FanSided's most recent mock draft shows the Sacramento Kings taking Darius Acuff Jr. seventh overall. Based on his performance at the 2026 NBA Combine, that's looking like a better and better call. Acuff is looking so good that he might get drafted before the Kings' number even gets called.
If you assume the rebuild started with the 2025 NBA Draft, the Kings have been in the process for almost a year now. Until Sacramento is able to move one of their worst contracts, if not both of them, there are going to be some serious financial obstacles in the path of the rebuild.
That's part of what makes this year's draft so important. The Kings have one first-round pick and two second-round picks, which are their best bets to bring in new talent to build around. Fortunately, this draft class runs deep, meaning that Sacramento should be able to get a top-tier player at seventh.
Acuff has been attached to the Kings as a likely first-round pick on more than one occasion. That includes FanSided's post-lottery mock draft. He is by no means the perfect player, but he's also an impressive young point guard who will grow and develop with the new roster.
The combine has proven Acuff's value
If anyone was concerned about Acuff being an undersized point guard, he put all of that to bed at the combine. He's got a standing reach of 8'2.5", which is solid for a 6'2" guard. On top of that, he has a maximum vertical of 36.5 inches, giving him an impressive athletic advantage.
In addition to his hops, Acuff's performance in the speed and agility drills was exceptional. He also went off in the shooting drills, hitting 18 of 25 in spot-up shooting, 24 of 30 in shooting off the dribble, and eight of nine in the mid-range drill from the left side. Every team was locked in on his dominance.
The problem for the Kings is that more scouts are likely paying attention to him now. While he's not expected to get selected in the top three or four picks, he is seen as an easy top-eight pick. It wouldn't be a shock to see Acuff go sixth or even fifth, depending on how the top four pan out.
It's not like the Kings don't have plenty of options to choose from, given that the depth of this draft class is historic. That being said, Acuff would be a great pick for them. Not every mock draft agrees on that happening, but he's seeming like Sacramento's guy more and more.
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