The Sacramento Kings are aggressively pursuing opportunities to escape purgatory during the 2025 NBA offseason. It's a task that will be far easier dreamed than executed, as Sacramento has loaded up on hefty contracts and talent with a middling history as teammates.
If the latest rumors prove true, however, then the Kings have already found a way to rectify past NBA Draft mistakes.
Sacramento will enter the 2025 NBA Draft without a first-round draft pick at its disposal. They would've had the No. 12 overall selection, but it relayed to the Atlanta Hawks as a result of the Kings' 2022 trade for Kevin Huerter. Despite that fact, the franchise is sharing an interesting message.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Kings are telling agents that they expect to acquire a first-round pick at the 2025 NBA Draft.
"Another intriguing rumble emanating from the California capital: Sacramento has searched for trade avenues to acquire a first-round pick, sources say, and has expressed confidence to various agents that it could be selecting as high as the early 20s."
With Sacramento already informing agents of their expected possession of a first-round pick, it seems as though a trade has already been completed.
Kings telling agents they'll have a first-round pick at 2025 NBA Draft
Sacramento has limited assets as far as trading into the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft is concerned. The fact that it's already spreading information that suggests the pick is theirs to utilize, however, opens up a new realm of opportunity.
It's also worth wondering if the Kings have multiple interested trade partners if they're leaving the impression that they could pick as high as the early 20s—perhaps implying they have options in a lower range.
If that proves to be the case, the Kings could draft a cost-effective talent with untapped potential at a time when their maneuverability is otherwise limited. The list of players who would be available in that range would be extensive, albeit without the name value of a Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper.
As such, Sacramento could redefine elements of its general trajectory with a pick that would give them a chance to develop a high-level talent.
Perhaps this is the Kings' ploy to land the point guard of the future that they need in the aftermath of the De'Aaron Fox trade. Options who could potentially be available in that range include the likes of sharpshooter Walter Clayton Jr., and intriguing international playmakers Ben Saraf and Nolan Traore.
There's also the off chance that players such as Jeremiah Fears or Kasparas Jakucionis could slide down draft boards, even if most analysts expect them to be selected before the early 20s.
Sacramento could also prioritize defense with athletic dynamo Adou Thiero, invest in shooting with Liam McNeely, or prioritize the Brook Lopez archetype with Maxime Raynaud. That's just a limited list of the options that could be available if the Kings pull a trade off, but the point stands.
Once a team with a bleak outlook on the 2025 offseason, it appears as though Sacramento is finding a way to build for the future when it appeared they wouldn't be able to.