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The Sacramento Kings are running out of time to figure out their plan at pick No. 7, and two names tied to that range just took themselves out of the equation. Both Keaton Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr. have backed out of scheduled workouts with Sacramento ahead of the draft.
NBA insider Jake Fischer first reported the update, which was shared on X through SleeperNets. The report explains exactly why both guards pulled their planned visits to Sacramento this close to draft night.
"Both Keaton Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr have canceled workouts for the Kings. They believe they will most likely be selected with the No. 5 and No. 6 picks," Fischer reported.
Prospects often skip remaining workouts once they have strong signals about where they will land, since extra sessions carry little upside once a range feels set. This move signals real confidence from both camps about hearing their names called inside the top six.
That would put the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets in play for both guards, since those two teams hold the No. 5 and No. 6 selections. Sacramento sits one spot lower at seven, and losing access to either prospect changes how the front office approaches its remaining pre-draft work.
Sacramento's biggest hole is a true point guard, a void that's existed since the Kings traded De'Aaron Fox. Devin Carter has shown flashes, but the front office still needs a full-time floor general to build around.
Brown actually profiles as one of the better true point guard prospects in this class, with a real handle, advanced passing and the size to play either guard spot. That made him a name worth watching for Sacramento before this week.
The issue isn't fit. It's that Brown and Wagler both carry higher overall grades and believe they're gone by pick six, which is exactly why their camps pulled out of Sacramento instead of waiting around.
That leaves Acuff and Flemings as the players most likely to actually land at seven, and Acuff in particular ran the point at Arkansas as a true lead guard. While Brown's departure clears the board, it's Acuff who's quietly been the Kings' preference all along.
Acuff's camp has made it known they want Sacramento, and the interest goes both ways from the front office.
The connection runs deeper than scouting. General manager Scott Perry coached Acuff's father at Eastern Kentucky in the late 1990s, a relationship that's followed the family into this draft cycle.
If the board falls that way, Sacramento lands the lead guard it has needed since the Fox trade without having to move up. Brown and Wagler heading elsewhere only clears the path.
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Continue reading...
NBA insider Jake Fischer first reported the update, which was shared on X through SleeperNets. The report explains exactly why both guards pulled their planned visits to Sacramento this close to draft night.
"Both Keaton Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr have canceled workouts for the Kings. They believe they will most likely be selected with the No. 5 and No. 6 picks," Fischer reported.
Prospects often skip remaining workouts once they have strong signals about where they will land, since extra sessions carry little upside once a range feels set. This move signals real confidence from both camps about hearing their names called inside the top six.
That would put the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets in play for both guards, since those two teams hold the No. 5 and No. 6 selections. Sacramento sits one spot lower at seven, and losing access to either prospect changes how the front office approaches its remaining pre-draft work.
Why Brown And Wagler Were Never The Answer Anyway
Sacramento's biggest hole is a true point guard, a void that's existed since the Kings traded De'Aaron Fox. Devin Carter has shown flashes, but the front office still needs a full-time floor general to build around.
Brown actually profiles as one of the better true point guard prospects in this class, with a real handle, advanced passing and the size to play either guard spot. That made him a name worth watching for Sacramento before this week.
The issue isn't fit. It's that Brown and Wagler both carry higher overall grades and believe they're gone by pick six, which is exactly why their camps pulled out of Sacramento instead of waiting around.
That leaves Acuff and Flemings as the players most likely to actually land at seven, and Acuff in particular ran the point at Arkansas as a true lead guard. While Brown's departure clears the board, it's Acuff who's quietly been the Kings' preference all along.
Acuff Has Wanted Sacramento All Along
Acuff's camp has made it known they want Sacramento, and the interest goes both ways from the front office.
The connection runs deeper than scouting. General manager Scott Perry coached Acuff's father at Eastern Kentucky in the late 1990s, a relationship that's followed the family into this draft cycle.
If the board falls that way, Sacramento lands the lead guard it has needed since the Fox trade without having to move up. Brown and Wagler heading elsewhere only clears the path.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
