As the NBA nears expansion, Sacramento faces difficult roster choices. From franchise pillars to rising rookies, discover which eight players the Kings must shield from a draft raid.
League expansion is gaining momentum, as ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the NBA is targeting the 2028-29 season to add two more teams.
An expansion draft will likely take place in 2028, and teams can protect eight players, leaving the rest in the draft pool.
The question for the Sacramento Kings is: who will they protect? Bleacher Report's Dan Davale and Grant Hughes predicted which players the team would protect if an expansion draft happened this year.
Domantas Sabonis
Sabonis tops the list despite trade rumors, and his future with the franchise is in turmoil.
The three-time All-Star played a career-low 19 games last season due to undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Sacramento missed his rebounding presence, as no other player averaged double-digit rebounds.
He's key to the Kings' movement offense as a playmaking hub, creating a dynamic pick-and-roll duo with his lead guard, rookie Darius Acuff Jr., this season.
Darius Acuff Jr.
Acuff is a no-brainer pick for the organization as its seventh overall pick in this year's draft.
His connections to the franchise run deep. General manager Scott Perry coached his father at Eastern Kentucky in the 1990s and was born in Detroit.
Perry is committed to building a roster around his rookie to accelerate his development as Sacramento's future star.
Keegan Murray
The Kings gave Murray a five-year, $140 million rookie extension, suggesting he's part of their long-term plan.
Murray is due for a redemption season, as his three-point shooting has regressed every season. He shot 41.1% in his rookie season, and the percentage fell to a career-low 27.7% last season.
Maxime Raynaud
Raynaud is Sacramento's second-round gem from last year. He blossomed into an All-Rookie talent, stepping up in his teammates' absence, and earning All-Rookie Second Team honors.
The 7-foot-1 Frenchman has built a solid case to be the fifth starter next season, and he saw some action in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
De'Andre Hunter
Hunter, like Sabonis, is a tricky keep and could've been on the unprotected list, but the Kings don't know what they have in the 6-foot-8 forward.
He suffered a retinal detachment in his left eye during his second game with the team after being traded. Hunter underwent season-ending surgery, and he is healthy now, having played at the Danny Rumph Classic in his hometown of Philadelphia.
Precious Achiuwa
Achiuwa is a high-energy forward who Sacramento took a chance on early last season, and the gamble paid off.
He defended the perimeter and hustled on the glass, which helped him record a 28-point, 19-rebound performance against the Toronto Raptors in April.
Dylan Cardwell
Cardwell is an undrafted gem for the Kings and became one of the NBA's best shot blockers when he got more playing time.
He recorded 1.5 blocks in 44 games, which would've ranked tied for ninth if he played 70% of Sacramento's games. Cardwell's elite rim protection helped win games in the final minutes, namely his two late blocks against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Nique Clifford
Clifford is the third second-year player on this list who received more opportunities due to injuries. He flashed versatility in the latter half, showing he can score the ball and create turnovers on the defensive end.
