Could Aday Mara be a sneaky pick for the Kings at 7th?

The Sacramento Kings are less than two weeks away from making a franchise-altering decision with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and Hoop Obsession’s Bobby Gerould believes there are several directions the team could take.

Joining Sactown Sports’ The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross, Gerould described this year’s class as strong at the top, but not quite as deep as some analysts suggest.

“This is a really, really good draft. I don’t think it’s as deep as some people seem to,” Gerould said. “I think there’s another cliff after 20 or 21 somewhere in there, and then I think it gets really thin.”

Michigan Aday Mara pic.twitter.com/MuwtFTDGNa

— Pitless (@pitlessball) May 12, 2026

When asked whether he would trade down from No. 7 if the Oklahoma City Thunder offered picks No. 12 and No. 17, Gerould wasn’t interested.

“I would probably say no,” Gerould said.

A major reason why? Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., one of the prospects Gerould remains high on despite concerns about his defense.

“Darius Acuff is a baller, dude. He’s the real deal,” Gerould said. “His self-assuredness, his self-confidence, the things he did as a freshman with the scoring and the assisting.”

Gerould acknowledged Acuff’s defensive shortcomings but believes they can improve at the NBA level.

“I think he’ll be a better defender,” Gerould said. “Obviously, he’s going to have to be better than he was in college, or else he’s never going to see the floor.”

Another prospect Gerould continues to endorse is Kingston Flemings, whom he believes would quickly become a fan favorite in Sacramento.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 28: Kingston Flemings #4 of the Houston Cougars brings the ball up court against the Colorado Buffaloes during the second half at Fertitta Center on February 28, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

“I just think that’s the guy that if the Kings drafted, Sacramento would be super-duper head over heels in love with this player,” Gerould said.

While many mock drafts have connected the Sacramento Kings to guards, Gerould also made a strong case for Michigan center Aday Mara. He pointed to the importance of rim protection and positional scarcity in today’s NBA.

“I just think people underestimate what defense is to the game of basketball, and especially rim-protecting defense,” Gerould said.

Gerould noted that players with Mara’s size and physical tools are exceptionally rare. Mara led the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks per game in 2025-26, and averaged 1.7 per game during his three-year collegiate career.

“You can’t find 7-foot-3 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan,” Gerould said. “It just doesn’t happen.”

Ultimately, Gerould believes the Sacramento Kings have several viable options at seventh. Whether Sacramento prioritizes a dynamic guard like Acuff or Flemings, or opts for a defensive anchor such as Mara, the decision could shape the franchise’s future for years to come.

Check out the full conversation at the top of the page or by heading over to the Sactown Sports YouTube channel.

Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PDT, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

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

Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Related

Kings Don’t Need To Rush To Trade LaVine or SabonisUC Davis Football Ranked No. 6 In Stats Perform Top 25 Preseason PollChristian McCaffrey ranked No. 2 RB in Madden 2749ers sign DL Ogbo Okoronkwo, waive DL’s Givens & SampleTrent Williams ranked among top-5 OT’s in Madden 27Would Russell Westbrook be the perfect mentor for Darius Acuff Jr.?