The second round of the NBA Draft can be where all the action is. That was certainly true for the Sacramento Kings in 2025 when they picked up Maxime Raynaud 42nd overall. There's a chance to do that again in 2026 as the Kings are projected to take Nick Martinelli 45th, and it's a good move.
It's rare that a draft runs this deep with talent and potential, all the way into the second round. Any team with a first-round pick could select a game-changing talent. That includes the Kings, who ended up with the seventh pick after the lottery was said and done. It's a solid spot to be in.
Some projections have the Kings using that pick to select Darius Acuff Jr., while others have them going with Kingston Flemings. Mikel Brown Jr. and Nate Ament are also in the mix for Sacramento. Other writers focused on the Kings, mostly me, think they should go with Yaxel Lendeborg.
That's the first round. The Kings also have a pair of second-round picks to work with. FanSided's draft has Sacramento going with Alex Karaban at 34, who had an exemplary showing at the combine. Then at 45, the Kings are projected to choose forward Nick Martinelli, which is the right way to go.
Northwestern's heart could drive the Kings
A four-year Wildcats veteran, many have called Martinelli the heart of their basketball program. His motor and toughness have been a driving force. No one out-hustles him when it comes to loose balls or battling for rebounds at both ends of the court. His relentlessness is a different maker.
Martinelli is also an offensive threat, particularly with his insane finishes in the paint and consistent scoring. Martinelli has a step-spin move in the post that drives defenses crazy. On top of that, he has developed into a real perimeter shooter, enough so that he impacts floor spacing dramatically.
Arguably, his biggest weakness is his defense. He's viewed by most scouts as a serviceable team defender with room to grow. Martinelli's strength, combined with his intelligence and coachability, gives him a huge amount of potential in this area. He saw a lot of defensive growth in his senior year.
All of this looks good for the Kings. Martinelli's heart, motor, toughness, scoring, and defensive potential make him a no-brainer for Sacramento in the second round. With some development, he could fit right into the rebuild roster that the Kings are slowly putting together.
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