Law Murray: The Kings should trade up for Darius Acuff Jr.

The Sacramento Kings may have to get creative if they want to land Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., and according to The Athletic‘s Law Murray, the talented freshman could be worth the effort.

Joining Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys, Murray said Acuff is among the elite prospects outside of the consensus top four and believes Sacramento may need to move ahead of Brooklyn to secure him.

“I think the Kings might want to hop the Nets. You might want to move up,” Murray said. “I think Darius Acuff is the kind of player from the point guard position that could be special, specifically for a team that doesn’t have that kind of player.”

Acuff is coming off a dominant freshman season at Arkansas, averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc. 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 decorated players in the 2026 NBA Draft class.

DALLAS, TEXAS – DECEMBER 13: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks reacts after scoring during the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at American Airlines Center on December 13, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

More on Darius Acuff Jr.

Murray, who covers the Los Angeles Clippers for The Athletic, said the fifth overall pick could become a pivotal spot in the draft.

While he believes Acuff may be the best player available at that point, roster fit could ultimately determine where he lands.

“Darius Acuff, I feel like, would be the right selection there,” Murray said of the Clippers. “Except that you already traded for Darius Garland. I don’t feel like it’s the best fit, even if Darius Acuff might, and oh my goodness, if I can italicize, bold and underline, might be the best player.”

Murray believes the draft becomes much less predictable after the top four prospects are selected, creating opportunities for teams willing to be aggressive.

“It’s close there,” Murray said. “You’ve got a logjam after the top four.”

Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. pic.twitter.com/prqXfg19nk

— Pitless (@pitlessball) March 27, 2026

However, moving from seventh to fifth would not come cheaply. Murray warned that trading with a division rival like the Clippers would likely require Sacramento to pay a premium.

“The Kings would have to overpay to convince the Clippers to even swap those spots,” Murray said. “The price would have to be pretty steep.”

Whether Sacramento stays at seventh or attempts to move up, Darius Acuff remains one of the names most closely linked to the franchise. And in Murray’s eyes, the Arkansas standout possesses the type of upside that could make him one of the biggest prizes in the draft.

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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