Three players the Sacramento Kings can target if they trade up in the draft
If the Sacramento Kings swing for the fences with a draft-night trade, they better hope an elite prospect falls to them.
Trade #3:
Kings get: 15th overall pick
Pistons get: Bogdan Bogdanovic, 40th & 47th picks, 2021 lottery-protected 1st round pick
Player:
Nassir Little
6’6” 225 lbs
Freshman, North Carolina
The Kings would be giving up some serious capital if they executed this trade, and would only do so if there is a chance to grab elite talent just outside of the lottery. One guy that might entice Sacramento to trade up would be Nassir Little from North Carolina.
Little is a well built, athletic small forward who endured an inconsistent freshman season, but has all the physical tools to excel in the NBA. He averaged just 9.8 points per contest, but never started a game and averaged just 18 minutes per.
It is Little’s length and his defensive abilities that put his stock so high. His wingspan is an impressive 7’1” and his reach is over 8 feet. These measurements enable him to be a menacing, hyperactive defender who uses his size and athleticism to his advantage. It is said that Little often takes on the toughest defensive assignment.
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His rebounding is also elite for his size. He is unafraid to bang with the bigs inside and uses that length to clean up the glass, especially on the offensive end. He shows exceptional bounce around the rim and has a knack for the putback slam.
One of Nassir Little’s positive attributes is his motor and intensity. He often creates baskets for himself by way of aggressive slashing through the paint, the same aggressiveness that makes him a handful to box out and rebound against.
Little is seen as a boom/bust prospect who wasn’t given enough opportunities to put his skills on display. He is not a natural scorer and lacks creative ability on the offensive end. He has shown some signs of promise with his shot, but the need to develop a mid-range game remains, though his solid free throw percentage should indicate that there is hope.
As for the Kings, a player of Nassir Little’s stature will be the best they can hope for in the 2019 NBA Draft. He would fit in seamlessly on the second unit, providing a defensive mindset as well as an athletic body to get up and down the floor. He is a transition player who is at his best in an uptempo setting, meaning he could see some run when Fox is handling the point guard duties.
Harrison Barnes’ status and contract situation are still up in the air, though it is likely that he’ll be the Kings starting SF next season. Who better to give the young Nassir Little the necessary tutelage than a former Tar Heel small forward who has struggled with his shot at different points in his career?
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If the Sacramento Kings pull the trigger on this deal, they’d better hope to hit on whichever prospect they choose to select.