The Sacramento Kings answered their biggest question of the offseason when forward Rudy Gay opted into the final year of his deal.
They also have address the future of point guard Isaiah Thomas, who is set to become a restricted free agent, but first must make a decision on what they will do with the eighth-overall selection in Thursday night’s draft.
According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, the Kings are trying to make a move up for former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid.
As the anticipation of a frenzied free-agent summer has almost made Thursday night’s draft an afterthought, one key point remains of profound interest around NBA front offices: How far will Joel Embiid fall?
Widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by Cleveland until a fracture was discovered in the Kansas center’s foot last week, Embiid now is viewed in front-office circles as going somewhere between the third and seventh picks. Several teams, including the Sacramento Kings at No. 8, have called teams ahead of them in the lottery to propose potential trades to move up and select Embiid, a league source with knowledge of the conversations told CBSSports.com.
Where Embiid ultimately is selected isn’t the only question. Which teams have his medical report is an even bigger one.
If Embiid comes back healthy, pairing him with DeMarcus Cousins could create the best interior duo in the NBA.
Embiid was ranked second among all prospects by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express (behind former Kansas teammate, forward Andrew Wiggins). Embiid averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 62.6% from the field, 20.0% from beyond the arc and 68.5% from the free throw line.
