The Sacramento Kings have found themselves in a difficult position as they enter the 2026-27 NBA season. After finishing the 2025-26 season with a disappointing 22-60 record, the Kings reached the 60-loss mark for only the second time in franchise history. Their struggles have continued into the offseason, as they dropped two spots in the NBA Draft lottery, landing the No. 7 pick despite finishing last in the Western Conference. The situation worsened when former head coach Mike Brown led the New York Knicks to a championship just one season after being fired by Sacramento. ESPN has ranked the Kings 30th out of 30 teams in their early power rankings, indicating they are perceived as the worst team in the league heading into the new season.
This ranking may seem harsh, but it is hard to argue against it. The Kings have a veteran core that includes Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine, yet they are still in a precarious position. While their young players showed promise last season, the Kings need to make significant changes to improve. If they can shift their focus to developing their young talent by trading at least two of their veteran stars, they may find themselves in a better position for the future. However, without a miracle or a drastic change in their offseason strategy, they are likely to remain among the league's bottom teams.
The most crucial day for the Kings this summer will be June 23, when the NBA Draft takes place. With the No. 7 pick, they have a chance to reshape their future. After trading away De'Aaron Fox in February 2025, the Kings have been searching for their next franchise point guard. Darius Acuff Jr. is expected to be a top target in the draft. If the Kings can build a young core around Acuff, Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford, Dylan Cardwell, and Devin Carter, they could start to turn things around.
However, if they decide to keep Sabonis and one of DeRozan or LaVine, they might surprise some critics and perform better than expected. While it seems prudent for the Kings to part ways with all three veterans for long-term success, retaining their three-time All-Star center and a high-scoring wing could lead to a more competitive season. As the offseason progresses, it will be interesting to see how the Kings navigate their challenges and whether they can improve their standing in the league.
