Trade news: Kings makes three super stars from the NBA draft a priority
The Sacramento Kings may strike gold in the 2024 NBA Draft’s late lottery.
One bright spot for the Sacramento Kings: despite missing out on the 2024 NBA playoffs, they still have their lottery-protected first-round draft pick. The Kings are in a great position to choose a good, young player with the 13th overall pick in the draft, barring a huge lottery jump.
Pro guards like Devin Booker, Zach LaVine, Donovan Mitchell, Tyler Herro, and Kobe Bryant have all been selected with the 13th pick in the past. Finding a gem late in the lottery is certainly feasible, even though it is not always simple. Developing a strong backcourt through the draft this summer may be necessary because Sacramento sorely needs more reliable guard play and outstanding sixth man Malik Monk is about to enter unrestricted free agency.
The Kings ought to pursue the following three guard talents with the 13th pick:
Tennessee Volunteers’ Dalton Knecht, SG
Given that Monk may decide to leave Sacramento during the off-season, the Kings may be looking for a star off the bench to replace him. Dalton Knecht had effective shooting splits of 45.8/39.7/77.2 last season, which ranked him tenth in the NCAA in points per game (21.7).
Knecht played JUCO for his first two years of college before becoming a Northern Colorado Bear and finally enrolling at Tennessee for his final year. With a stellar season that saw him earn the 2023–24 SEC Player of the Year award, Knecht is currently expected to be selected in the lottery. Although the gifted guard is ranked in the top ten in many mock drafts, the 23-year-old may fall in the rankings if teams are reluctant to choose an older player.
Given his exceptional scoring talent, Knecht is among the draft’s most league-ready players and should fit right in the NBA. Knecht might be the ideal successor for Monk should he leave the Kings in free agency in order to maintain the most explosive attack conceivable.
Isaiah Collier, PG for the Trojans at USC
With star De’Aaron Fox leading the club, the Kings appear to have a settled lineup at point guard; but, for the majority of the 2023–24 season, their backup point guard position was in disarray. Kings HC It took Ellis’s promotion to the starting lineup for Mike Brown to determine which of Davion Mitchell and Keon Ellis was the better backup point guard; Mitchell gained the position by default.
Late in the season, Mitchell produced well in his role as backup point guard, but his inconsistent play is still a cause for concern. Isaiah Collier of USC, a true freshman who averaged 16.2 points and 4.3 assists per game, is among the class’s most gifted point guards.
The 6-foot-5 point guard possesses all the tools to run a high-level offense, but with a jump shot that needs work, Collier is projected to fall out of the lottery. The Kings could use a true point guard with the physicality, playmaking, and natural skills that Collier has, getting rid of any worry Sacramento has about their backup point guard.
