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Sacramento Kings: 2019 NBA Draft grades

By Cannon Wonderlich

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: The first round draft board is seen during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: The first round draft board is seen during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Ryan McGilloway/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Ryan McGilloway/NBAE via Getty Images /

Remembering the 2015 salary dump

The Sacramento Kings surrendered their 2019 first round pick back in 2015. The Kings traded Nik Stauskas, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, the right to swap 2017 first round picks, and a 2019 first rounder to the Philadelphia 76ers in return for Arturas Gudaitis and Luka Mitrovic.

The Sixers eventually traded the Kings’ 2019 first along with their own 2017 first to acquire the Celtics’ 2017 first overall pick, Markelle Fultz.

Nik Stauskas is now withering away as a reserve for the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Jason Thompson and Carl Landry are out of the league. The Sixers chose not to swap picks in 2017, as they had the more favorable position. Therefore, the Kings used their own pick to choose De’Aaron Fox. Had they not done this trade at all, they would have an extra lottery pick.

The Celtics ended up using the Kings’ pick to select Romeo Langford at No. 14 this year, perhaps the point guard to replace Kyrie Irving. Had the Kings kept the pick, they could have selected a new forward like Nassir Little, Darius Bazley, Matisse Thybulle or a potential steal like Sekou Doumbouya.

Regardless, the Kings are still in a fine position to make the postseason despite not adding any first round talent this year. Any one of those rookies could have been the final piece of the puzzle in Sacramento, but they will have to run it back with their same core as last year. Since this trade was completely avoidable and cost them a lottery pick, the grade will not be overly kind.

The Kings could have completely avoided this trade four years ago and they would still have De’Aaron Fox. None of the other players involved in the trade are doing anything notable, but this salary dump was a bad loss for the Kings. Had the ping pong balls been more favorable to their pick, and they missed out on a top-10 selection, the grade would’ve been far worse.

Grade: D

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