The Sacramento Kings Look to the NBA Draft for Help
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It’s no secret that the Sacramento Kings have struggled in recent years They haven’t made the playoffs since 2006 and have only had one winning season since then. In an effort to turn things around, the Kings are looking to the NBA draft for help.
The Kings’ current situation
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Conference’s Pacific Division The Kings are the only team in the major professional North American sports leagues located in Sacramento.
The Kings began play as an expansion team in the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1945. The NBL was formed by businessmen James Trimble and Benjamin Winslow after they bought the bankrupt Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League Many early – NBA Stars such as George Mikan Bob Cousy and Bill Russell played for the Kings early in their careers. Winslow and Trimble gained control of San Francisco’s minor league Hockey Team the San Francisco Shamrocks, and used it as a model for their new Basketball team With players such as Maurice Stokes, Jack Twyman and Clyde Lovellette, the team won three NBL championships between 1951 and 1955.
In 1957, Trimble sold his interest in the team to a group of local investors led by Edwin Jankovic and Virgil Johnson. Jankovic and Johnson bought out Trimble’s minority shareholders a year later, giving them sole ownership of the team. The investorsnamely Jankovic and Johnson-madeking-sized profits from runningthe team overthe next decadeand ahalf; by 1972, they had morethan tripledtheir initial investment.They sold theircontrollinginterestin1983to a groupof out-of-towninvestorsledby Gregg Lukenbilland Robert Hernreich for$16million.”
The Kings’ needs
In recent years the Sacramento Kings have been one of the NBA’s cellar-dwellers. They have not made the playoffs since 2006 and have only had one winning season since then. The Kings have been looking to the NBA Draft to help turn their franchise around.
This year, the Kings have the 2nd overall pick in the draft. They are widely expected to use that pick on Marvin Bagley III a 6’11” Power Forward from Duke University Bagley is a very talented player, but some question whether he is the best fit for the Kings. The Kings already have a young star in power forward Demarcus Cousins and they may not want to pair two players with similar skill sets.
The Kings also have the 37th overall pick in the draft. With this pick, they could look to address their need for a point guard by selecting Collin Sexton from Alabama. Sexton is an explosive scorer and a good distributor of the ball. He would be a good complement to Cousins in the frontcourt.
The Kings’ needs are evident: they need help on both ends of the court. With two picks in the upcoming draft, they will have a chance to add some young talent to their roster.
The Kings’ options
In the NBA Draft the Sacramento Kings will be looking to add talent to their young roster. With the second overall pick in the draft, they will have their choice of some of the best prospects in the country. However, they also have the tenth overall pick, which they acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. With two picks in the top ten the Kings will be able to add two impact players to their team.
The Kings have been linked to several prospects, including guards Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball They are also reportedly interested in forward Josh Jackson With their array of needs, the Kings are said to be willing to listen to offers for their picks. Rumors have surfaced that they could be looking to move up in the draft, or even trade away one of their picks for a veteran player.
Only time will tell what the Kings will do on draft night. But with two picks in the top ten, they have a chance to add some much-needed talent to their young roster.
The Kings’ history with the draft
Since the team’s move to Sacramento in 1985, the Kings have used the NBA draft to find players to help rebuild the team into a contender. They have had moderate success with this strategy, but have never been able to draft a true superstar. The following is a list of the Kings’ first round picks since 1985:
1985 – Otis Thorpe (11th overall)
1986 – Anthony Mason (53rd overall)
1987 – Kenny Smith (6th overall)
1988 – Mitch Richmond (5th overall)
1989 – Tom Hammonds (9th overall)
1990 – Lionel Simmons (7th overall)
1991 – Billy Owens (3rd overall)
1992 – Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (3rd overall)
1993 – Penny Hardaway (3rd overall)
1994 – Grant Hill (3rd overall)
1995 – Jerry Stackhouse (3rd overall)
The Kings’ fans’ reaction to the draft
As the Kings’ fans await the NBA draft many are hoping that their team will be able to improve its roster and make a push for the playoffs. While some fans are excited about the potential of the incoming players, others are worried that the team will not be able to make a significant impact in the draft. Regardless of what the outcome of the draft may be, it is clear that the Kings’ fans are eager to see their team improve.
The Kings’ draft picks
The Kings have the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft
They have been linked to big men like USC’s Evan Mobley and Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham but it is also possible they could go in a different direction with their pick.
If they do draft a big man, it would likely be to groom him as a eventual replacement for Hassan Whiteside who is entering the final year of his contract.
The Kings also have the 28th and 38th overall picks in the draft.
They acquired the 28th pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo and Ersan Ilyasova
The 38th pick was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the Al Horford trade.
The Kings’ draft strategy
In order to improve their roster, the Sacramento Kings will be looking to the NBA Draft for help. They currently hold the eighth overall pick in the draft. While they have been linked to some big names, it is unclear who they will ultimately choose.
The Kings are in dire need of a point guard and there are several talented ones in this year’s class. They will also be looking for players who can contribute immediately and help turn around their struggling franchise.
With their first-round pick, the Kings will have a chance to add a young player with a lot of potential. They will also have two second-round picks, which they can use to either add more depth or trade for an established player.
It remains to be seen what direction the Kings will go in with their draft picks but they will be hoping to find some players who can help them turn things around next season.
The Kings’ draft picks’ reaction
The Kings have the No. 2 and No. 22 picks in the 2020 NBA Draft With those picks, they could take a wing player like Lamelo Ball or Anthony Edwards or a big man like James Wiseman or Obi Toppin.
Reaction from their potential future teammates has been positive so far.
“I think we’re in a good position,” veteran Bogdan Bogdanovic said of the team’s draft prospects “We have a lot of options, a lot of young guys coming in.”
“Whoever we draft, I think they can come in and help us right away,” added De’Aaron Fox, the team’s star point guard
The Kings’ fans’ reaction to the draft picks
The Kings’ fans’ reaction to the draft picks was mixed. Some were excited about the potential of the new players, while others were worried that the team wasn’t doing enough to improve.
The Kings’ future
It’s no secret that the Sacramento Kings have been one of the worst NBA teams in recent years They have not made the playoffs since 2006 and have only had one winning season in that time. In an attempt to turn things around, the Kings have been active in the draft in recent years, using their high Draft Picks to select talented young players
The most recent example is guard De’Aaron Fox, who was taken with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 draft. Fox had a very successful rookie season, averaging 11.6 points and 4.4 assists per game The Kings are hoping that he can continue to develop and become a star player leading the team back to relevance in the NBA.
In addition to Fox, the Kings also have high hopes for Marvin Bagley III, who they selected with the second overall pick in this year’s draft. Bagley is a very skilled big man who has the potential to be a great player in the NBA. The Kings are hoping that he can be a key piece of their future as they look to build a contending team.
Only time will tell if these young players can develop into stars and lead the Kings back to prominence, but it is clear that Sacramento is committed to rebuilding through the draft.