Who should Kings draft?

[Julian_U2]

I thing Gordon is the man. I would play him a stretch four. Sacramento need energy and defense, and i think nobody in this draft its a better fit for the Kings than Aaron.

What do you think?

[Marcus]

I thing Gordon is the man. I would play him a stretch four. Sacramento need energy and defense, and i think nobody in this draft its a better fit for the Kings than Aaron.

What do you think?

I don't think the guy you mention in your signature would appreciate that too much. considering he's playing that same role and could prolly do it better since he has the better jumper right now.

I'd say Vonleh or Randle if they draft up front. Smart or Exum if they draft for the backcourt.

[No-Man]

the Kings got a lot of viable options at PF, plus there are some cheap fellas in this FA, for example Ekpe Udoh, that could be a good fit for them.

They need help in the backcourt, really depends on what is available at 7#, but if Marcus Smart is there, you got to pick him, unless they win they lottery and grab a top3, probably that's the best result for them.

I won't draft Aaron Gordon in the top10, let alone at nº7.

If Smart does not fall, then is more difficult, but I think I'd try to trade the pick (go after Rondo) or get the guy with the highest upside, probably Vonleh, trade down and getting Gary Harris, and another pick, or Tyler Ennis and another pick, could be an option.

For example with Phoenix, get rid of a bad contract+send the pick7 to Phoenix, for 14+17+something else, and then draft Ennis, and a rim protector with those picks.

They got options, best one, other than getting a top3 pick, is Marcus Smart.

[No-Man]

If you stay at 7#

nº1 option Marcus Smart
nº2 option Noah Vonleh
nº3 option trade down targetting Tyler Ennis, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton or Gary Harris

viable trade partners,

Phoenix, nice mix of young players plus several draft picks, 14+17, and unload a bad contract, could be a nice package for 7#, even asking for other prospect too, you could potentially draft two of the guys listed above with this move (for example Gordon at 14 and Payton at 17, or Harris at 14 and Payton at 17).

Philadelphia and Orlando, they got good picks, 11 and 12, and several youngsters to make the leap, if they take a contract, could be a good deal too.

Chicago could be one, but here I'd ask for 16+20+Gibson for Landry or Thompson+7, at the very least, and I don't know if they would go for it, you can even throw Williams in and ask for Mirotic.

If you win either 1, 2 or 3.

With 1-2 if he's there, you go for Wiggins
If Wiggins is not available at 2-3, you draft Dante Exum.

If Exum and Wiggins are gone at 3, unlikely, you draft Parker and trade Gay.

That's pretty much the situation for me.

[teerfour+40LG]

I thing Gordon is the man. I would play him a stretch four. Sacramento need energy and defense, and i think nobody in this draft its a better fit for the Kings than Aaron.

What do you think?

Gordon ain't a stretch anything though and doesn't look much, if at all, bigger than Rudy Gay. His defensive rebounding is questionable. Other than that, he's an interesting prospect 'cause of his Kurt Rambis potential between Cousins and Gay.

[Notanoob]

Smart or Vonleh are probably your top choices, unless Exum falls. Smart provides leadership and defense at either guard position that you currently lack, and you really need depth in your backcourt with only two guys under contract for next season. Even if he doesn't develop a good outside shot and/or proves not to be up to the task of running an NBA offense as a PG, his defense, intensity and slashing ensure that he'll have value to your team. Vonleh has shown some ability to shoot the ball and is at least competent in all other aspects of the game except passing, so he'd be a good long-term fit at PF next to Boogie.

Outside of that I'd consider trading down for Ennis to give you a guy who is willing to defer and takes great care of the ball, and also spaces the floor. Depending on how far you are willing to trade down, consider guys who can shoot or play defense or both. Adrian Payne would probably be nice at PF after a trade down. Rodney Hood can provide offense and shooting although he is sorely lacking on defense. LaVine would be a huge gamble but if he can indeed play PG he could be a steal if he learns to play defense.

Aaron Gordon is an abysmal shooter and in no way a stretch four. Sure, he hit a decent percentage from deep this year, but it was on a very low volume (so it isn't a trustworthy evaluation of his shooting ability), and how many actual shooters hit 42% of their free throws?

[LloydFree]

Who the Kings should pick? Vonleh or Smart depending who is there.

Who I hope they pick? Gordon or Ennis. Because I hope there is a chance Vonleh falls to the 76ers.

[GANGSTERDOG]

Landry, Terry #7

for

Aaron Afflalo, #12 Fillers Maxiell, Moore, Lamb

[No-Man]

Landry, Terry #7

for

Aaron Afflalo, #12 Fillers Maxiell, Moore, Lamb

That's a fine deal.
for both teams, but only if Smart is not there at 7.

[KF10]

C - DeMarcus Cousins (backup: Aaron Gray)

This is the only position that's 100% locked for the foreseeable future, IMO.

SF - Rudy Gay (backup: Derrick Williams & Outlaw)

He can opt-out and test FA (or sign w/Kings multi-year) or choose to opt-in and play one year in Sacramento and become UFA.

PF - Reggie Evans/Jason Thompson/Carl Landy/Quincy Acy

Good god. That's a collection of meh to okay players.

SG - Ben McLemore (backup: Ray McCallum)

He had a rough rookie year but has shown flashes. Finished the year strong w/ 31 points. Maybe, he's not going to be Ray Allen but probably be good enough to become a solid starter on a PO team in the future though.

PG - Isaiah Thomas (backup: Ray McCallum)

Thomas is a RFA going into the offseason. He's an excellent offense player but a meh defender. I don't expect the Kings to match an offer sheet if it goes beyond 8-9m/yr, IMO. McCallum has been a pleasant surprise. Numbers doesn't shows how well composed he is on the floor. He plays defense and can facilitate the offense. Think of a (less quick) Conley of couple of year ago, he plays sorta like that.

====

According to the above, I think BPA is the way to go, IMO. The Kings have legit holes outside of C. If Rudy decides to stay, C & SF is pretty much locked down. I think Thomas is gone after this season, some team will throw crazy money at his direction and the Kings will not match. McLemore is this frontoffice's first draft selection, so I doubt they will give up on him quickly. So, to me, PG & PF are the positions to look for in the draft but like I said earlier, BPA is still #1.

PG - Dante Exum & Marcus Smart
PF - Jabari Parker & Julius Randle

Unfortunately, the Kings are out of range (#7 projected) of those players. (outside chance: Marcus Smart @ #7, though). What's next?

PG - Tyler Ennis
PF - Aaron Gordon

I'm not too enamored with either players. Both have flaws in their games. Tyler Ennis is an interesting choice if there are signs that Thomas is 100% gone. Aaron Gordon would be fine if we didn't have 234212 players in his projected playing position.

Next group...well.. at this point, the Kings might as well trade the pick and move down lol.

[teerfour+40LG]

As the team is currently constructed, I think Marcus Smart (an SG) is the best option, followed by Nik Stauskas and Noah Vonleh.

[KF10]

As the team is currently constructed, I think Marcus Smart and Noah Vonleh are the best options.

Marcus Smart would be awesome for the Kings if he falls down to them.

Dude is a big guard that can handle the ball and make plays for himself and others. Like I said in another thread, he is in the mold of Stephenson/Evans/Stuckey in terms of big, physical guards that like to play power ball. Not true PGs but capable to spot minutes there, though. Shooting is a concern but with a couple of offseasons under his belt, that can be repaired.

Dude plays with competitive spirit and hates to lose. He's a leader and is well liked within his teammates. He's a tough defender and takes pride on that side of the ball.

To me, he's an absolute fit for the Kings, IMO.

Vonleh is okay in my books but he doesn't really provide a "rim protector" feel for me. I think a pre requisite to play along side of Cousins is that he needs to be THAT defensive presence around the rim. He reminds me a better version of Jason Thompson that has the potential to be better lol not the player you really want for the Kings

[teerfour+40LG]

You should see my edit. I agree about Marcus Smart, and I agree that Noah Vonleh ain't all that hot. His one clear skill is rebounding . . . and so was T-Rob's. Vonleh is a high risk, high reward player for the Kings. The risk is that his jumper may be a fluke and that he may not have the lateral quicks, desire, coachability, or cognitive ability to become a good defender. The reward is a stretch 4 who's a good rebounder and above average shot blocker/post defender, which is very appealing to me between Cousins and Gay.

[KF10]

You should see my edit. I agree about Marcus Smart, and I agree that Noah Vonleh ain't all that hot. His one clear skill is rebounding . . . and so was T-Rob's. Vonleh is a high risk, moderate reward player for the Kings. The risk is that his jumper may be a fluke and that he may not have the lateral quicks, desire, coachability, or cognitive ability to become a good defender. The reward is a stretch 4 who's a good rebounder and above average shot blocker/post defender for a stretch 4.

I like Nik Stauskas a lot more than Vonleh. I'll add him to my list.

I like Nik Stauskas too but he doesn't make sense for us. He is a 2-guard out and out.

[teerfour+40LG]

Yes, but he's better than Ben McLemore in all areas of the game except maybe top speed and vertical. His PG abilities are just as good as Marcus Smart's if not better, especially if turnovers are taken into consideration.

I don't have a problem with

Isaiah / McCallum
Stauskas / Ben

There's space for him.

[KF10]

Yes, but he's better than Ben McLemore in all areas of the game except maybe top speed.

I feel Stauskas needs the ball a lot more than McLemore to achieve maximize effectiveness on court. McLemore style of play is a lot more of a fit with the Kings than Stauskas, IMO. One thing McLemore is already good at is the way he moves without the ball.

I take my chances with Ben (who will have the entire off season to improve upon his weaknesses).

[KF10]

I don't have a problem with

Isaiah / McCallum
Stauskas / Ben

There's space for him.

That backcourt is a disaster, defensively.

Out of that group, McCallum is the only one that's worth a damn defensively.

[teerfour+40LG]

Isaiah Thomas is more responsible for that than Stauskas, who is a better defender than Ben or IT. I wouldn't hold it against him especially because replacing Ben with him makes the defense slightly better and because there's not really a better defender to draft. The nearest draftable defenders are Aaron Gordon and maybe Gary Harris, but eh.

[KF10]

Isaiah Thomas is more responsible for that than Stauskas, who is a better defender than Ben or IT. I wouldn't hold it against him especially because replacing Ben with him makes the defense slightly better and because there's not really a better defender to draft. The nearest draftable defenders are Aaron Gordon and Gary Harris, but eh.

That was sorta my point. Stauskas is not just a one-dimensional jumpshooter, he is an improving slasher and likes his touches of ISO-ball now and then. Take the ball away from him, he loses effectiveness a bit. Sure, you can park him around the perimeter because he is still a dead-eye shooter but that would be misusing him, IMO. On the other hand, Ben is primary off the ball player. His game depends on service for the most part (although, his ball handling/slashing has gotten a lot better late season). Ben's game is a lot more conducive with the given set up of the Kings than with Stauskas IMO.

Aaron Gordon is a very interesting deal. He reminds me a bit of Shawn Marion in terms of versatility on both sides of the ball. I wouldn't mind the Kings drafting him if he's BPA.

I haven't watch too much Michigan State games, so I won't comment on Harris.

[Young_Star11]

The Kings are still a mess. McLemore has been quite underwhelming but do you preserve the minutes for him to develop in the hope he becomes a solid NBA pro?

I'd go BPA.