The Sacramento Kings should be in a solid spot heading into the 2026 season, especially in the front court with players progressing and having solid depth.

With that said, let's take a look at the small forward position for the Kings ahead of the 2026 season to see where this spot in the front court stands.

At the starting small forward position, it is the expectation for the Kings to go with veteran DeAndre Hunter who has been a solid contributor on both ends of the floor throughout his career.

Last season, the Kings traded for Hunter midseason and following the trade he only played two games which did not really allow him to get into rhythm with Sacramento. However, for the entirety of the season he was solid as he averaged 13.7 points and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 41.5 percent from the field and 30.5 percent from three.

So, as Hunter heads into 2026 with the Kings, he should be in a much better position to be productive on both ends, as he had a full offseason with the team, and if everything goes well, he could emerge as one of the better two-way players in the league.

Next up is second-year guard Nique Clifford who could be a key contributor on the wing for the Kings.

Clifford can also play shooting guard as he was mentioned in the shooting guard primer as well, but his ability to play on the wing regardless of his position could be critical for the Kings as he aims to provide solid depth. Last season, Clifford shot 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and if he can take a step forward in that are that could be huge for this offense.

In preparation for the upcoming season, if Clifford can progress overall heading into his second year in the league, but in particular improve his three-point shooting, he could become a key player for the Kings on the wing in 2026.

Another player on this small forward depth chart is veteran Ben Simmons who has the ability to play nearly any position on the floor as he was also included in the point guard primer.

On that note, Simmons does have a tremendous amount of versatility, especially on the defensive end because of his 6-10 frame that allows him to defend every position on the floor because he is also quick and mobile. Additionally, Simmons also has solid ball handling which enables him to get the fast break going which could help this young team generate easy baskets in transition.

Heading into the upcoming season, if Simmons can use his versatility on defense and strong ball handling on offense, he could be huge in helping the Kings become a much faster team, whether he plays in the frontcourt or the backcourt.

Lastly on this small forward depth is rookie forward Alex Karaban who could have an opportunity to compete for some minutes if he has a strong training camp and preseason.

In college, Karaban played for the UConn Huskies and gained a lot of valuable experience at a high level which could help him as he transitions from college to the NBA. Karaban was also an effective scorer at UConn as he averaged 12.5 points per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field, 37.4 from three, and 85.1 percent from the free-throw line. If Karaban transfers that efficiency to the next level he could carve out a role on this team.

So, as Karaban prepares for the 2026 season, if he can lean on his college experience and continue being a consistent scorer, he may be able to find a role for the Kings if the opportunity presents itself. 

After looking at the small forward position as a whole, one of the biggest takeaways is the fact that there are a variety of skill sets, and with that, head coach Doug Christie has the ability to create different lineups and put the Kings in a good position to match up with the variety of opponents they play.

So, heading into the 2026 season, it will be very intriguing to watch how Christie manages the small forward rotation and how each player can contribute for the Kings in 2026.