With the 2026 NBA Combine happening in Chicago, potential draftees are getting run through their paces. One of them is Alex Karaban. He is doing well, which is good for the Sacramento Kings as FanSided's most recent mock draft projects them choosing him in the second round.
After the NBA Draft Lottery, most of the conversation has been about the potential top picks in the upcoming draft. For the teams that ended up in the top four, names like AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Petersen, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson are all likely picks, with Dybantsa likely going first.
That, of course, does not include the Kings, who fell from fifth to seventh when the lottery balls dropped. This didn't really come as a surprise, as seventh was the spot with the highest odds for the Kings. Fans still hoped for a higher spot, possibly even the number one pick in a perfect world.
Some mock drafts are projecting that the Kings will draft Darius Acuff Jr. Again, this is not a surprise, as Acuff has been attached to the Kings in mock drafts before. That could be good for them as he is having a great combine. The same is true for one of their projected second-round picks, as well.
Alex Karaban fits the Kings like a glove
FanSided's mock draft shows Sacramento taking UConn forward, Alex Karaban, 34th in the second round. He could be great for the Kings, given his high basketball IQ and versatile scoring abilities. He just finished first in a mid-range drill and second in the three-point star drill at the combine.
On top of that, Karaban's athleticism has improved rather dramatically. Since the 2024 Combine, he has put 5.5 inches on his vertical, which is a substantial improvement. Karaban now maxes out at 33 inches, which is huge considering he's almost 6'7" and has a standing reach of almost 8'9".
With his shooting and athletic improvements, Karaban should be an easy first-round draft pick, yet he isn't due to questions about his defensive ceiling. Oddly enough, Doug Christie might be a good coach for him, considering his laser focus on defense over everything else.
If the Kings get to the first of their second round picks and Karaban is available, they should definitely pull the trigger on drafting him. He's got the shooting and intelligence they're looking for, and is at least a reliable team defender. Karaban would be an excellent addition to the rebuild squad.
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