Kings’ best Darius Acuff Jr. backup plan if he’s not available in 2026 NBA Draft

The Sacramento Kings own the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft this offseason. Rumors suggest the organization loves the idea of using that pick on former Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr., as he has a ton of potential while fixing a backcourt need for the roster. But what if Acuff is drafted before Sacramento is on the clock? What options does the front office have?

Luckily for the Kings, there are numerous talented guards in this year’s class. Anywhere between five and six could be selected within the top 10. So, if the franchise is dead set on adding a guard in the NBA Draft, Sacramento will have plenty of options available.

It’s just a matter of who the team prefers. Perhaps the Kings would rather pivot and address the front court if Acuff is off the board by the time they are on the clock, considering rumors are building that center Domantas Sabonis could be traded before the deadline next season.

Maybe the best option is to trade back and acquire a haul of picks to add multiple prospects to a rebuilding team. The No. 7 overall pick is one that will fetch a ton of interest if it is up for trade, which could prove to be valuable to the franchise.

With numerous options on the table, here is the best backup plan for the Kings if Acuff is not available at No. 7 overall.

Kings’ best Darius Acuff Jr. backup plan

The best possible outcome if Darius Acuff Jr. is gone before the Kings are on the clock is former Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler. Outside of Darryn Peterson, Mikel Brown Jr., and Acuff, Wagler seems to be the best available guard remaining on the board.

At 6-foot-6, the ex-true freshman is more than capable of playing either point guard or shooting guard, as he served as a solid ball facilitator during his lone year at Illinois. Wagler finished last season averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 44.5% from the field and 39.7% from three-point range.

His efforts were good enough to earn him Second-Team All-American honors. He is also a well-rounded prospect who helps in more areas than just scoring, which could prove worthy for the Kings as the front office rebuilds the roster.

After possibly missing out on Darius Acuff Jr., sticking with the backcourt seems to be the best option for Sacramento. Zach LaVine is entering the final year of his contract and appears to be ready for a mentor role for a prospect guard. But he is not expected to re-sign with the Kings. In this moment at least.

Sacramento is in desperate need of a franchise guard, and that’s the kind of potential Keaton Wagler brings to the table. He would likely become one of the key pieces for the front office to build around beyond this year’s draft, alongside forward Keegan Murray. Additionally, the Kings do not have any star-caliber long-term guards on the roster, which Wagler fixes that issue as well.

While the roster needs more than just one top prospect acquisition, sticking and picking Wagler would be a smarter move than trading back in this year’s draft. It opens the door for the front office to potentially trade Sabonis, and perhaps some other players, for a haul of picks in the 2027 draft and beyond, which, by the way, the Kings are eligible to select the No. 1 pick next offseason with the NBA’s anti-tanking rules taking effect next year.

We’re looking at a two-to-three-year rebuild process for the Kings. Landing Keaton Wagler, assuming Darius Acuff Jr. is not available, would be a great first step for Sacramento. Especially if the front office can acquire more elite-level prospects to complement Wagler’s game in future drafts.

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