Should the Kings consider trading up two spots in the 2026 NBA Draft?

Ending up with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, falling two spots from their initial spot at fifth, was a disappointing outcome for a Sacramento Kings team that finished last season 22-60.

Luckily for them, while the draft has exceptional top-end talent projected to go in the top four between AJ Dybansta, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson, there are also a handful of guards with tremendous upside following them.

King’s general manager, Scott Perry, and head coach Doug Christie have not shied away from expressing their need for a point guard to run the show. They’ll have a chance to get one, but would they have to trade up to get their true preference among the remaining prospects?

Plenty could change between now and the June 23rd NBA Draft, and experts/analysts don’t always have it right, but most seem to believe that the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets (who select fifth and sixth) are likely to take Keaton Wagler and Darius Acuff Jr.

“If I’m the general manager of the Kings, I am picking up the phone,” Matt George said on the latest edition of The Matt George Podcast. “And between now and draft night, I am working out the framework of what a potential deal looks like for the Sacramento Kings to move up from seven to five.”

“Once you get to five, that’s where that point guard crop begins,” he continued. “I cannot stress the significance of the kings having their pick of the litter. Being in that seven spot, you’re at the mercy of two other teams when that point guard section begins.”

More on the Kings Potentially Trading Up

It obviously depends on who Perry and the Kings would prefer to target, and on the preferences of other teams. After Wagler and Acuff, players like Kingston Flemings, Brayden Burries, Mikel Brown Jr., and Labaron Philon Jr. could still become phenomenal NBA players.

But George’s point is more about securing their pick, rather than waiting to see who will still be there after the highly anticipated top four. So, what would it take to move up two spots and swap with the Clippers?

With the LA Clippers projected to have notable cap space and also somewhat between rebuild and win-now mode, Sacramento could help them fully commit to one direction or another.

Perhaps moving off the contract of someone like Brook Lopez could be intriguing, but perhaps taking on someone like Malik Monk for additional future draft compensation could make them budge.

“Maybe if they do want to go the expiring contract route, I know (Sacramento) just traded for DeAndre Hunter at the trade deadline, you could use him,” George said.

“Potentially, DeMar DeRozan, returning to Los Angeles, going home. They could take DeMar DeRozan and his partially guaranteed deal. This is if they are looking to still at least try and make some noise and be competitive in the Western Conference.”

It wouldn’t be easy for the Kings to move up, and they would need to have their eye on some specific in that spot, but all things should be considered in the month-plus leading up to what will be a pivotal 2026 NBA Draft.

Subscribe to The Matt George Podcast on Sactown Sports

Subscribe to The Matt George Podcast on Apple & Spotify. You can also watch all episodes of The Matt George Podcast on the Sactown Sports YouTube page & SactownSports.com.

You can also hear Matt on Sactown Sports alongside Kayla Anderson on The Matt & Kayla Show, airing weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

• Zach LaVine’s $49M decision: Why opting out isn’t off the table
• History of the Seventh Pick in the NBA Draft
• Post-Lottery Mock Draft Has Kingston Flemings Going To Sacramento
• The Sacramento Kings nearly got the 3rd pick in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery
• Did the Kings hurt their rebuild by chasing wins?
• First Look: Sacramento Kings New Jersey Patch Sponsorship Beginning in 2026-27

Upcoming Sacramento Kings & NBA Offseason Schedule

• Thursday, June 4th– NBA Finals begin
• Thursday, June 25th – NBA Draft (Round 1)
• Friday, June 26th – NBA Draft (Round 2)
• Tuesday, June 30th – NBA Free Agency negotiation period begins (3 PM PT)
• Thursday, July 9th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League begins
• Monday, July 13th – Free Agency moratorium ends / signings can become official

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