A couple of months ago, the Sacramento Kings were the worst team in the league and expected to pick first or second in the 2026 NBA Draft. After several late-season wins, those prospects have changed dramatically, with the Kings now picking Mikel Brown Jr. seventh. That's quite a change.
It's honestly not that long ago that Sactown fans and pundits were debating who the Kings were going to choose out of the top three rookies in the draft class. Many saw this as the key to unlocking the rebuild process, something Sacramento has needed for 20+ years at this point.
FanSided recently released an updated version of their mock draft for 2026. This version was put together after the completion of the NCAA Men's March Madness Tournament. It saw the Michigan Wolverines pick up their first national championship since 1989, their second overall.
After winning a surprising number of late-season games in the past few weeks, the Kings' draft outlook has worsened. The mock draft now shows them picking seventh overall and going with Mikel Brown Jr, a freshman guard who is currently playing for the Louisville Cardinals.
Drafting seventh isn't the end of the world for the Kings
Brown is an athletic ball-handler who has the skill and basketball IQ to really manipulate the defense. He knows how to draw fouls while finishing strong at the rim. That doesn't change the fact that he's young and has some flaws in his game to work out. But that will come with time and experience.
While he would be a good choice for Sacramento, this is a deep draft class. Newly crowned champion Michigan players like forward Yaxel Lendeborg and center Aday Mara have major potential for the Kings, as well. Getting the seventh lottery pick doesn't mean the Kings don't have options.
It's also important to keep in mind that the Kings are drawing fifth in the Draft Lottery coming up on May 10. While the Kings' most likely odds have them getting the seventh draft pick, that doesn't mean that's the one they'll end up with. They could still end up number one, or they could drop even lower.
If Sacramento chooses Brown with whatever first-round pick they get in the end, they will have made an excellent decision. He is an explosive player with a huge upside who would fit into the Kings' rebuild process incredibly well. They could do a lot worse.