While the Sacramento Kings have been heavily linked to guards Darius Acuff Jr. and Kingston Flemings throughout the pre-draft process, another lottery talent has entered the conversation.
In his latest Mock Draft for The Athletic, Sam Vecenie connected the Kings to Tennessee forward Nate Ament, a versatile 6-foot-10 wing who is widely expected to come off the board inside the top 10.
However, Vecenie noted that Sacramento’s long-term need at point guard remains difficult to ignore.
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“It feels like the Kings are likely to end up with the best guard available,” Vecenie wrote in his latest Mock Draft. “They’re doing due diligence into players such as Ament and others, but they need a point guard to replace De’Aaron Fox, and this is an outstanding draft in which to do it.”
NATE AMENT TOLD ‘EM NO ❌@Vol_Hoops x @MarchMadnessMBB / TNTpic.twitter.com/GtHVNVCnyo
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) March 22, 2026
More on Nate Ament
Nate Ament is coming off an impressive freshman season with the Volunteers. The 211-pound forward averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 39 percent from the field and 33 percent from beyond the arc.
His strong campaign earned him All-SEC honors and a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team.
Despite Ament’s talent, discussion around the Kings continues to center on finding their point guard of the future.
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On Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys, Kevin Gleason expressed skepticism that Sacramento would pass on one of the top guards if they remain at No. 7.
“We know for a fact that Scott Perry thinks the point guard is absolutely a crucial position, that you’ve got to have a point guard in order to get anywhere,” Gleason said.
“This is a point guard draft, and the sweet spot is right there, six, seven, five, six, seven in there. So, given that [Kings GM] Scott Perry has a seventh pick in a draft that is the point guard draft, I don’t see him passing on one of them and trading down and missing out.”
Allen Stiles agreed, saying the organization appears focused on solving the position before anything else.
“It just feels like they really want to be done, have their point guard of the future, and just move forward from there,” Stiles said.
Still, Nate Ament gives Sacramento another intriguing option to evaluate. Even if the Kings ultimately select a guard, Vecenie’s latest projection suggests the franchise is keeping an open mind as it explores every possibility ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft.
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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.
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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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