Going into their 2026 training camp, the Sacramento Kings are in an oddly good spot. They've signed three players to camp contracts, but only have two roster spots to fill. It all depends on what the focus of the rebuild is this season, and how the front office sees each player fitting into it.
With training camp beginning tomorrow, the Kings have one main roster spot and a single two-way contract left. Otherwise, their roster is pretty much set. Well, for now. At some point, you can bet general manager Scott Perry is going to start trying to make deals, likely around the trade deadline.
For now, all that's left to do roster-wise is fill those final two openings. The Kings will have to decide between Elfrid Payton, Tristen Newton, and Leaky Black. Training camp will play a huge part in that as the coaching staff see how they work with the existing roster. Still, there's more to it than that.
Laying out Sacramento's choices
Payton is a traditional pass-first point guard who knows how to run the court and set up his teammates for success. Additionally, he's a 12-year veteran who could both back up and mentor Darius Acuff Jr. What he lacks is scoring efficiency, which is unlikely to change much at 32.
Newton is a different story. At 25 with only a couple of seasons in the league, he has a lot of room to grow and develop. Newton has proven to be a dangerous man with a ball in his hand, both as a scorer and a playmaker. His three definitely needs work, though he's a great defender who racks up steals.
Black is the anomaly. While the other two are point guards, he's a small forward who is incredible on defense. He can lock one through four down, putting his endless speed and high IQ to work on his opponents. Basically, Black is everywhere all at once on the defensive end of the court.
The Kings are all about fit
One factor that keeps coming up when Perry talks about the rebuild is fit. He has a very specific vision for how this rebuild will unfold, and how players need to slot into it. You know there has to be specific reasons Payton, Newton, and Black were all chosen for the Kings' training camp.
If they're looking for strong defense, they have to sign Black. If they're looking for a reliable veteran point guard, it has to be Payton. If they're looking for another young point guard to develop who can give them scoring, playmaking, and reliable defense, then they have to go with Newton.
Ultimately, one will be on the main roster while another will be a two-way player and the last will likely end up in the G League on the Stockton Kings. All three of them will be in Sacramento's pipeline in some capacity, building towards the future of the franchise, which isn't a bad place to be.
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