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2014 NBA Draft Rumors: Sacramento Kings eyeing Marcus Smart

By Andrew Melnick

Feb 3, 2014; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Marcus Smart (33) during the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Iowa State defeated Oklahoma State 98-97 in triple overtime. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2014; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Marcus Smart (33) during the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Iowa State defeated Oklahoma State 98-97 in triple overtime. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Sacramento Kings made a huge move during the season, acquiring former All-Star forward Rudy Gay from the Toronto Raptors. The Kings believed adding Gay to center DeMarcus Cousins and point guard Isaiah Thomas, they could be a threat in the Western Conference.

That hasn’t been the case and the Kings have their work cut out for them with Gay likely becoming a free agent and Thomas set to enter restricted free agency. The Kings would like to keep Thomas and Gay and upgrade their roster through a trade, potentially using the eighth-overall pick to do so.

If the Kings do keep the pick, ESPN’s Chad Ford believes former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart may be the pick.

"Yep. Kings are also trying to trade. Have a ton of young players. Really want to make the playoffs next year. It’s so funny, we’ve been talking about how great this draft is, but so many teams in the lottery this year have no patience. They want to win now. Makes for an awkward fit with the draft and means we could see a lot of trades in the coming weeks. If the Kings keep the pick I think Marcus Smart is just a no-brainer here. Defense, toughness, leadership, size for position. If Smart is off the board, I wonder if they’d try to convert Gary Harris to the point. I think he could make some sense there."

Smart averaged 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game last season.

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