Siegel: Three teams are eyeing Darius Acuff Jr. in NBA Draft

The Sacramento Kings continue to be one of the teams most heavily linked to Arkansas star guard Darius Acuff Jr. ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft, but whether they will have the opportunity to select him remains one of the biggest questions facing the franchise.

National NBA insider Brett Siegel of Clutch Points joined Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys and shed light on Acuff’s growing market around the league, while also discussing Sacramento’s position with the seventh overall pick.

Acuff is coming off a dominant freshman season at Arkansas, averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game while shooting 44 percent from three-point range.

His production earned him SEC Player of the Year, SEC Rookie of the Year, and Consensus All-American honors, making him one of the most sought-after prospects in this year’s draft class.

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

More on Darius Acuff Jr.

According to Siegel, three teams are consistently being connected to Darius Acuff Jr. near the top of the lottery.

“As of right now, there are three teams that we know have interests, and it’s the three teams that everybody’s been mentioning,” Siegel said. “It starts with the Los Angeles Clippers at five, the Brooklyn Nets at six, and the Sacramento Kings at seven.”

The challenge for Sacramento is determining how much of that reported interest from the Clippers and Nets is genuine. Siegel suggested that both organizations could be seeking leverage and trying to entice the Kings to move up.

“We know that Acuff is number one on their board,” Siegel said. “So this could just be a smokescreen… to try to get a trade done, knowing that the Kings would trade up to get Acuff.”

Siegel noted that applying pressure to teams during the pre-draft process is a common strategy in the NBA, especially when organizations are looking to acquire additional assets.

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Adding another wrinkle to the situation is the Dallas Mavericks, who own the ninth pick. Siegel said league sources have indicated that Dallas also has some interest in Darius Acuff, potentially creating another team capable of moving up the board.

Despite the growing speculation, Siegel cautioned that draft-season information should always be viewed carefully.

“I’ll play devil’s advocate here,” Siegel said. “Maybe Acuff’s not number one on their board. Maybe they’re just telling everybody that’s who they like.”

Regardless of the gamesmanship taking place behind the scenes, Acuff remains firmly in the conversation for Sacramento.

Whether the Kings stay at No. 7 or explore a move up the board, the Arkansas standout continues to be the prospect most closely associated with the franchise heading into draft month.

Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

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What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

The Sacramento Kings are preparing for a crucial 2026 NBA Draft, which is set to take place from Tuesday, June 23rd, through Wednesday, June 24th.

Sacramento owns the 7th pick in the Draft, giving them a chance at selecting a talented player with upside, such as Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., Houston’s Kingston Flemings, and Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, among others.

Be sure to stay locked into Sactown Sports for pre-draft workout news, player breakdowns, draft rumors and MUCH more.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings & NBA Offseason Schedule

• Tuesday, June 23rd – NBA Draft (Round 1)
• Wednesday, June 24th – NBA Draft (Round 2)
• Tuesday, June 30th – NBA Free Agency negotiation period begins (3 PM PT)
• Saturday, July 4th – Monday, July 6th – California Classic at Golden 1 Center
• Thursday, July 9th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League begins
• Monday, July 13th – Free Agency moratorium ends / signings can become official

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