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By Anne Erickson
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The Kings didn't just draft Darius Acuff Jr. because they liked his talent.
They drafted him because, quite frankly, they need someone like him.
Sacramento has spent the last few seasons stuck in an uncomfortable spot. They're not starting over, but they also haven't found the kind of young player who can grab the franchise and make everyone else fall in line. That's where Acuff comes in.
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The seventh overall pick has a chance to become something much bigger than just another name on the roster. For a team searching for its next identity, his development could end up meaning more than almost anything else happening in Sacramento.
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The Kings added Acuff, Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp. They dropped DeMar DeRozan and Devin Carter. But the biggest storyline isn't really about who left. It's about whether Acuff can become the player this organization has been waiting for a long time.
That pressure exists because Sacramento doesn't have a simple path forward. Usually, teams in this position have a handful of young players to build around. The Kings don't have that luxury right now. Maxime Raynaud has shown some encouraging flashes, but Acuff is the player everyone will be watching.
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That's a lot to put on a rookie, and nobody should expect him to walk in and completely change everything overnight. Young players need room to make mistakes, learn and grow.
Still, there's something simply exciting about a team finally having a prospect worth building around. Acuff gives Sacramento a reason to look ahead instead of constantly trying to patch together the present.
The Kings have spent enough time searching for their next big thing. Now they just need Acuff to prove he can become it.
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