Darius Acuff's NBA Draft 'Floor' Revealed in Latest Rumors, Mock Draft Projections After Combine
Some NFL insiders view former Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. as a lock to be a top-seven pick in the 2026 NBA draft in part because of his connections to the Sacramento Kings, ESPN's Jeremy Woo reported Tuesday.
The Kings are set to draft at No. 7, which is "viewed by rival teams as Acuff's floor," according to Woo.
"Sacramento needs a point guard, and there are existing connections, including the fact that GM Scott Perry coached Acuff's father at Eastern Kentucky," Woo reported.
Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor, who like Woo projected that Acuff will go to the Kings at No. 7 in his latest, mock, also noted that both Perry and Kings assistant general manager B.J. Armstrong are from Acuff's hometown of Detroit.
"There's also the obvious fact that he fits Sacramento's needs," O'Connor wrote. "The Kings don't have a young point guard, and Acuff is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor with a quick trigger, slippery handle, and a feel for manipulating defenses."
Woo noted that Acuff has also been a "popular name" for the Los Angeles Clippers, who he instead projected will select Illinois' Keaton Wagler at No. 5.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman sent Acuff to the Clippers in his latest mock, describing the Clips as potentially "open-minded about [Acuff's] potential to play next to Darius Garland" after Acuff measured in at 6'2" without shoes at the scouting combine.
Acuff could alternatively be an option for the Brooklyn Nets at No. 6, according to Woo, although he noted that Acuff "doesn't fit Brooklyn's established positional-size philosophy."
Measuring in with a 6'7" wingspan at the combine, Acuff ranked third in D-I men's basketball by averaging 23.5 points while adding 6.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds through 36 games with Arkansas.
There are some "concerns around his poor defense," according to Woo, but Acuff's college production and his combine measurements have him on track to remain a lottery pick when the 2026 NBA draft kicks off June 23 in Brooklyn.
Where Acuff goes in the draft will impact what the Kings do in the trade market this offseason. The franchise, which ESPN's Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright previously reported targeted Ja Morant at the February deadline, could be more motivated to trade for a veteran point guard if they don't acquire one in the draft.
