Sacramento may reunite with Russell Westbrook or gamble on Victor Oladipo’s comeback to provide veteran mentorship for lottery pick Darius Acuff Jr. and a rising roster.
The Sacramento Kings' front office feels like it has found the franchise's point guard of the future, drafting Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Since moving De'Aaron Fox, the Kings' lead guard spot has been a rotating guard, with veteran players and unproven young talents filling in at different times throughout the last few seasons.
Last year, it was former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook who led Sacramento's offense, far outplaying his veteran minimum deal.
Westbrook averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game on 33.8-percent shooting from 3-point range in 64 games, while providing invaluable teachings and leadership to the Kings' rookies.
But, this offseason, Westbrook remains unsigned despite his production, with some reports suggesting a move to overseas.
On Tuesday, a new wrinkle was added to the reporting, with Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer saying that Sacramento is revisiting the idea of resigning the nine-time All Star to mentor Acuff during his first professional campaign.
Fischer also named Victor Oladipo as a player drawing interest, as the former Indiana Pacers standout has been seeking a return to the NBA.
Oladipo, a two-time All Star in his own right, dealt with brutal knee injuries which eventually forced him out of the league.
But, he shined in China, suiting up for the Guangzhou Loong-Lions.
He had his first taste of NBA gameplay for the first time in the past three years, playing in the Loong-Lions' preseason tour against league competition.
Oladipo has talked about his goals of overcoming his past injuries and missed time, while continuing to grind towards an NBA comeback.
While Oladipo's production for an 82-game NBA season would remain to be seen, his experience in the playoffs and big games would be invaluable to players like Acuff, as the Kings look to return to winning ways.
Westbrook, on the other hand, has continued to evolve his game as he gets older, remaining effective.
Back in March, eventual Second-Team All Rookie big man Maxime Raynaud talked about the benefit of learning from Westbrook and what he has brought to the team.
"He talks with me a ton about my play, my confidence and about what comes outside of basketball in the NBA," Raynaud said. "I think he's really one of those guys that helped me flip the switch between college and the league, so I've been very appreciative."
Raynaud's play also benefited from Westbrook, especially his outside shooting.
KingsMuse posted a graphic depicting Raynaud's numbers with Westbrook on-and-off the floor, with his 3-point shooting seeing a 14.5% boost alongside Westbrook's playmaking ability.
Following the end of the year, both Westbrook and members from the team expressed interest in potentially reuniting, but with Sacramento's current cap situation, it seems unlikely that the team can offer any more than the same minimum deal.
If Westbrook remains on the market, he could end up settling for this type of money, while returning to a franchise he knows appreciates him and could use his services.
