Sacramento Kings Drafted Four Guards in Two Nights. Here’s Why That Might Work.

The Sacramento Kings came into the 2024 NBA Draft with a roster that felt stuck. Old, hurt, inconsistent. The kind of team that makes you check the calendar to see what year it is. Scott Perry and the front office decided to blow it up the only way you can in June — by trading around, picking up extra picks, and loading up on young guys with something to prove.

By the time the second night ended, the Kings had four new players. Three of them are guards. One of them might actually be a forward. And the whole thing feels like a bet on speed, shooting, and defensive aggression — three things Sacramento didn’t have enough of last season.

Here’s how each pick shook out, and what it means for the roster Doug Christie will coach next year.

Darius Acuff Jr. at No. 7

This one felt obvious. Acuff was the best three-level scorer left on the board and the Kings needed someone who can get his own shot without a screen. He’s not going to blow anyone away with his vertical, but his handle and court vision let him create space anyway. He should fit nicely alongside Malik Monk and Devin Carter, assuming everyone stays healthy. And if Russell Westbrook is back in Sacramento, Acuff gets to learn from one of the most relentless attacking guards in league history. That’s not a bad mentorship setup.

Grade: A+

Alex Karaban at No. 29

Karaban is a connector. He’s not flashy, but he fires the ball out of his hands fast and knows when to swing it to the open man. The UConn forward gives Sacramento a legitimate catch-and-shoot option, which is exactly what Acuff needs as a kickout target when he draws help. There’s also the long view here — Domantas Sabonis isn’t getting younger, and Karaban’s basketball IQ and passing instincts make him a natural replacement down the line. Christie played on Kings teams that thrived in space and transition. Karaban fits that model.

Grade: A-

Meleek Thomas at No. 34

Thomas is another movement shooter out of Arkansas, and the Kings clearly liked what they saw in Fayetteville. He shot efficiently against SEC defenses and he’s dangerous pulling up off the dribble, which gives Christie a third long-range option just from this draft class. But the real selling point is on defense. Thomas plays passing lanes like a safety reading a quarterback. He’s got lateral quickness and stays locked in on his man. At 6-3, he’s probably not playing a ton of forward, but he’s a valuable stopper on the perimeter who can knock down threes. That’s a useful combo.

Grade: A

Emanuel Sharp at No. 45

By this point, Kings fans might be wondering how many guards one team needs. But Sharp brings something specific — high-energy defense against elite competition. He went up against Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa in the Big 12 and held his own. Offensively, he spaces the floor with his speed and formed a solid backcourt with Houston’s top pick Kingston Flemings. Sacramento went guard-heavy, sure, but the team needed youth, defense, and outside shooting. Perry and Christie got all three across these four picks.

Grade: B+