Here are some of the national media grades of the draft.
Scott Howard-Cooper, SI.com
Grade: B
They just set themselves up for years of comparison -- Tyreke Evans, the pick, vs. Ricky Rubio, the pass -- not to mention decades of abuse if it goes bad. But the Kings were not the only team that would have made the same tough call. In fact, there is a good chance they would have taken Jonny Flynn over Rubio at No. 4 had Evans been gone. Point guard was the obvious position problem and point guard was addressed, with Evans and the Sergio Rodriguez trade with the Trail Blazers. Evans is not a natural playmaker, so the risk is obvious. Forward Omri Casspi, the 23rd pick, is willing to play in Israel another season if the Kings want to save the money. Washington power forward Jon Brockman will go from No. 38 to being a fan favorite, if he makes the team, just on his demolition-derby style of play.
Chad Ford, ESPN
Grade: B+
I'm a little split on what to give the Kings.
On the one hand, I really liked their draft. Evans is a talented guy and one of the most NBA-ready guards in the draft, a terrific, physical slasher who knows how to score. Casspi is tough as nails with a high-energy game. Brockman is a lumberjack in the paint and will knock heads with anyone. Put these three draft picks together with the acquisition of Andres Nocioni in February, and you can no longer call the Kings soft.
On the other hand, I think the Kings chose the safest route, picking now over the future. Ricky Rubio was a better fit than Evans, who is a not a point guard -- he has a scorer's mentality, and Sacramento already has a star shooting guard in Kevin Martin.
The Kings felt Rubio was too far away, too much of a risk. Compared to Evans, he might be. But in the coming years, Rubio might make them wish they had grabbed him while they could.
Kelly Dwyer, Yahoo.com
Score: 8 out of 10 (that would be a B in my book)
There's nothing actually wrong with any of these selections, but on a team that can't rebound to save its life, Blair would have helped.
Evans has huge upside, Casspi can play and was much-bandied about heading into the Draft, and even Brockman might contribute given a good summer, but you're still left wanting with this team. Wanting, maybe, Ricky Rubio and DeJuan Blair. Time will tell.
Tony Mejia, Pro Basketball News
Grade: A
Quietly, the Kings had a brilliant draft. In passing on Rubio in favor of Tyreke Evans, Geoff Petrie and his staff got a player more likely to contribute immediately and equally capable of growing into a star. Omri Casspi and Jon Brockman add an element of toughness the Kings have been badly missing, while Sergio Rodriguez will contend with Beno Udrih for time at the point right out of the gate. Without spending money it doesn't have, Sacramento got deeper via a few promising pieces.