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Sacramento Kings: 5 options for pick No. 10 in 2017 NBA Draft

By Jordan Treske

Dec 31, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward OG Anunoby (3) takes a shot against Louisville Cardinals forward Ray Spalding (13) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Louisville defeats Indiana 77-62. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward OG Anunoby (3) takes a shot against Louisville Cardinals forward Ray Spalding (13) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Louisville defeats Indiana 77-62. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 10, 2017; College Park, MD, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward OG Anunoby (3) shoots over Maryland Terrapins forward Justin Jackson (21) during the first half at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2017; College Park, MD, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward OG Anunoby (3) shoots over Maryland Terrapins forward Justin Jackson (21) during the first half at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

1. OG Anunoby, SF/PF, Indiana

2016-17 stats:  16 GP, 11.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 1.6 TOV, 55.7 FG%, 31.1 3P%, 56.3 FT%

Admittedly, taking a player as raw and carrying a major red flag as OG Anunoby at 10th overall may be more risky than the Kings and their fanbase would particularly choose to do. After all, the 19-year-old combo forward from Indiana needs to seriously refine his offensive repertoire and had his sophomore season cut short after he tore his ACL in mid-January this year.

But the allure of Anunoby lies strictly in his versatile defensive abilities. Thanks to his eyebrow raising physical profile, as well as his superb mobility and athleticism, Anunoby has the makings of an elite-level defender who can guard virtually every position on the floor.

Before his injury, the questions over his offensive role and capabilities stood as the biggest issue of concern regarding the Missouri native.

At this point, there’s enough hope that three-point shooting can eventually be a featured part of his game, despite the drop off in three-point efficiency in his sophomore season (Anunoby shot 13-of-29 from deep in his freshman year). With that being said, he has to make considerable strides in becoming a credible — and more importantly, respectable — threat from downtown.

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Aside from that, Anunoby is fairly limited in creating for himself and his feel for the game is very rudimentary at this stage. Couple all of that with the fact that he’s mere months removed from a serious injury, and that’s a lot of questions to weigh and take on for the Kings if they were to ultimately select him.

It’s not an easy option to move ahead and potentially take Anunoby 10th overall, but the reward may outweigh the current risk in the long run. Choosing a player of Anunoby’s potential and capabilities is exactly the type of pick the Kings can afford to make with where they are at the moment, since future long-term success has finally become the ultimate goal for the team.

It’s a lot to ask of the coaching staff to develop a relative project like Anunoby, but having him develop alongside players that face a similar set of circumstances could be conducive for him to become the desirable “3-and-D” player many hope he can be.

Obviously under this scenario, taking Anunoby is influenced by whether the Kings can take De’Aaron Fox with the fifth overall pick and if that’s not the case, they will have to operate under a different plan.

Next: Kings - 5 options for pick No. 5 in 2017 NBA Draft

But if the Kings get what they are reportedly hoping for in Fox, Anunoby would be more than worthy enough of picking to tie together their possible starting five of the future.

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