Sacramento

Kings

The first overall pick in the 2016 draft, Simmons is back in the NBA after sitting out the entire 2025-26 season. In his most recent action, the 6-foot-10 point forward appeared in 51 games during the 2024-25 season for the Nets and Clippers. In those appearances, Simmons averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 22.0 minutes per game. While he’s had his moments as an effective fantasy option in the past, despite his limited scoring ability, fantasy managers should not expect too much from Simmons in Sacramento. However, keep an eye on him during the preseason to see if Simmons can earn a consistent role.

The report indicates the Kings are interested in adding a veteran mentor for Darius Acuff Jr., who they just selected with the 7th overall pick. Westbrook and Oladipo have experienced a lot during their NBA careers, so either would be a good locker room presence for Acuff to have around. However, with Acuff as the priority, neither would likely play enough to make much of an impact in fantasy basketball.

In an unsurprising move, LaVine exercised his player option for the 2026-27 season, as he is set to make just over $49 million. Given the youth of Sacramento’s roster, the veteran guard’s role for next season is unknown. What is reportedly known is that the front office is not willing to put its long-term financial future at risk by waiving LaVine and stretching his contract. The contract makes LaVine a challenging player to move, which would not have been the case had he not picked up the player option. When at his best, LaVine can offer middle-round value in standard fantasy leagues. However, due to the Kings’ current position as a rebuilding team and LaVine coming off a season in which he played 39 games, his draft value may be knocked down a few rounds.

Between the California Classic and Las Vegas, Sharp has delivered some quality performances for the Kings. Despite the 32-point defeat, the second-round pick’s performance was a bright spot, as he shot 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. While Alex Karaban (four points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal) has largely struggled since returning from a sprained ankle, Sharp has looked comfortable on both ends of the floor. Given his experience and shooting ability, it would be unsurprising if Sharp cracked the Kings’ rotation as a rookie.

Acuff had a good afternoon in Las Vegas, but he did not have much help in a game the Kings lost by 32 points. The seventh overall pick in last month’s draft, Acuff shot the ball well against the Nets but finished with as many turnovers as assists (five). Given who he has shared the court with in Las Vegas, Acuff is likely to benefit from the Kings’ veterans being on the floor when the regular season kicks off. Efficiency can be an issue for rookie point guards, but the opportunity makes Acuff one of the top fantasy rookies in this class.

Westbrook, 37, is an obvious fit for the Heat in the wake of the trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. He still has something left in the tank and would come cheap, which is a necessity for Miami at this point. Of course, Westbrook is out of the picture if LeBron decides to join Giannis in Miami. James is yet to make a decision in free agency and is reportedly also considering Cleveland, Golden State and Philadelphia.

Sharp was productive during the California Classic, and he brought that with him to Las Vegas. He led the Kings in scoring, with most of that coming at the free throw line. He’s showcased a knack for swiping steals and knocking down triples. Both of those will play well in fantasy hoops. Among second-round picks, Sharp has been one of the most enticing in this class and could end up carving out a role early on.

Karaban didn’t play in the California Classic because of an ankle injury, so this was his first summer league game. It’s safe to say that it was a disappointing start to his Kings tenure. He missed all six of his shot attempts, including all four of his three-pointers. He’s an experienced player that should be much better than he was in this game, especially since he likely wasn’t 100 percent healthy.

Acuff once again carried the offensive load for Sacramento, though he was once again inefficient as a scorer. He did more as a playmaker, matching his assist total from his two previous games in this one alone. He also contributed some defensive stats and had some solid moments on that end of the floor. However, Acuff has shot below 40 percent from the floor in all three of his summer league appearances. He’s an immensely talented offensive player, but his fantasy impact will be limited by his field goal percentage, especially early in his career.

The 29th overall pick in last month’s draft, Karaban injured his ankle during one of the Kings’ final practices before the California Classic. He sat out all three games, including Monday’s win over the Bucks, and the rookie won’t be available when Sacramento begins play in Las Vegas at the end of the week. Given the timeline, there’s hope that Karaban will be able to play at some point this summer, but that is not guaranteed.