A Royal Pain
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Kings: Vlade Divac’s Transactions, The Good And The Bad

By Anthony Cardenas

SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 9: Vice president Vlade Divac of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 9, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 9: Vice president Vlade Divac of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 9, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings Georgios Papagiannis (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

BAD: Drafting Georgios Papagiannis

There may not be a team that knows how to draft eventually busts better than the Sacramento Kings. Names like Jimmer Fredette, Ben McLemore, Nik Stauskas, and Thomas Robinson are enough to haunt any team and its fanbase. But there was a selection made by Vlade Divac in the 2016 Draft that was far worse than any of the others.

With the 13th overall pick, the Kings selected Georgios Papagiannis, a 7’3” center from Greece.

Who?

Papagiannis was projected as a second-round pick, a late one at that. Most teams did not even have him on their draft board for consideration. Except for Sacramento, who probably could have waited until the 59th pick to select him with their second-rounder.

Papagiannis was not your average draft bust. He appeared in just 38 games for Sacramento, and averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds per. In February of 2018, the Kings waived Papagiannis less than two years after spending a lottery pick on him.

After clearing waivers, Papagiannis signed a ten-day contract with the Portland Trailblazers and ended up being one of the most efficient players in Trail Blazers history. In one appearance for Portland, Papagiannis shot 100% from the field and finished with two points in four minutes of play. He is tied with Carl Bailey and Kaniel Dickens for best FG% in the history of the Blazers.

That would be his last appearance in the NBA. In less than two calendar years, the lottery draft pick was out of the league altogether, the shortest NBA career of a non-injured lottery pick in the history of the league.

This is not to say that there was a better option available to Sacramento. The ten picks made after the Kings selection:
Denzel Valentine, Juan Hernangomez, Guerschon Yabusele, Wade Baldwin, Henry Ellenson, Malik Beasley, Caris LeVert, DeAndre Bembry, Malachi Richardson, and Ante Zizic.

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