The Sacramento Kings are relying on an instant impact from Darius Acuff Jr. in his rookie campaign. Domantas Sabonis' return also adds offensive firepower to a Kings unit looking to make noise out West.
The Sacramento Kings have made moves to build for the future this offseason, drafting their lead guard in Darius Acuff Jr. and adding supplementary bench pieces to the roster.
Acuff is coming off an SEC Player of the Year season with Arkansas, where he led the conference in both scoring (23.5) and assists (6.4) per game.
Adding Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis back to the team at full health gives head coach Doug Christie a lot of offensive firepower to utilize.
Acuff and Sabonis are an exciting pairing, as Acuff's playmaking should help Sabonis get back on his feet after missing most of last season with injury.
Sabonis has shown the ability to score from all three levels and dominate the offensive glass in his career, excelling in two-man action.
On Monday, the Kings kicked off NBA training camp, with Sabonis posting some highlights via Instagram.
He and Acuff looked incredibly synced already, with the rookie point guard finding his big man on roles and drive and kicks.
Sabonis also looked impressive, moving well with the ball and finishing strong at the rim.
Entering a season where the Kings are expected to still finish within the basement of the Western Conference, this pairing's efficiency will dictate a lot of the team's success.
Getting Sabonis rolling early will also allow the front office to get a better gauge on his actual trade value.
Sabonis has been floated as a potential trade asset, but his value is likely at an all-time low following his missed time.
His contract is certainly not easy to move, with the former NBA All-Star making close to $50 million.
The added situation surrounding Detroit Pistons big man Jalen Duren adds another piece of the puzzle to the Sabonis situation, with the Kings being linked as a potential suitor.
Duren had reportedly been seeking a $40 million annual contract value, which has been met by the Pistons, but he remains unsigned.
Should Duren's holdout continue, it seems more likely that he plays on a smaller qualifying deal and gear up for a payday next offseason.
Acuff has been named as a potential attractive asset for Duren to want to play with, providing similar playmaking ability to Pistons star point guard Cade Cunningham.
If Sabonis has a big year, a Duren-centered swap could be the best solution for both teams.
Acuff and Duren could grow into the Kings' guard-big duo for the next decade, while Sabonis gets to compete with a team coming off a No. 1 seed.
