Before the NBA Draft Combine, FanSided's mock draft had Koa Peat going 30th. After the draft, other projections are starting to catch up. It didn't go well for him, confirming that the Sacramento Kings need to stay away from him in the draft. This is not the freshman forward the Kings are looking for.
Peat came out of high school with a ton of heat thanks to his talent, skill, and winning ways. He has four FIBA gold medals on the US national team, as well as being named the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year in 2023. Thanks to all of that success, Peat's heat followed him into college.
His freshman year as a power forward at the University of Arizona has gone well for the most part. There have been some rough patches, as anyone would expect from a rookie, but Peat was integral to the Wildcats' overall great season. It's no surprise he has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft.
That being said, maybe he shouldn't. Peat recently attended the combine and didn't have a great showing. He shot incredibly poorly, harming his draft stock greatly. FanSided's post-lottery mock draft already had Peat at 30. Post-combine, other sites like Bleacher Report are starting to agree.
Sacramento doesn't need Peat more than Peat needs a longer college run
For the Kings, the 2026 NBA Draft is a big deal. They have one first-round pick and two second-round picks, all of which will play a part in the ongoing rebuild. The Kings need players who can contribute, even if they need time to develop into their respective roles.
Peat brings incredible strength to power forward, but the skinny on him has always been that he's a rough perimeter shooter and isn't the best defender. If there are two things the Kings need in new players, it's strong defense and great perimeter shooting. He's not a good fit for Sacramento.
As it stands right now, an increasing number of mock drafts have the Mavericks taking Peat at number 30. To be honest, he could probably use a couple of more seasons in college ball to develop his game futher. Not everyone is ready for the NBA after their freshman year.
So far, Peat has chosen to remain in the draft, even after a combine performance that has been described by some as "disastrous." From the Kings' perspective, they are at least projected to be steering clear of for now. He's proven he's not good for their changing team.
Add us as a preferred source on Google