As the NBA continues working toward a (hopefully) tank-free future, this season's most egregious tankers will soon learn whether all of this losing was worth it.

Would Darius Acuff Jr. be worth the risk for the Sacramento Kings in the 2026 NBA Draft?

The 2026 NBA Draft is just over two months away, and the anticipation for one of the best and deepest draft classes of the modern era is taking shape. With the NBA regular season in the books and the pre-lottery odds/positions set,

NBA Draft which will be held June 23-24. Official release NEW YORK, April 27, 2026 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that 71 players have filed as early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2026,

The NBA's new draft lottery system penalizes the worst teams and rewards those who avoid finishing at the bottom, making tanking less effective.

The deadline to withdraw from the draft and maintain eligibility to return to school is May 27 at 11:59 p.m. ET. There were only 71 early entrants in the 2026 NBA Draft. That is the lowest total since 2003. Last year, there were 106 early entrants, and in 2021, there were 363.

The Sacramento Kings could have a way to entice Zach LaVine to decline his player option.