Sacramento Kings Select Lauri Markkanen In 2017 Re-Draft

We in the NBA division of FanSided have conducted a re-draft of the 2017 NBA Draft, and the Sacramento Kings are now on the clock.

It has been nearly three years since the 2017 NBA Draft. That year’s class featured a handful of future stars and high-potential prospects, and we can start to make judgements on the players based on nearly three full seasons of sample sizes. The FanSided NBA Network conducted a re-do of Draft Night 2017, and the Sacramento Kings are now on the clock.

The 2017 Draft is one of the only ones that Kings fans wouldn’t change. It was the year that we added the player who we all hope will be our franchise centerpiece, the one time that the front office made the right decision (or got lucky). We’re happy that De’Aaron Fox was available at the 5th spot and we’d take him again in a heartbeat if we had the chance.

Unfortunately, Fox was gone by the time the fourth pick rolled around. Here is how the top-four has shaped up so far:

1. Philadelphia 76ers – Jayson Tatum (The Sixer Sense)
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Donovan Mitchell (Lake Show Life)
3. Boston Celtics – De’Aaron Fox (Hardwood Houdini)
4. Phoenix Suns – Bam Adebayo (Valley Of The Suns)

The first three picks were somewhat predictable, and we were torn between Adebayo and the guy we actually took before the Suns made their selection. Taking a big man in 2017 might have looked silly at the time when the Kings were in need of a point guard, but it probably would have worked out well in hindsight.

If the Kings were to take a big man in 2017, they would be in the market for a guard in the next draft. Then, they wouldn’t be able to use the “we already have a point guard” excuse for not drafting Luka Doncic in 2018.

Despite his down year in 2019-’20, we selected Lauri Markkanen for the Kings in this re-draft. He can be the floor spacing big man that the Kings have been longing for, and still has enough upside to be considered a solid selection at the fifth spot.

There are thoughts that the Kings could inquire about Markkanen’s services in real life during the upcoming offseason. There are changes being made to the Chicago Bulls front office and coaching staff, and there could be a handful of talented players that are made expendable in a rebuild. Sacramento would be smart to at least give the Bulls a call and inquire about Markkanen and potentially others.

The Kings had two picks in the first round of the 2017 Draft due to their trade with the New Orleans Pelicans netting them the 10th overall pick as well.