{"id":717038,"date":"2026-04-24T10:03:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T10:03:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/717038\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T10:03:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T10:03:54","slug":"can-the-sacramento-kings-land-a-franchise-cornerstone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/717038\/","title":{"rendered":"Can the Sacramento Kings land a franchise cornerstone?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Sacramento Kings enter the 2026 NBA Draft process in a familiar but uncomfortable position: searching for a franchise player while lacking control of their destiny.<\/p>\n

After losing a coin-flip tiebreaker to the Utah Jazz earlier this week<\/a>, Sacramento landed the fifth-best lottery odds\u2014giving them an 11.5% chance at No. 1 and a 45.2% shot at a top-four pick.<\/p>\n

But as Sactown Sports\u2019 The Drive Guys<\/a> debated, the real story might be how unpredictable that No. 5 slot actually is.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Kings ain\u2019t picking fifth\u2014no,\u201d Kevin Gleason said, pointing to the slim 2% probability of staying put. \u201cThat means 98% chance\u2026 they\u2019re moving one way or the other,\u201d Gleason added.<\/p>\n

That volatility adds intrigue\u2014and anxiety\u2014to a draft class headlined by elite prospects like AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, and Darius Acuff Jr.<\/p>\n

The question isn\u2019t just where Sacramento will pick\u2014but whether that pick can truly change the franchise\u2019s trajectory following a 22-60 season.<\/p>\n

\"LAWRENCE,<\/p>\n

Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks and forward AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars chase down a loose ball in the first half at Allen Fieldhouse on January 31, 2026 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Allen Stiles raised skepticism about relying on draft position alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust because you have a top 10 pick doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re getting a good player,\u201d Stiles said. He backed it with numbers, noting that \u201caround 29% of top nine picks have become All-Stars\u201d over the past 20 years.<\/p>\n

Even more concerning: \u201cPicks four and five [have] about a 30 to 35% chance, and six through nine, around 15 to 20%,\u201d Stiles added.<\/p>\n

That reality challenges the assumption that Sacramento is guaranteed to land a difference-maker\u2014even in a loaded class.<\/p>\n

Still, Gleason pushed back on the historical framing, arguing this draft may be an exception.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe flaw in that is that it presumes all those drafts were equal,\u201d he said. \u201cMost people think that there are more good players in the top ten in this draft than there are in most other drafts,\u201d Gleason added.<\/p>\n

That optimism is shared across the league, where evaluators believe the 2026 class has uncommon depth. For a team like Sacramento, that could soften the blow of falling outside the top tier.<\/p>\n

\"PORTLAND,<\/p>\n

PORTLAND, OREGON \u2013 MARCH 21: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on against the High Point Panthers during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men\u2019s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Yet the stakes remain high. The Sacramento Kings are widely expected to prioritize upside, potentially even exploring aggressive trade scenarios to move up in the draft.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I have a shot at this guy that I really like, I\u2019m gonna try,\u201d Gleason said.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the Sacramento Kings\u2019 path to a franchise player may depend less on luck and more on timing, evaluation, and bold decision-making. As Stiles summed it up, \u201cYou\u2019re looking at around\u2026 a 20% chance that you\u2019re going to draft an All-Star.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Sacramento, those aren\u2019t comforting odds\u2014but they may be just enough hope to change everything.<\/p>\n

Listen to\u00a0The Drive Guys\u00a0from 2 \u2013 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on\u00a0Sactown Sports 1140.<\/a><\/p>\n

When is the next Sacramento Kings offseason date of interest?<\/p>\n

The Sacramento Kings will now look ahead to the highly anticipated NBA Draft Lottery, which is set for Sunday, May 10th.<\/p>\n

Sacramento hasn\u2019t secured the top pick in the NBA Draft since 1989, when it selected center Pervis Ellison with the first overall selection.<\/p>\n

Be sure to stay locked in to Sactown Sports 1140 all offseason for NBA Draft Lottery coverage, NBA Draft previews and analysis, NBA Summer League content, and MUCH more!<\/p>\n

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports<\/p>\n

Upcoming Sacramento Kings & NBA Offseason Schedule<\/p>\n

Sunday, May 10th\u00a0\u2013 NBA Draft Lottery
\nThursday, June 4th\u2013 NBA Finals begin
\nThursday, June 25th\u00a0\u2013 NBA Draft (Round 1)
\nFriday, June 26th\u00a0\u2013 NBA Draft (Round 2)
\nTuesday, June 30th\u00a0\u2013 NBA Free Agency negotiation period begins (3 PM PT)
\nThursday, July 9th\u00a0\u2013 NBA Las Vegas Summer League begins
\nMonday, July 13th\u00a0\u2013 Free Agency moratorium ends \/ signings can become official<\/p>\n

Thank you for reading\u00a0SactownSports.com<\/a>. Follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Google News<\/a>, and subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0channel.<\/p>\n

Follow @FCartoscelli3<\/a><\/p>\n

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