A Royal Pain
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Three trades to get the Sacramento Kings a first round pick

By Jonathan Roberts

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 21: Bogdan Bogdanovic #8 of the Sacramento Kings reacts after his three point basket against the Utah Jazz in the second half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 21, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 21: Bogdan Bogdanovic #8 of the Sacramento Kings reacts after his three point basket against the Utah Jazz in the second half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 21, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, USA – JUNE 22: An inside view of Barclays Center during NBA Draft 2017 in Brooklyn borough of New York, United States on June 22, 2017.(Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, USA – JUNE 22: An inside view of Barclays Center during NBA Draft 2017 in Brooklyn borough of New York, United States on June 22, 2017.(Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /

As we near the 2019 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings are still without a first round pick, but could they make a move for one?

The Sacramento Kings, as you may have heard, do not have a first round pick this year. This leaves them with three second round picks in a draft that will likely see the majority of the top talent off the board by the time the Kings pick at 40th overall, but could they trade into the first round?

Whether or not they can trade into the first round is probably the wrong question though, what we should be asking: is if they can trade into the first round without giving up significant future draft assets or any of their young core. While that will likely prevent them from making a massive jump into the top-10 of the draft, there’s still a few trades the Sacramento Kings could make.

In any trade, the Kings need to be weary of taking on any significant salary, as they’re in a different position than in years past. Last season (or, really, any year of the last decade) the Kings could justify taking on salary for draft capital — in fact, that’s what they should have done. This year, however, the Kings are chasing a playoff berth and can’t afford to recklessly acquire long-term salary for a mid-to-low first round pick — which precludes them from most deals with teams picking between 15-30th overall.

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