A Royal Round Up: Sacramento Kings Mock Draft Edition
By Kyle Robert
The NBA Draft Lottery is in the books and we finally know where the Sacramento Kings will draft. As frustrating as it was to finally end up in the top three and not get to keep the pick, they still went from selecting #8 and #10 to selecting #5 and #10.
Moving up to a top five selection gives the Kings a much better shot at the elite group or the point guard of their choice beyond Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball. With all the NBA Draft experts able to drop mock drafts with the draft order set, let’s see who the Kings could potentially land in A Royal Round Up: Sacramento Kings Mock Draft Edition.
Chad Ford (ESPN)
5 – De’Aaron Fox | PG | Kentucky
10 – Zach Collins | PF/C | Gonzaga
I would love this haul for the Kings. Fox has the chance to be a special player on the next level and is the best point guard after Fultz for me. He would be a day one starter and have a chance to grow with a young core. Collins is an interesting selection both for the Kings and as a prospect on the rise. The Kings have a seemingly full front court with Willie Cauley-Stein, Kosta Koufos, Skal Labissiere and Georgios Papagiannis. However, we can make no assumptions on what the Kings currently have talent wise.
I am a fan of Collins’ game and think he has real potential to grow at the next level. Ideally, he can play center in a pace and space offense. He likely won’t be a guy who steps out to the three point line but can be a force on the glass and in the paint on both ends of the floor. He averaged almost 2 blocks per game playing only 17 minutes a night.
I would prefer Lauri Markkanen to Collins however if the Kings took a big man. He would fit better next to Willie Cauley-Stein and provides the shooting the Kings currently lack.
Jeremy Woo (Sports Illustrated)
5 – De’Aaron Fox | PG | Kentucky
10 – Lauri Markkanen | PF/C | Arizona
Clearly, Jeremy Woo and I are on the same page when it comes to the Kings. Fox pops up again as the Kings pick at number five. He makes a ton of sense for this team and seems like a player many will envision in purple and black.
With their second pick in round one, the Kings take Lauri Markkanen. He seems like an ideal player to pair with Cauley-Stein. Markkanen adds shooting to a team that is desperate for it. He shot 42% from deep last season with the University of Arizona taking four shots per game (4.4).
He has some question marks when it comes to interior play and physicality. A little time with an NBA training staff could help him in that department.
Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report)
5 – De’Aaron Fox | PG | Kentucky
10 – Lauri Markkanen | PF/C | Arizona
We are now 3/3 with De’Aaron Fox ending up as the Sacramento Kings pick at number five. The pick clearly makes a ton of sense. So much sense in the fact that it probably won’t happen because, Kangz.
Wasserman also has the Kings taking Markkanen. Most see the two biggest flaws for Sacramento as a point guard of the future and three-point shooting and the draft analysts are attempting to fill those holes.
Jonathan Givony (Draft Express)
5 – De’Aaron Fox | PG | Kentucky
10 – Zach Collins | PF/C | Gonzaga
DraftExpress.com is one of my favorite sites for year-round NBA Draft coverage and a source I tend to put serious stock in. Like ESPN’s Ford, Givony has the Kings selecting both Fox and Collins.
In this mock draft, Frank Ntilikina is still on the board when the Kings select at 10. I don’t love this scenario and wouldn’t hate the idea of the Kings taking two point guards in this draft. Take two shots at a star point guard of the future. I know what you’re thinking, “We have Bogdan Bogdanovic coming over this season!” Bogdanovic is a legit 6’6” and can easily play next to either guard.
Reid Forgrave (CBS)
5 – Josh Jackson | SF | Kansas
10 – Jonathan Isaac | SF/PF | Florida State
We found a the wildcard mock draft for the Sacramento Kings. The Kings take Josh Jackson getting an elite potential wing. He can get to the hoop and is a real playmaker with the ball in his hands. Jackson was a 37% shooter from three taking 2.6 shots per game at Kansas, something that NBA scouts and front office people would worry about. He would be the small forward of the future if selected.
Jonathan Isaac would be an interesting selection and one that I can’t see falling to the 10th pick, but who knows. He has tremendous upside and versatility. Issac, like Jackson, has issues shooting three-pointers. He has a ton of ability and can do multiple things well on the court. He is versatile and could play everything from small forward to center depending on the match up.
I wouldn’t love leaving the draft without adding a point guard or shooting, but these picks both possess a ton of upside. Best case scenario is we land two stars. Worst case scenario we draft two wings that can’t shoot and the Kings struggle to improve.
There is over a month between now and June’s draft. Much will change and A Royal Pain will keep you updated on all the mock drafts as we get closer.