Sacramento Kings’ Draft Options: Guards, Wings, Trade Down?

What options do the Sacramento Kings have at the #5 and #10 spots in the NBA Draft?

The Sacramento Kings have been presented a wide-degree of options after capturing picks #5 and #10 in the NBA Draft. The Kings should grab their franchise point guard with the fifth pick with all signs pointing to Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox. Dennis Smith Jr. is a safe consolation prize if Fox doesn’t last until five.

The tenth pick, however, could go a number of directions depending on how the draft unfolds in front of them. Nobody knows how the draft will pan out, but regardless of who’s available, the Kings should avoid selecting another big man in the first round.

Like my fellow A Royal Pain contributor Kyle Robert points out, the majority of NBA Draft gurus think the Kings will add a stretch-four in Gonzaga’s Zach Collins or Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen. These players are both skilled and fit the mold in the modern game with their shooting potential. Markkanen, in particular, is intriguing based on how well he shot the three similar to Buddy Hield’s impact. For the case of Collins, he has a well-rounded game that has seen him progressively climb up draft boards despite coming off the bench for Gonzaga.

Sacramento doesn’t need another four or five in the fold, though. Especially with needs on the wing and perimeter defense. Collins has defensive potential, but Markkanen, like Hield, is a major liability defensively.

Playing both Buddy and Lauri simultaneously would have trouble stopping anybody with a mismatch bound to be found. They already have agile rim protectors in Cauley-Stein and Skal. Not to mention, the Kings have invested three first round picks on big men in the last two drafts. Two of the picks (WCS and Skal) impressed in extended minutes. Drafting another four or five would cap their minutes once more and stunt their development.

Not to mention, the Kings have invested three first-round picks on big men in the last two drafts. Two of the picks (WCS and Skal) impressed in extended minutes. Drafting another four or five would cap their minutes once more and stunt their development.

Grabbing a wing at #10 would be the ideal scenario. FSU’s Jonathan Isaac was selected in some mock drafts, but it doesn’t seem likely he’ll be around to partner with Fox or Smith at #5. This is where the upside with OG Anunoby from Indiana should come into play.

Anunoby suffered a season-ending knee injury in January that may force him out of action all of next season. His knee exams will be vital to his draft stock, but he has an invaluable skill that nobody on the Kings possesses: Elite defensive versatility. He has the size (6’7 ¾” w/ shoes), length (7’2 ¼ wingspan, and build (232 lbs.) to guard virtually every position. His offensive game needs work, especially his jump shot, but no player attacks the rim as powerful as Anunoby. Pairing him with the length of WCS and Skal gives Head Coach Dave Joerger the tools to develop another perennial top-ten defense.

If neither Isaac nor Anunoby are available at #10, the option of finding a trade partner to accumulate multiple draft picks, such as Portland and their three first round draft picks (#15, 20, 26) is in play. The Trail Blazers covet a floor-spacing big man to partner Jusuf Nurkic with, so they could offer multiple or all of their first-round picks to jump up to #10 and grab a Markkanen or Collins.

The Kings aren’t one or two players away from contention. This draft is deep and the opportunity to have three or four first-round picks doesn’t come along often. This would give them flexibility in adding an extra player or two to fill their holes like a 3-and-D wing or shooters later in the draft.

Picking Duke’s Luke Kennard at #15 would add another shooter to the mix. Kennard can spot-up and allow others to create for him and can make plays off the dribble. Oregon’s Jordan Bell at #20 would give Joerger a long and athletic 3-and-D player that can guard against the three to five positions.

These are just some options if the Kings decided to trade back. The best player argument always comes up in this case, but I tend to side with personnel fit over top talent available, especially in a situation like the Kings with a youthful frontcourt already in place. Drafting a point guard and addressing the defensive issues on the wing are the holes in this roster. I hope the front office addresses these directly in the draft.