The 2026 NBA Draft class is reaching extreme levels of hype and excitement, with three to four players projected as potential franchise players sitting at the top of most rankings.
Given the Sacramento Kings’ worst record in the NBA (12-42) and the trade deadline in the rearview, all focus will shift to developing their current young roster and acquiring more top-end talent via the draft.
Rookies Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud, and Dylan Cardwell have had promising seasons, especially as of late. But Keegan Murray is their current top-end talent, and it’s unclear whether his future will include any all-star appearances.
That leaves them still lacking the most difficult part of roster construction: finding a true star player and reliable number-one option.
“The best way to improve your team is usually through the draft,” Kings general manager Scott Perry said in his post-deadline presser last week.
Playing in Sacramento, they’re unlikely to attract high-end free agents and could struggle to convince anyone acquired in trades to remain in California’s capital. They also don’t have the current infrastructure to support trading for a star, making logical sense.
With a lot dependent on their lottery luck, the draft is undeniably where small-market teams need to hit. If the Kings were to hold onto the worst record — and therefore best lottery odds — for the remainder of the season, their most likely odds are still to end up with the fifth overall pick.
Lottery odds for the team with the worst NBA record:
1st overall pick: 14 percent
2nd: 13.4 percent
3rd: 12.7 percent
4th: 12.0 percent
5th: 47.9 percent
Ironically, there seems to be a clear top four in the 2026 NBA Draft, including Darryn Peterson (Kansas), Cameron Boozer (Duke), AJ Dybansta (BYU), and Caleb Wilson (North Carolina).
The first three names mentioned were within that tier coming into the season, while stellar play from Wilson has propelled him closer to that grouping. Diving into their performances this season, it’s easy to imagine them making a drastic impact at the next level.
Most draft analysts have Peterson as their number one prospect, as the 6’5 wing has shown an extraordinary ability to create for himself off the dribble. In his 13 games with Kansas this season (at the time of writing this), he’s averaged 20.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
Converting 48.9 percent of his looks from the field, including 41.9 percent from beyond the arc on 6.6 attempts per game, while defenses have done everything they can to limit him, has been extremely impressive. Various injuries have caused him to miss the latter portions of more games than ideal, but when he’s been out there, it’s easy to see why he’s been so coveted.
Darryn Peterson ‘25/26 mid-season tape
21 PPG
4.5 RPG
1.8 APG
1.2 SPG
8-3 W/L
50/43/81.5 splits
#1 in the draft type of player, so yeah, one of them ones for sure https://t.co/qGWuL5dKRX pic.twitter.com/uB1sop43ng
— RCsWorld (@RCsWrld) February 2, 2026
His combination of size, handle, self-creation, and athleticism turns heads anytime he’s on the floor. While there is an inherent uncertainty that comes with any player (Markelle Fultz, Andrew Wiggins, Greg Oden were all sure-fire number one picks who didn’t pan out), he feels like a player that could drastically change Sacramento’s trajectory in a hurry.
Meanwhile, BYU’s Dybansta may have a more raw skill set, but his fluidity and skill at 6’9″ with a 7’1 wingspan are unquestionable. While he’s struggled in recent Big 12 competition, he’s the current leading scorer in Division-1 college basketball with 24.0 points per game while converting an impressively efficient 54 percent from the field.
Utilizing smooth footwork to slither past defenders with eurosteps and spin moves may work better at the collegiate level than the NBA, but he’d have time to adjust to the next level while the Kings continue to build out his surrounding cast.
Right behind him in scoring is Duke’s Cameron Boozer, son of two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, who stands at 6’9, 250 pounds and often looks like a man amongst boys. His averages of 23.3 points, 10 rebounds (the leader in Division I), and 4 assists speak to his well-rounded skill set.
While Boozer is nowhere near the athlete that Peterson or Dybansta are, his cerebral style of play while handling constant double teams is somewhat reminiscent of Minnesota’s Kevin Love. Or, to draw a Sacramento comparison, similar to the way that Domantas Sabonis is able to consistently process and execute the right play more often than not.
Defensive concerns exist: he’s somewhat of a “tweener” who may not be suited to play center at the next level and doesn’t feature ideal footspeed to defend forwards, but offensive stars are essential in the modern NBA, and Boozer fits that profile by shooting 57.6 percent from the field. Questions about his distance shooting have arisen as well, but converting 38 percent of his four three-point attempts per game this season may quiet that.
Perhaps one of the most telling games for the final player mentioned in this tier, UNC’s Wilson, came from his recent matchup against Boozer. Listed at roughly 6’9 with a wingspan upwards of seven feet, he was the primary player assigned to defending Boozer and rarely needed help from a second defender.
While the Kings are not in a position to factor fit into their draft position, Wilson is the rare prototype who could be an ideal forward to pair alongside Sabonis, with his stellar perimeter defense, rim protection, and high-IQ offensive game.
This Duke vs UNC game FT. Caleb Wilson vs Cameron Boozer was a CLASSIC…
Caleb Wilson:
23 PTS (8-12 FG, 1-2 3PT, 6-6 FTs)
4 REBS
2 AST
2 STLS
1 BLK
Cameron Boozer:
24 PTS (10-21 FG, 2-4 3PT)
11 REBS
2 AST
How we feeling about this Legendary Matchup… pic.twitter.com/l2NusZDZ9i
— Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) February 8, 2026
Coming into the year viewed as an elite defensive prospect that looked notably better as a secondary offensive option, but he’s largely dispelled by averaging 20.2 points and 2.8 assists on 58.5 percent from the field. Add in his 9.6 rebounds and stellar defensive versatility, and it’s easy to see why he’s continued to climb boards.
His primary concern is shooting just 1.1 triples per game at 26.9 percent, but his footwork and touch around the basket and in the midrange are promising for his future.
Of course, there are talents outside of the top four that could end up as franchise changers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11th overall pick), Giannis Antetokounmpo (15th), and Nikola Jokic (41st) — winners of six of the last seven NBA MVP awards– were all drafted outside of the top ten.
With all of Peterson, Dybansta, Boozer, and Wilson being true freshmen, their upside all seems tremendous. Perry and the rest of his Sacramento staff are sure to be locked into the performance of those top-end talents, along with the rest of the draft, as their disappointing 2025-26 season winds down.
But their hopes are heavily reliant on finding exceptional talents in the next few drafts, and their timing of being one of the worst NBA teams this season could end up working out in their favor, depending on how their lottery luck ends up shaking out.
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Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Monday, February 9th – @ New Orleans Pelicans – 5:00 PM PT
Wednesday, February 11th – @ Utah Jazz – 6:00 PM PT
Thursday, February 19th vs. Orlando Magic – 7:00 PM PT
Saturday, February 21st @ San Antonio Spurs – 5:00 PM PT
Monday, February 23rd @ Memphis Grizzlies – 5:00 PM PT
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