What is your 2nd round draft philosophy?

[City of Trees]

I want to know what your draft approach is in the 2nd round. Drafting is often relative to whether a team is competing or not, but ignoring that for a moment, what are your fundamental beliefs in the 2nd round.

It's pick #38, you're on the clock, which type of player do you generally target?

Answer the poll and explain down below.

[codydaze]

I'm typically looking at upperclassmen with some conference and/or national accolades. The type of guys that were conference player/defensive player of the year that might have a higher floor and contribute sooner. You can grab a lottery ticket with a guy that might have some unseen potential but way more often than not that potential is never realized. A lot of times when a pick in the second rounds hits, you can look back at their college resume and wonder how they ever slipped through the cracks.

[OxAndFox]

It's all about potential. Swing for the fences and draft the player that has the most potential to become a starter in the league.
Of course, you have to have a decent development pipeline, which the Kings do not currently. Hopefully the new coaching staff can change that somewhat.

[blind prophet]

For now only......

We can't seem to get good size and 3 point shooting for the wing.

So I draft the guy who seems to have the best chance to do that. And I'd continue to do it every single year until we finally get promising depth there.

I certainly wouldn't sell the pick or trade back for cash like we frequently do.

[kalenclayton]

I voted BPA, but I feel like that’s a strange answer because it doesn’t specify direction and needs. With this current team, depth is absolutely needed right now. That means that I am looking at the best guy I can see contributing right away, which would likely mean looking for upperclassmen. If the team was rebuilding, I may be more apt to search for the highest potential depending on the player’s athleticism, court awareness and IQ, and character.

Edit: that means I’m looking at upperclassmen like Jalen Williams, Jake LaRave, Christian Braun, and David Roddy. EJ Liddell is one of my favorite prospects and I would love for the Kings to trade up into the 20s to get him.

[rpa]

For SRPs my philosophy is to draft guys who are really good at one thing, but may suck in a whole lot of other areas.

Savage defender who can't dribble or shoot? I'd draft him and put him in the gym for the whole summer.

Great outside shooter who can't defend a stationary chair? Work with him on defensive rotations and then try to hide him when he comes off the bench.

Ultra high motor guy who rebounds and annoys the piss out of the other team but can't shoot, guard the rim, etc? Toss him out there in the 2nd unit with guys who can clear up his weaknesses


I think the big thing is not to draft the best basketball player. The best players--that are actually playable--were drafted 20-30 picks ago. The goal for the 2nd round should be to draft role players who fill a niche. They'll help you win by doing 1 or 2 things better than your stars or capable starters do.

[donkeylips]

Don’t trade them for cash considerations, especially before the draft when you don’t know who’s available

[OxAndFox]

Don’t trade them for cash considerations, especially before the draft when you don’t know who’s available

It's becoming an Oprah meme. You get a 2nd rounder, you get a 2nd rounder.

[kalenclayton]

Don’t trade them for cash considerations, especially before the draft when you don’t know who’s available

For real. Trading 49 was fine I guess. I wasn’t too mad, but moving 37 when there were immediate impact players available is annoying as heck. Just missed opportunities. They could have gone with immediate impact in Liddell (I had him as a top-15 prospect) or Vince Williams. Even Jaden Hardy was a great pick for upside, but they moved him. This team needs to take chances and they missed out last night.