The 2026 NBA Draft starts in an hour, and the Sacramento Kings are widely expected to use their first-round pick on Darius Acuff Jr. Even though the deed is all but done, I'm not done pushing for the Kings to take Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg in with that pick, giving them incredible wing depth.
There is no doubt that the Kings need to do something about their starting point guard issues. Ever since trading De'Aaron Fox to the Spurs, Sacramento has struggled with that position. Their original plan was to bring in Dennis Schroder. That didn't work out, as he is much better off the bench.
Sacramento also picked up Russell Westbrook. The living legend saved the Kings' collective butts by stepping into the starting role after Schroder flamed out and killed it. At the age of 37 with 18 seasons under his belt, Brodie is great to have around, but he isn't a long-term solution.
Sactown also has Devin Carter, who just finished his second season in the league. He finally got some real court time towards the end of 2026 and showed his potential. The problem is that he needs some serious development and may never be the starting point guard the Kings need.
A point guard makes sense, but Lendeborg is an amazing opportunity
On top of that, the Kings are in a tough position in free agency. Until they can get their payroll under control, picking up a point guard via free agency will be nearly impossible. For all of these reasons and more, drafting a point guard is the smart move for the Kings this year.
Except for Lendeborg. He is an exceptional forward who just helped Michigan pick up a National Championship. He is a defensive anchor, incredibly versatile on offense, and is a disruptive playmaker. Plus, his game is well-developed after playing in college from 2020 to 2026.
The Kings have to beef up their wings, not to mention getting stronger power forwards. Ledenborg is plug-and-play for Sacramento, someone who requires minimal development and will get up to NBA speed incredibly quickly. It's impossible to overstate how big Lendeborg could be for the Kings.
Look, I know I'm in the minority on this one. And I have little doubt that the Kings will use pick number seven to add Acuff to their roster. I just know that Lendeborg could be a huge difference-maker for Sacramento, someone who will fit in with the young roster they're already building immediately.
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