run an offense conducive to Sabonis as a high-post, dribble handoff hub. They renegotiated and prolonged Sabonis’ contract a 12 months sooner than wanted, prioritizing his needs whereas the regime that traded for him remained intact.
However that period fell aside quickly. The Kings went from 48 wins to 46 the next season, however that two-win distinction was sufficient to drop them from third to ninth within the Western Convention. Brown was fired 31 video games into the next season, and Perry arrived as GM in April 2025, inheriting a roster he meant to slowly deconstruct, unbeholden to the previous personnel selections.
Perry sat with Sabonis in his workplace for 2 hours the identical week he took over the job and the 2 have maintained a clear relationship since, workforce sources stated. That included open dialogue in regards to the commerce alternatives that would profit each side over the previous 12 months.
The Kings almost traded Sabonis to the Toronto Raptors on the deadline in February — a transfer he would’ve welcomed, a supply with data of the scenario stated — for a bundle that included RJ Barrett, however the Raptors had been unable to get off the three-year, $84 million remaining on Jakob Poeltl’s contract, which doomed the deal.
Sabonis had season-ending surgical procedure on {a partially} torn meniscus later that month, and the Kings revisited commerce talks surrounding him this summer season. Perry visited with restricted free agent middle Jalen Duren in early July and explored the thought of a sign-and-trade swap of huge males, however the Detroit Pistons balked on the thought of dropping Duren for Sabonis, league sources stated.
There have been predraft conversations about Sabonis with the Charlotte Hornets (who held decide Nos. 14 and 18) and no less than one telephone name with the Boston Celtics, workforce and league sources stated, however nothing materialized. In Charlotte’s case, the thought would’ve been to pair Sabonis with level guard LaMelo Ball, however the franchise as a substitute opted to commerce Ball for draft picks and lean additional right into a youth motion.
So Sabonis — with two years and $94 million remaining on his present contract — returns to the Kings and, workforce sources stated, has expressed a willingness to recommit and buy-in to this season’s workforce.
Acuff stated Sabonis texted him a few days after he was drafted, welcomed him to the workforce and expressed pleasure about their offensive potential collectively.
“Sabonis is a good participant,” Acuff stated. “An All-Star degree participant. Simply to play with a man like that, that’d be a blessing for positive.”
Sabonis made it a degree to journey to Las Vegas and sit with the Kings’ entrance workplace personnel courtside for considered one of their summer season league video games. Final week, he visited Perry in Sacramento for an additional assembly about their future collectively and the mutually helpful want for him to play nicely.
Sabonis grew to become extension-eligible in July, however providing a brand new contract is not at present being explored, workforce sources stated. He switched illustration to CAA Sports activities final week.
“He’ll play onerous,” Perry stated. “I do not suppose he is aware of another approach to play. So no matter what could or could not have been, when Domas locks in, he’ll come and compete. That is my expectation. We want the very best model of him this 12 months and for him to perform no matter objectives and aims he has as a participant for the rest of his profession, he is aware of he is received to play.”
THE PAIRING OF Sabonis and Fox led to February 2025, when Fox requested out and was finally shipped to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team deal.
LaVine, 31, was the centerpiece return of that commerce, arriving in Sacramento at a time when controlling proprietor Vivek Ranadive had taken management of personnel energy and made a frantic try to stay aggressive late that common season, workforce sources stated. As a substitute, the Kings went 15-18 the remainder of the way in which, falling within the play-in event for the second consecutive season.
LaVine was restricted by accidents to 39 video games final season and averaged simply 19.2 factors, his lowest since his first season in Chicago (2017-18). He was the Sixteenth-highest paid participant within the league and entered the summer season dealing with a call of his $48.9 million participant possibility. Perry, whereas exploring avenues to fast-track a rebuild and get LaVine to a successful atmosphere at this stage of his profession, examined his market on the deadline and would’ve been amenable to sign-and-trade prospects this summer season.
However nothing appetizing sufficient materialized and LaVine opted in, leaving him as a big-ticket expiring contract coming into the season. The Kings have no real interest in shopping for out his contract, and he is anticipated to be a significant a part of the rotation coming into the season. His worth as a commerce deadline possibility and unrestricted free agent subsequent summer season can be decided by his effectiveness.
LaVine, like Sabonis, reached out to Acuff after the draft, visited the summer season league workforce in Las Vegas and has expressed pleasure about sharing the court docket with the rookie level guard as he goals for a bounce-back season.
“A wonderful gesture,” Perry stated. “It is vital that the veterans which can be round not solely can present or supply constructive criticism or constructive suggestions to a younger participant like him. It is also incumbent upon them to encourage, welcome and assist fast-track his progress as nicely too on this explicit scenario.”
IN RECENT NBA historical past, a workforce within the Kings’ place — coming off a 22-win season and never having a assured celebrity to construct round — may be seeking to tank. However Sacramento has no intention to tug the plug, believing higher well being and an bettering layer of youth may result in a extra encouraging document in a leaguewide atmosphere that does not reward successful as a lot anymore.
“I hate that phrase [tank],” Perry stated.
Sacramento did offload one notable veteran this offseason, waiving the partially assured contract of DeMar DeRozan, which considerably lowered their luxurious tax invoice. They usually may make one other veteran addition.
The Kings nonetheless have an open roster spot and have had discussions with guards Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo about filling it, league sources stated.
Westbrook averaged 29 minutes in 64 video games for the Kings a season in the past. Perry stated the previous league MVP “outplayed” the minimal contract Sacramento can supply him, so it stays to be seen whether or not Westbrook would need a reunion and a presumably smaller position behind Acuff. The Kings, nonetheless, worth Westbrook’s severe, disciplined method and consider his work habits and mindset may gain advantage Acuff’s progress.
Oladipo, in the meantime, is making an attempt to work his approach again to the NBA after accidents derailed an All-Star profession. He hasn’t appeared in an NBA recreation since April 2023, reviving his profession in a 15-game G League stint final season. Perry and assistant GM BJ Armstrong attended an Oladipo exercise in Las Vegas final month, and Oladipo later visited Sacramento for a non-public exercise, workforce sources stated.
The Kings have additionally maintained curiosity in unrestricted free agent wing Jonathan Kuminga, however in contrast to final summer season, they’ve been hesitant to get into sign-and-trade conversations, as such a transfer would onerous cap them on the first apron. With out such a transfer with the Atlanta Hawks, they’d have solely a minimal to supply, so these talks have gone nowhere, league sources stated.
Perry and the Kings are as a substitute targeted on the affected person improvement of Acuff and their younger core, together with second-year gamers Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford and Dylan Cardwell, whereas nudging expectations upward — barely — and ready for additional roster flexibility that may lastly arrive subsequent summer season after LaVine’s contract expires.
Coach Doug Christie acquired a vote of confidence on the finish of the season from the franchise’s decision-makers, however he solely has yet one more assured 12 months left on his contract. Perry expects “a bounce in improvement” from Christie, simply as he does from the younger gamers on the roster.
“Be higher in Yr 2 than Yr 1,” Perry stated. “So that is the expectation — that in Yr 2, we now have established a typical the place once you come and see the sport, you say, ‘OK, that is what King’s basketball seems to be like.’ That is the very first thing that must be established. With that, you anticipate to win extra video games than [the 22] you gained a 12 months in the past. I believe that each of these are very life like and people are clear expectations.”
