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NBA Draft 2014: Sacramento Kings to host workout with Smart, Vonleh

By Trisity Miller

Mar 20, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Marcus Smart greets fans and signs autographs during practice before the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Marcus Smart greets fans and signs autographs during practice before the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /
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To prepare for the upcoming NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings plan to host a workout based around top prospects Marcus Smart and Noah Vonleh reports Jonathan Santiago of ESPN TrueHoop’s Cowbell Kingdom:

"The Sacramento Kings will host their first pre-draft workouts on Monday, taking a look at a bevy of talent worthy of consideration for the eighth overall pick.The Kings announced yesterday that Monday’s first workout will be headlined by Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State and Noah Vonleh of Indiana. A second four-man workout will be headlined by Tyler Ennis of Syracuse.via Sacramento Kings to host Marcus Smart, Noah Vonleh and Tyler Ennis in pre-draft workouts"

With the eighth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings will have to take what’s left after the first few selections of the NBA Draft. Sitting in the middle of the lottery, this has been the reason why the Kings have contemplated trading the pick for a NBA veteran that can progress the franchise toward the playoffs instead of welcoming in another young player whose impact is guaranteed.

But if Sacramento decides to keep the pick, the mentioned players all have the potential to help the Kings immediately.

The decision to work out Marcus Smart is quite telling though it could be them feeling out the prospects. Going into the summer, Isaiah Thomas will be an unrestricted free agent and depending on what kind of money he’ll demand on the open market after a career year where he averaged 21.2 points and 6.8 assist as a starter, he could work himself out of Sacramento’s range. And that’d open up a spot for Smart in the smarting lineup.

Noah Vonleh would also be a great value pick at eight, but based on his stock rising after workouts, the odds of him being available for Sacramento unless they decide to trade up is slim to none. Tyler Ennis is also another player who could step into Thomas’ role as the starting point guard.

The Kings have plenty options going forward and whatever they decide to do will be telling of where the front office wants this franchise to be in a couple of years.

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