Sacramento lands their top target, securing the SEC Player of the Year to anchor a shifting backcourt. The dynamic playmaker brings elite scoring and legendary coach endorsements.
Throughout the pre-draft process, Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr. separated himself as the Sacramento Kings' top prospect.
On Tuesday, the Kings' front office capitalized on their top option still being available, adding the reigning SEC Player of the Year to their roster.
In a backcourt likely to see major change over the next few seasons, with veteran players like Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan nearing the end of their current deals, Acuff's scoring and playmaking provides a baseline to build around.
When a front office is "enamored" with a player, and are able to get him without moving additional compensation to do so, it is a near-perfect scenario.
About one week prior to Tuesday's first round, Acuff's camp said that Sacramento was their preferred landing spot, making a strong mutual interest a reality.
Draft Grade: A+
Acuff was one of the most dynamic offensive talents in the country last season, averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game en route to an SEC Championship.
Recently, Acuff's legendary head coach, John Calipari, joined The Herd with Colin Cowherd, where he talked about what his latest guard prospect will provide at the next level.
"18 [points] and 8 [assists] minimum," Calipari said.
For a Kings backcourt in desperate need of shot creation and playmaking, Acuff provides both, taking over games last season.
After a 28-point, 13-assist performance against the Longhorns, Acuff received high praise from Texas head coach Sean Miller.
"In my time -- and I'll just go 34 years -- I've never seen a point guard better," Miller said. "People talk about who's going to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft or who's the best player in the conference. ... This No. 1 pick thing, I don't know why people aren't talking about him more. I can't imagine anybody better."
With the plethora of Calipari-mentored players in the NBA, it is tough to see how Acuff won't be the next dynamic guard in his coaching lineage.
For the Kings, the front office lands their "guy," while General Manager Scott Perry experiences a full-circle moment.
"It’s worth noting Sacramento’s general manager, Scott Perry, coached Darius Acuff Sr. at Eastern Kentucky, as Sacramento is in search of a long-term floor general for the future," NBA insider Michael Scotto wrote on HoopsHype.
Now, Perry will have the privilege of signing Acuff Jr. to an NBA contract, with hopes that he can bring the Kings back to contender status.
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