With the 2023 NBA Draft being about a month away, there is much to look forward to for the Sacramento Kings. The Kings have the 24th overall pick, with two second-rounders at 38 and 54 overall. This could mean three new faces in Sacramento on draft night, so three new young guys fans can get excited about.
With still this much time until the draft, a lot can change. Many private workouts and interviews will lead to players going lower or higher than we think, but we can still start to look for possible draftees for the Kings.
The NBA Combine was this week, as many prospects’ stock has already risen or fallen. Bleacher/Report gives their updated mock draft after the conclusion of the Combine, and we will grade the three selections made for the Sacramento Kings.
54th Pick: Jaylen Clark – SG/SF, UCLA
Jaylen Clark is one of the best on-ball defenders in the draft. The 6’5″ 21-year-old averaged 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game in just junior year. His 2.6 steals per game was good for 5th in the country, proving his impact on the defensive end.
Clark struggled on offense through his three years in college, but his improved stats his junior year showed life. His volume increased, and he occasionally stepped up to the plate with big performances against good teams.
Clark won Naismith Defensive Player of the Year this season for UCLA.
Jaylen Clark is a lockdown defender but is not a two-way player. His struggles on offense will make his NBA career short, but if he can improve at least his shooting, he might not be stuck in the G-League. With a late second-round pick, this is not a horrible selection, but the Kings might be able to get a prospect with more upside here.
Draft Grade: C+
38th Pick: Trayce Jackson-Davis – PF/C, Indiana
Trayce Jackson-Davis has been a premier college talent all four years of his college career. The 6’9″ 23-year-old is a great talent but falls in this draft due to his age. The versatile big man is lethal on both ends of the court but expanded his offensive game later in his career. He started every game since day one as a freshman but had his most impressive year as a senior.
This season, Jackson-Davis was a finalist for National Player of the Year, averaging 20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.9 blocks, and 0.8 steals. Those stats alone show how he can do it all.
Jackson-Davis is a skilled big man who can play each aspect of the game at a high level besides shooting. While he would need to improve his shooting to be a force in the NBA, his dominance in college could translate, as he could become a rotational piece for the Kings. Jackson-Davis would be most effective as a backup big man on this Kings roster, but he would not be effective within the Kings’ scheme without developing a jump shot.
Shooting a mere 0-3 from three during his college career, it is hard to tell if Jackson-Davis has even worked on his long-range shot. While the Indiana offense was centered around Jackson-Davis going to work in the paint, I would have liked to see him have more of an opportunity to grow on the perimeter, as that limited offensive scheme slowed down his NBA development.
This is an O.K. selection with the 38th overall pick, but I would like to see the Kings focus on the need for a wing here rather than big man depth.
Draft Grade: B
24th Pick: Noah Clowney – PF/C, Alabama
Noah Clowney is a raw prospect with loads of untapped potential. The 18-year-old freshman out of Alabama averaged 9.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game. Clowney is great about using his 6’10” build to his strength on the defensive end, plus his athleticism to play transition defense.
There are loads of defensive big men in the NBA, so what makes Noah Clowney special? Clowney is a rare prospect with his size that can play defense, run in transition, and shoot threes. While Clowney had poor shooting splits this year, shooting 28.3% from deep, he is very comfortable with his shot, which makes it easier for him to become more efficient.
I love the idea of Clowney being a stretch four in the NBA. A prospect his size that can stretch the floor, hit threes from the corner, and guard big men is a sight to see. Clowney’s defensive presence is a big part of his game, especially when he has shown flashes of being able to switch on to smaller players and guard the perimeter.
While Clowney is better at power forward, he can play center when needed. He is a great finisher around the rim and will only get better as he gets stronger. His floor awareness is exceptional, as he is a great cutter and finds open lanes to the basket without the ball.
The two most significant holes in his game are his inconsistent shooting and perimeter defense, but he has shown glimpses of improvement in both.
The Sacramento Kings selecting Noah Clowney with the 24th overall pick would not be a waste, as his potential is through the roof.
I am unsure if he is an immediate impact on the Sacramento Kings.
My biggest issue with this draft is the Kings do not address a significant need in wing depth, along with drafting two big men in Clowney and Jackson-Davis.
Draft Grade: B+
3 Draft prospects that would be a steal for the Kings with the 24th pick
With the 2023 NBA Draft approaching, we look at three prospects that could be a steal for the Sacramento Kings with the 24th overall pick