With the 2023 NBA Draft slowly approaching, many prospects will jump up and down draft boards in the coming weeks. The Sacramento Kings hold the 24th overall pick in the draft, as I am sure they are already looking for the guys that will be available for them. The Kings want to improve the roster this offseason, so drafting an impact rookie is vital.
Since the Kings have a late first-round pick, it is difficult to predict who will be available for them. The Kings will not get one of the top prospects in the draft, so they have to find guys that have the potential to be special. The top three prospects I would be ecstatic about if they fell to the 24th pick to the Sacramento Kings:
3. Dereck Lively
Dereck Lively, a 7’1″ big man, is 19 years old and ranked the 2nd best center prospect in the draft. Lively is a talented defender who uses his length and athleticism to protect the paint at an elite level. In his freshman season at Duke, he averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 20.6 minutes per game.
While his stats do not jump off the page, his potential to improve on offense, combined with what he already does on the defensive end, makes him an intriguing prospect. He has natural defensive instincts and an impressive ability to contest shots without fouling.
Dereck Lively is an elite rim protector.
Lively’s offensive game in college was centered around second-chance points and alley-oop finishes. His size and grit allowed him to get over any defender for an offensive rebound, and his instincts to decide whether to go up with the ball or pass it out are impressive for his age. He uses his athleticism and height to go up and catch any lob that comes his way.
His ability to run the floor is impressive, as there are many instances of him running on the break and finding the right spot on the floor to catch the ball for an easy dunk.
Sacramento should be interested in Lively because he has the tools that the Kings lack. His size coming off the bench would be fantastic, especially if he can develop his offensive skill set more. His rim protection and the ability to run the floor should make him a target for the Kings if he falls to the 24th pick.
2. Kris Murray
This prospect looks oddly familiar to Sacramento Kings fans and is someone we would all be excited about if drafted by the Kings. Kris Murray, twin brother of Kings breakout rookie Keegan, had a breakout season at the University of Iowa, skyrocketing his draft stock. He averaged 20.2 points per game with 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.0 steals.
Kris Murray has become a Kings fan favorite, as almost everyone enjoys the idea of the twin brothers playing together. Murray’s biggest strength is getting to the basket with and without the ball, as 66% of his field goals are at the rim. His offense is not limited to that, though, as he can practically do it all. Murray shot 33.5% from three this season while shooting at a high volume. I would like to see that percentage increase, but he has shown he has the shooting ability.
Murray’s defense is another aspect of his game, as he can guard the one through five. He is an impressive shot blocker and not much gets past him.
Kris Murray is a fantastic fit for the Sacramento Kings.
Not only because he would be playing alongside his brother, but Kris is almost the definition of what the Kings are looking for. He is an NBA-ready player that can score on all levels, rebound, and defend. He runs the break exceptionally, keeping up with the Kings fast-paced offense.
1. Bilal Coulibaly
The French forward, Bilal Coulibaly, is the most underrated prospect in the draft. The 18-year-old has been playing professionally for the past two years, recently showing how good he can be. He is listed as 6’7″ with a 7’2″ wingspan, as he uses his length to his advantage. Playing alongside generational talent Victor Wembanyana, Coulibaly did not get as much opportunity to show what he does.
Coulibaly has the potential to be the best two-way player in the draft. His offense is centered around his athleticism, as he blows past his defender, then dunks over anybody standing between him and the basket. He has a very raw skillset, showing glimpses of an elite handle and an impressive pull-up jumper. While his three-point shot could use some work, it is good enough to translate to the NBA.
His defense is just as outstanding as his offense, using his length and athleticism to be a pesky on-ball defender while making the right reads to disrupt passing lanes. His positioning on offense and defense is impressive for such a raw prospect, as he shows his high basketball I.Q.
Bilal Coulibaly will be the steal of the draft.
Coulibaly has the potential to turn into a real 3&D threat in the NBA if he develops his spot-up shooting. For now, he is an athletic freak with fantastic finishing abilities and unreal defense. Since Coulibaly is not a part of the NBA combine due to his French season still happening, many teams will not see first-hand how athletically gifted he is, meaning his draft stock should not rise too much, leaving the Kings with a chance to take him with the 24th pick.