With the Sacramento Kings' preseason games over, fans are getting a look at what their team will be like this season. At the same time, this is just the beginning of what will be a long campaign filled with a lot of highs and lows. Get ready for a wild ride for the Kings throughout 2026-2027.
Since the end of the 2025-2026 season, the Kings have made more than a few changes. First, they said goodbye to DeMar DeRozan, Devin Carter, Russell Westbrook, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Drew Eubanks, Killian Hayes, Doug McDermott, and Isaiah Stevens. It's a surprisingly long list when you write it out.
The front office drafted Darius Acuff, Emanuel Sharp, and Alex Karaban in addition to re-signing Precious Achiuwa and Daeqwon Plowden. Beyond that, the Kings also signed Leaky Black, Jonathan Mogbo, and Adam Flagler to two-way contracts, as well as bringing Ben Simmons back to the league.
Keep in mind the Kings still have to make at least one cut. Sacramento has one standard contract and one two-way contract to fill. Plus, the Kings have a total of 19 players and can only have 18. They've recently cut Tristan Newton, Elfrid Payton, and Viktor Lahkin, which will obviously help.
How all of this will play out for the Kings
There's a reason for laying all of this out. Beyond these changes, the Kings also have three sophomores on the roster in Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, and Nique Clifford. That means Sacramento has gotten younger, more inexperienced, and in need of building a rhythm together.
Whether the Kings do well in the preseason or not isn't a true indication of what to expect from them during the regular season. There's a lot of growing and maturing to do on this roster, both separately and as a group. Because of that, expect 2026-2027 to be one heck of a rollercoaster for the Kings.
That's not to say that this will be an inherently bad season. There will be some incredible moments and major wins. At the same time, there will also be a lot of losses along the way. If the Kings make the postseason, that would be a miracle. That's also not the entire goal of this season.
Sacramento is in the middle of a rebuild process, and 2026-2027 is a step on that path. What the Kings need to do to be successful is keep moving forward. Wins will follow that growth. As this team finds itself, it will become a stronger force in the Western Conference, if not the league.
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