Should the Sacramento Kings package their 2017 draft picks to move up?
By Evan Massey
Should the Sacramento Kings consider trading the No. 5 and No. 10 picks in the NBA Draft in an attempt to move up?
The Sacramento Kings are heading into the 2017 NBA Draft with the No. 5 and No. 10 overall picks. After suffering through another disappointing season and trading away DeMarcus Cousins, the Kings need to have a top-notch draft in order to speed up their next rebuilding phase.
While the Kings could stand pat with their two current picks and end up with two very solid prospects, there is also another option. Sacramento could consider packaging their picks to move up in the draft to get one of the top four projected players.
Should the Kings look to trade their picks in an attempt to move up into the top three?
Looking at the top of the draft, there are four players who are viewed as can’t miss prospects. Markelle Fultz is expected to be drafted by the Boston Celtics and could potentially replace Isaiah Thomas as the starting point guard at some point in the future. At this point in time, the Celtics aren’t expected to consider trading the pick.
Next up at No. 2 overall, the Los Angeles Lakers are likely to select UCLA star point guard Lonzo Ball. Despite the headache that his father, LaVar Ball, has been throughout the draft process, Lonzo is still viewed as a future superstar. Unless the Lakers can bag an already proven star like Paul George, they are not expected to move their pick either.
If the Kings want to make a jump into the top three, the Philadelphia 76ers are the right team to engage in trade talks with, currently holding the No. 3 overall pick.
Sacramento would have a decent chance of convincing the 76ers to trade the No. 3 pick for their two first round draft picks. If they were able to do so, it is likely that Kansas Jayhawks’ star Josh Jackson would be the Kings’ pick.
Last season with the Jayhawks, Jackson ended up averaging 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. He shot 51.3 percent from the floor overall and knocked down 37.8 percent of his three-point attempts. Jackson could end up being a lethal scorer at the next level.
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As good as Jackson is projected to be, the Kings should not package both of their top-10 picks in an attempt to move up unless they can get the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick.
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Sacramento will have its choice of two future starters with the picks they currently possess, assuming they play their cards right. Players like Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox and Gonzaga big man Zach Collins would be great fits for the Kings.
While trading up is always a flashy move, the Kings cannot afford to make that kind of move. Vlade Divac cannot afford to make a mistake in this draft. Sacramento already has quality young players on the roster in Buddy Hield, Skal Labissiere, Willie Cauley-Stein, Malachi Richardson and Georgios Papagiannis, and could add two more in the draft.
Expect to see the Kings stick with the current picks that they have unless an opportunity to get either Fultz or Ball presents itself. Sacramento should not panic at this point in the rebuilding process and should instead focus on getting as many quality young players as they possibly can.
Next: Winners and losers of the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery
Do you think the Sacramento Kings should package their two draft picks in an attempt to move up in the 2017 NBA Draft? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!