24. Sacramento Kings: Noah Clowney, PF, Alabama
The Sacramento Kings can continue their draft success by selecting Noah Clowney. The Kings’ roster heading into next season consists of a loaded backcourt, minimal wing depth, and a big man shortage. With Harrison Barnes, Trey Lyles, and Terence Davis pending free agency, the Kings might ultimately focus on drafting a wing to replace at least one, assuming they do not all re-sign.
With this pick, Sacramento can draft a player versatile enough to primarily play wing but can stretch to fill in for big man depth as well. Noah Clowney is an 18-year-old, 6’10” big man with a 7’2″ wingspan. In his freshman season at Alabama, Clowney averaged 9.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game on 48/28/65 shooting splits.
Noah Clowney is a premier two-way talent in this class. His defense makes him stand out, as his length allows him to be elite on that end of the ball. His wingspan and athleticism make him an incredible shot blocker. He is an impressive on-ball defender that can switch onto perimeter ball handlers.
For being a 6’10” power forward, Clowney moves like a guard. He is quick and athletic, and combined with being a smart player with good court awareness, Clowney always finds himself in the right spot on the court.
While his 28% from deep suggests he is a horrendous shooter, his pre-draft workouts have proven otherwise. He is comfortable with his jump shot and has used these workouts to show teams he is better on offense than they might think.
Noah Clowney is precisely what the Kings should look for in a big man if they decide to go that route in the draft. He is a 6’10” forward who plays elite defense, can rebound the ball, run the floor, and has shown glimpses of a jump shot. If Clowney is the guy that is packing his bags for Sacramento next weekend, Kings fans should be thrilled.