With yesterday’s NBA Draft Lottery, the Sacramento Kings were officially cemented with the 12th pick in the NBA Draft, the pick they had the highest chance of receiving.
Sacramento is going into the offseason with several concerns. Most importantly, will they be able to retain key members of the team come free agency? These important Kings include Kent Bazemore, Harry Giles, Alex Len, and Bogdan Bogdanovic, who is restricted.
With it seeming possible to hold onto at least Len or Giles, what seems less likely is keeping both Bogdanovic and Bazemore who can both play the shooting guard and small forward positions.
With Sacramento having young assets at the point guard, shooting guard, and center positions with Fox, Hield, and Bagley, the Kings should look into drafting a player who fits into the forward positions.
With that in mind, here are some potential draft picks:
Patrick Williams: (Florida State, SF/PF, Freshman)
At 6’8” with a 6’11” wingspan, Williams can play both forward positions with power and versatility. Although he seems more comfortable as a slasher, Williams does have the potential to further develop his jump shot. But with what Williams lacks on offense, he makes up for it with his athleticism and high IQ on the defensive end of the court. Williams could potentially fill in as a four on small ball lineups for the Kings.
Precious Achiuwa: (Memphis, PF/C, Freshman)
At 6’9” and 225 lbs with a 7’2” wingspan, Precious Achiuwa would be a great addition for Sacramento as he would fill in their weak spot at the power forward position. Precious is a great rebounder with his massive wingspan and does most of his scoring around the rim. He has solid athleticism and a jump shot that’s a work in progress. If Achiuwa can improve his perimeter game while making strides in his athleticism, defense, and play in the post, Precious will be a worthy addition to the Kings.
Aaron Nesmith (Vanderbilt, SG/SF, Sophomore)
At 6’6” and 215 lbs, Aaron Nesmith can play both the shooting guard and small forward positions. But if the Kings retain both Bogi and Buddy this offseason, Nesmith would see most of his time at the small forward slot. Nesmith is known for his shooting ability but not much else. He prefers the catch and shoot method as he moves without the ball exceptionally. Though his defense and ball handling need some work, he shows potential to improve in both categories. Potentially, Nesmith could be like another Buddy or Bogi.
There are many other players that Sacramento could draft with their 12th overall pick, but Williams, Achiuwa, and Nesmith all seem to be players that could best benefit Sacramento at that point in the draft.
Although the 12th pick is a lower spot than in recent memories, it’s nice to see that Sacramento has a first round selection again after not having one in 2019. Now, we just have to wait and watch when the NBA Draft begins on October 16 to see who the Kings and new GM select.
