With Darius Acuff Jr. as the new face of the franchise, the Sacramento Kings finally drafted a young point guard who could become a long-term answer. Now, they apparently want to find the right veteran to help him survive his first NBA season.
According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Kings are considering adding an experienced guard to mentor their No. 7 overall pick. Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo were directly mentioned as two options, while the Kings were also among the teams that attended Oladipo’s recent workout in Las Vegas.
The Westbrook part is especially interesting because it represents a major change from what Fischer reported less than three weeks earlier. On July 17, Fischer said he hadn’t heard that the Kings wanted Westbrook back “in any fashion.” Now, on August 4, the former MVP is apparently being considered again.
It makes sense that the Kings want help for Acuff. The rookie averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists at Arkansas while shooting 48.4% from the field, 44.0% from three, and 80.9% from the free-throw line. He was one of the best offensive guards in college basketball, but he still had a 29.5% usage rate and will now be asked to learn how to run an NBA offense against bigger and faster defenders.
The Kings also can’t place every half-court set on a 19-year-old after finishing 22-60 and 14th in the Western Conference. They averaged 111.0 points, shot 46.7% from the field, and converted only 34.0% from three. This isn’t a roster that can protect Acuff with elite spacing, an established winning system, or a deep collection of two-way players.
None of the remaining veteran guards will completely change that. The Kings aren’t finding another impact player in August. They are looking for someone who can organize a few possessions, teach Acuff what an NBA season looks like, and avoid becoming another obstacle in his development.
These six free agents make the most sense.
6. Cameron Payne
Cameron Payne probably isn’t the player Kings fans are dreaming about in August. Still, he might be one of the easiest options to plug and play. Payne averaged 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals in 22 games for the 76ers last season. He shot 37.6% from the field and 33.0% from three, so his production wasn’t exactly impressive.
But the Kings wouldn’t sign Payne to become a major scorer. They would sign him because he is an actual backup point guard who knows how to enter a game and run an offense for a few minutes.
That would already help Acuff Jr. The rookie shouldn’t have to organize every possession from the first week of the season. Payne could handle some pick-and-rolls, push the ball after rebounds, and let Acuff play away from the ball for short stretches.
He has also spent most of his career changing roles. Sometimes he played 25 minutes. Sometimes he barely played. Sometimes he had to create shots. Other times he just had to pass the ball and get out of the way. That experience could be useful for a young guard who will need to adjust constantly during his first season.
Payne isn’t a great defender, and his shooting has become too inconsistent. A small backcourt with Payne and Acuff could also struggle against bigger guards. Still, on a minimum contract, there isn’t much risk. He could give the Kings 12 to 15 minutes, help Acuff during practices, and avoid taking over the entire offense.
5. Aaron Holiday
Aaron Holiday might be the least entertaining name on the list, but his fit next to Acuff is actually pretty good. Holiday put up only 5.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists for the Rockets last season. He played just 13.7 minutes per game, but the important part is that he made 39.4% from three and committed only 0.7 turnovers per game.
Holiday understands that he isn’t the star. He doesn’t need to dribble for 15 seconds or take 14 shots to feel involved. He can defend opposing guards, hit an open three, and move the ball to the next player.
That could allow the Kings to play him with Acuff instead of forcing the rookie to sit every time the veteran enters. Holiday could defend the harder guard assignment while Acuff remains the primary creator.
The shooting would help too. The Kings made only 34.0% from three last season and finished near the bottom of the league in several offensive categories. Holiday isn’t going to fix their spacing alone, but opponents at least can’t completely ignore a career 37.7% three-point shooter.
He also has eight NBA seasons behind him. He has played for rebuilding teams, playoff teams, and contenders. He knows what coaches expect from a guard who might play 20 minutes one night and five minutes the next.
That may be his biggest lesson for Acuff. The rookie already knows how to score. He averaged 23.5 points at Arkansas and had the ball in his hands all the time. In the NBA, he will also need to defend, cut, and stay involved when someone else has the ball.
Holiday has stayed in the league by doing those smaller things. He isn’t a traditional floor general, but he could show Acuff how to help a team without needing every play.
4. Gabe Vincent
With 4.4 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists last season while shooting 35.2% from the field and 34.1% from three, Gabe Vincent is probably the most difficult player to defend statistically. His scoring never became consistent, and he hasn’t looked like the same player who helped the Heat reach the 2023 NBA Finals.
Still, the Kings aren’t looking for another player who can turn them into a Play-In candidate. They already have LaVine, Monk, Sabonis, and Acuff. Their veteran guard needs to defend, communicate, and accept a smaller role.
Vincent can do those things. During Miami’s Finals run, he guarded the opponent’s better perimeter player, played without the ball, and stayed ready even when his role changed from one game to another. He knows how hard a guard has to work when he isn’t the most talented player on the floor.
That could help Acuff, especially defensively. The rookie’s offensive ability isn’t the problem. He can attack the rim, create his own jumper, and make plays for teammates. The questions will come on the other side of the court.
Vincent could pressure him in practice and show him how to fight through screens. He could also take some of the harder defensive assignments when they share the floor. The fit still isn’t perfect with Vincent being only 6-foot-2, so that pairing would be small. He also made only 34.1% from three, which isn’t ideal for a Kings roster that already needs more shooting.
This should only happen on a minimum contract with no promise of regular minutes. Vincent would need to earn his role during training camp, but as a veteran who knows how to defend, compete, and survive without the ball, he makes some sense.
3. Victor Oladipo
The Kings are considering Oladipo after watching his workout in Las Vegas, so this isn’t just a random free-agent idea. Sacramento has seen him recently, and the organization apparently remains interested.
The issue is obvious: Oladipo hasn’t played an NBA game since the 2022-23 season. He has gone through several major knee injuries, surgeries and long rehabilitation periods. Nobody outside his workouts knows if his body can handle an NBA schedule again.
The old Oladipo would be perfect. He was a two-time All-Star who could score, defend guards, and create with the ball. He averaged 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.4 steals during his best season with the Pacers.
But that version isn’t coming back. The Kings would be making a huge mistake if they signed him expecting a breakthrough after many years overseas and in the G League. His value would come from experience as the No. 2 pick, becoming an All-Star, suffering major injuries, and then spending years trying to rebuild his career. He understands how quickly everything can change for a young player.
Acuff will enter the NBA with pressure as the No. 7 pick and the possible future point guard of the Kings. Oladipo could help him deal with expectations, criticism, and the difficult stretches that every rookie has.
The contract would need to be a minimum or non-guaranteed deal. Sacramento can’t hand him a rotation spot because of what he did eight years ago. Oladipo would need to prove that his body still works at an NBA level. If it does, he could become one of the most interesting comeback stories of the season. If it doesn’t, the Kings need to be ready to move on quickly.
2. Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball had one of the worst shooting seasons of his career, but he might still be the best actual mentor for Acuff. Ball posted 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals in 35 games for the Cavaliers. He shot only 30.1% from the field and 27.2% from three. Cleveland later traded him to the Jazz, who waived him.
The season was ugly. Ball couldn’t score efficiently, and his knee still makes every game feel like a question. Still, his basketball brain hasn’t disappeared, and that’s something that’ll always be needed next to a rookie guard.
Ball sees passing angles before most do. He moves the ball quickly, pushes the pace and creates opportunities without dribbling forever. He has never needed a massive usage rate to influence an offense.
That style could be excellent for Acuff. The rookie is naturally aggressive and will probably want to attack the defense as soon as possible. Ball could help him learn when to speed the game up and when to let a play develop.
They could also play together. Ball could defend the bigger guard, bring the ball up, and allow Acuff to attack a defense that is already moving. He wouldn’t need to take possessions away from him.
The personal experience is also important. Ball entered the NBA as a teenage No. 2 pick with huge expectations where every bad game became a national discussion. He then dealt with trades, injuries, and several changes to his role, so he knows what Acuff is about to experience better than almost anyone.
The Kings obviously can’t depend on Ball to play 60 games. He has appeared in only 70 games across the last four seasons. They would need to manage his minutes and have another guard ready.
But Sacramento isn’t searching for a full-time starter. The Kings need someone who can help Acuff understand the position, and for that specific job, Ball could be an excellent choice.
1. Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is still the best option, but only if everybody accepts what his role needs to be. Westbrook poured in 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in 64 games for the Kings last season. He shot 42.7% from the field and 33.8% from three.
Nobody else on this list produced close to those numbers. Westbrook can still attack the rim, rebound, run in transition, and create shots for teammates. He also already knows the team and just played with Sabonis, LaVine, and the rest of the roster. He understands the system, the locker room, and the organization.
Westbrook’s work ethic could be extremely valuable for Acuff. The former MVP entered the league as an athletic but inconsistent guard and became one of the most productive point guards ever. A rookie could learn a lot from his experience and trajectory in the league.
But there is a problem I keep circling with the Westbrook story. He averaged 29.0 minutes and attempted 13.1 shots per game last season, and that can’t happen again if the Kings want Acuff to develop.
The rookie needs the ball. He needs to make mistakes, miss shots, commit turnovers, and learn from bad late-game possessions. Sacramento can’t call Westbrook a mentor while letting him dictate the offense for almost 30 minutes.
Now, if Westbrook accepts 15 to 20 minutes, fewer shots, and a backup role, he is clearly the strongest choice. He can carry some bench lineups, push the pace, and take pressure away from Acuff when the rookie struggles.
The situation has already changed for the best after he was seriously in jeopardy of leaving the league for, potentially, the overseas path. The Kings weren’t considering a reunion at first. Now, Stein and Fischer say Westbrook is among the options to mentor Acuff.
That probably means Westbrook’s market hasn’t developed and Sacramento hasn’t found a better veteran. Maybe both sides need each other more than they expected. Obviously, Westbrook wouldn’t suddenly turn the Kings into a playoff team. They finished 22-60 last season, and their problems go far beyond one backup guard.
But if the only question is which available veteran could help Acuff while still producing on the court, Westbrook is the best answer.
