How Can The Sacramento Kings Get Obi Toppin?
One of the prizes in this year’s draft will be Dayton’s Obi Toppin. Do the Sacramento Kings have any chance of landing him? How would they do it?
The Sacramento Kings find themselves in unfamiliar territory this year when it comes to the NBA draft. Usually picking in the top 10, the Kings will likely see their pick fall in the 12 to 13 range. In what looks to be a weak draft, a Sacramento team that is notorious for botching prospect selections would be wise to consider moving out of the spot all together.
Unless they can somehow get their hands on Obi Toppin.
Toppin was the breakout star in college basketball this season, leading his Dayton Flyers to a top-3 ranking in the country behind 20 points and 7.5 assists per game. He is widely thought to be the most NBA-ready player in this year’s draft, and will be a gift to any team who is lucky enough to select him. On Tuesday, Toppin was awarded the AP Player Of The Year.
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So what would have to happen for the Kings to have a chance at Toppin? Is it even possible?
They could of course trade up, which would likely cost the Kings an asset or two. Toppin is all but a surefire top five pick, so trading up is going to cost any team. Would you be willing to give up something like Buddy Hield and the 12th pick for the 4th pick? Or a couple of future first rounders? Most wouldn’t, but Toppin will be included in the small handful of players that will be worth trading up for.
There is also the possibility of the Kings lucking in to a better pick. The way that the NBA lottery is set up, a team with the 12th worst record has an 86 percent chance at the 12th pick and 7.6 percent at the 13th. But the remaining percentages go in to the top 4, a place where the Kings will have a 6.3 percent chance of going. That would be a ticket to a potential Toppin acquisition.
The last way that the Kings can get to Toppin would be if he were to fall all the way to the latter portion of the lottery. Don’t count on that.
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The actual date of the 2020 NBA Draft is unknown, given the current hiatus and COVID-19 situation. The day will come, however, and the Kings better have their homework done and scouting reports ready.