RealGM

All of us were hoping we'd be in the playoffs this year and relinquish our 1st rounder to the Bulls but we've collapsed ever since DeMarcus' career game versus the Hornets in January and as usual we need to start analyzing the draft prospects. March Madness starts Thursday and I'll be keeping my eyes on the guys below.

The good news is I believe we can pick up a key piece. In our range we will likely have a shot at Kris Dunn, Buddy Hield, and Jamal Murray.

I'd like us to also try to pick up a mid 1st round pick to draft Denzel Valentine and an early second rounder to pick up Gary Payton II.

Our guards are atrocious. Rondo, McLemore, Belinelli, James freakin Anderson. Come on. We need to get better in the backcourt. I look at the Warriors Curry/Thompson, Blazers Lillard/McCollum, Clippers Paul/Redick, and even the Lakers upside with Russell/Clarkson. We just don't compete.

I've mentioned 5 guys in Dunn, Hield, Murray, Valentine and Payton (all guards) I'd like to see us draft.

Who would you like to see?

Right now I believe we are slotted at number seven, so I'd say Buddy Hield. Dunn will most likely already be gone and Murray is a coin flip, but I like Hield and his scoring ability at number seven for us.

I still like Murray as a prospect.

Hield is someone to look into as well.

I like Denzel Valentine. I would do whatever we could to pick him up and I would look at Tyler Ulis with a second round pick if we could get one (not sure if we have ours this year). Ulis is small but he's a winner, a true point guard and can defend in spite of his size.

I wouldn't mind grabbing Kris Dunn if he were available though. I honestly think if he has a solid a March that he'll go top 5.

codydaze wrote:I wouldn't mind grabbing Kris Dunn if he were available though. I honestly think if he has a solid a March that he'll go top 5.

I think regardless unless something major happens Dunn will probably go top five regardless.

KF10 wrote:I still like Murray as a prospect.

Hield is someone to look into as well.

I'm hot and cold on Murray. I see a smallish combo G without the ability to consistently make his teammates better with his passing. Sometimes it's hard to fully get a sense of a player while at Kentucky but I've yet to be super impressed by him.

codydaze wrote:I like Denzel Valentine. I would do whatever we could to pick him up and I would look at Tyler Ulis with a second round pick if we could get one (not sure if we have ours this year). Ulis is small but he's a winner, a true point guard and can defend in spite of his size.

It's hard to argue when you watch him play and the stats back it up. Automatically you think "The next Draymond Green". Obviously not size wise but with this overall skill set you do. In watching him play I have one concern, how much of his stats are simply because of the system he plays in? They stick a ton of shooters around him and let him drive and dish almost constantly. That said, I'd easily take him over most of the prospects listed much higher than he. Plus he's older, which for the Kings is a plus. Upside teams might look elsewhere. If the Kings landed somewhere in the 7-10 range I would take him over just about anyone else there including Hield because I'm a little concerned about Hields athletic ability.

Pray for Kris Dunn to be there, he is everything this team needs and then more.
If he is not, go for a versatile wing, I think Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot will be my option with Dunn outside of the picture.

Maybe not in our range/needs but I think Sabonis' kid will be a solid role player

So far I've watched some of Kris Dunn and Jamal Murray during the tournament. I can see some Dwayne Wade in Dunn but he was pretty passive from what I saw and because of his age and shooting I'd prefer Murray. Note, I am a Cal Bear fan (unfortunate they lost Wallace and Bird for loss to Hawaii) and if Jaylen Brown enters the draft and falls to the Kings I pray they pass on him. Reminds me of McLemore. The kid will likely enter draft because its tough to turn down millions but he isn't ready. Kings don't need a turnover prone wing that can't shoot. Oklahoma playing now so interested to see how Buddy Hield performs. I'd still be interested in Valentine as mid first rounder GP2 as early second rounder.

Dunn is another player I just can't seem to be blown away by. He's not really a PG and he's somewhat small for a SG. Is he a Jamal Crawford type?

Jaylen Brown had a bad, bad game in the tourney, maybe that drops him a little? I like his upside but he's no doubt a bit raw.

Hield and Valentine could help the Kings right away. Not a ton of upside but both are going to help a team from day 1. I in particular like Valentines defense. Michigan State gives you a better indication of how their players could perform at the NBA level since they don't stick primarily to gimmicky college D schemes. They switch a lot and play way up on the ball and screens. He should should be a solid defender in the NBA. He might even be big enough to switch some stuff.

I don't know if he'll come out but my "I'd love to see him on the Kings" player is Mo Alie-Cox. He's a smallish PF-C but I just love the way he plays the game. He's like a poor mans Ben Wallace without the ginormous rebounding ability.

Kentucky are eliminated from the tournament.

Ulis with 27 points and played very well. Murray with 16 points and was completed hounded by Indiana defenders.

Yeah, I'm pretty set on the Kings looking elsewhere rather than picking a Kentucky player this year. One of Valentine or Hield would be pretty sweet IMO. Watch them climb and the Kings keep their pick.

I'm going to try and catch that that Stephen F. Autsin/Notre Dame matchup. My new favorite underrated underdog in Thomas Walkup going up against another in Bonzi Colson. That should be fun, fun, fun.

Silver Man wrote:Right now I believe we are slotted at number seven, so I'd say Buddy Hield. Dunn will most likely already be gone and Murray is a coin flip, but I like Hield and his scoring ability at number seven for us.

Only team in need of a PG ahead of Sacramento in the lottery rankings is Philly and Minnesota. Sixers will probably get top two so no Dunn there. Depending on where Minny falls it's a possibility Dunn slips to 7

Philly- ?
Lakers- D Russell
Boston- IT and Smart
Suns- Bledsoe and Knight
Wolves- Rubio
Nola- Jrue Holiday
Nuggets- Mudiay
Raptors- Lowry

Gonna watch some Buddy Hield (VCU vs Oklahoma) right now.

http://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live/game/308?iid=mml2016_ncaa

Hield is having a rough shooting night. Now, he has 2 fouls in the 1st half (4:20ish remaining) and he will sit out until the second half starts.

Sad to see SFA get bounced but what a showing. Thomas Walkup is going to be a STEAL for whoever looks at him the 2nd round. Dude's a player. I would love the Kings to nab him on draft night.

VCU is the last team in I generally root for. I just love the hustle of Mo Alie-Cox.