The Sacramento Kings used the No. 7 slot in the NBA draft to select Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., the SEC Player of the Year, and added Houston guard Emanuel Sharp on Day 2. Acuff’s introductory press conference is slated for Monday morning in Sacramento, where roughly 3,000 fans gathered at a Golden 1 Center watch party to celebrate the selection.
Acuff entered the draft after posting 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game as a freshman, earning both SEC Player of the Year and SEC Rookie of the Year honors. His most memorable college performance came in a double-overtime loss to Alabama, where he poured in 49 points on 16-of-27 shooting. Arkansas coach John Calipari warned that several teams “will regret not taking him,” underscoring the high ceiling the Kings see in the 6-foot-5 guard.
Sharp, a senior guard from Houston, was added on Day 2. He was praised for his 3-and-D skill set, having earned Big 12 All-Defensive Team honors and shooting 37.2 % from three-point range as a senior. The Kings view Sharp as a perimeter defender who can help protect the paint while freeing up the offense for players like Zach LaVine.
The acquisition of Alex Karaban required a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sacramento sent the 34th pick and a future second-round selection to obtain Karaban’s rights at No. 29. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 13.2 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 46.4 % from the floor in his senior year at UConn, and he earned first-team All-Big East honors as part of two NCAA championship teams.
Veterans DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Malik Monk now face uncertain futures as General Manager Scott Perry looks to reshape a roster that has missed the playoffs for three straight seasons. The stretch provision could be applied to DeRozan’s contract if no trade materializes. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie gave the Kings an A+ grade for the draft, noting the front office’s preference for players with winning pedigrees.
Acuff will make his summer-league debut when the Kings host the California Classic from July 4-6, opening against the Brooklyn Nets and a matchup with No. 6 pick Mikel Brown Jr. The upcoming press conference will provide the first public look at how Acuff fits into Sacramento’s system, while the roster deadline in late October will determine whether the veteran core stays intact or the franchise pivots toward the new draft class.
Sacramento Kings 
