The Sacramento Kings are scheduled to work out Illinois guard Keaton Wagler next week as part of their pre-draft evaluation process, according to a Yahoo Sports. The session comes as Sacramento continues to assess multiple backcourt options ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft, where it holds the No. 7 overall pick.
Yahoo Sports reported that Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. remains the franchise’s preferred target at the position, but the Kings are conducting broader due diligence as uncertainty builds around the top guard tier. The report also noted shifting perceptions across the lottery, with the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 5 not fully committed to Wagler at that slot and Brooklyn previously canceling a scheduled workout with him at No. 6.
Wagler’s draft positioning has fluctuated in recent weeks, reflecting a class in which several lead guard prospects are clustered closely on team boards. Sacramento’s scheduled workout signals continued interest in evaluating options beyond the consensus top guard selections.
Wagler spent the 2025–26 season at Illinois, starting all 37 games and averaging 33.9 minutes per contest. He posted 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 44.5% from the field and 39.7% from three-point range. He also converted 79.6% of his free throws across a high-usage role as a primary perimeter initiator.
His offensive profile included 5.9 three-point attempts per game, with 2.4 makes per contest, alongside 5.8 free throw attempts per game. He also contributed 1.8 turnovers per game, operating as a high-usage ball handler in Illinois’ half-court offense while earning multiple All-America honors across major voting bodies.
The Kings’ interest in backcourt reinforcements aligns with their roster structure entering the offseason. Sacramento finished 22–60 and 14th in the Western Conference, with Russell Westbrook leading the team at 6.7 assists per game in a multi-role capacity at age 37. Younger guards Devin Carter and Killian Hayes remained developmental pieces but did not establish consistent long-term lead guard production during the season.
Sacramento’s draft position at No. 7 places it behind Washington, Utah, Memphis, Chicago, the Clippers, and Brooklyn in the lottery order. That range includes multiple guard prospects, including Acuff, Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr., and Kingston Flemings, all of whom have been listed among potential first-round selections in the 2026 class.
With the draft scheduled for June 23–24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the Kings are entering the final stretch of pre-draft workouts with multiple guard evaluations still ongoing.
