NBA Draft 2017: 5 best fits for Jayson Tatum

3. Sacramento Kings (No. 5, No. 10 overall picks)

The Kings could potentially grab Tatum with either of their picks. And if they can get a point guard with their other choice, drafting Tatum would be a pretty ideal outcome. With Rudy Gay coming off an Achilles injury and opting out to pursue free agency, Sacramento could be in the market for another talented scoring option in the post-DeMarcus Cousins era. Right now, the team is hurting for scoring options outside of Buddy Hield, and Tatum could be a nice option to add to the mix.

Sacramento should have both shooting and a strong two-way center to put around Tatum, with Hield, Malachi Richardson, and Bogdan Bogdanovic potentially providing the shooting, and Willie Cauley-Stein offering rim protection and finishing inside. Sacramento lacks a true interior scoring presence right now, and this fit could encourage Tatum to work more on his interior game, adding driving and pick-and-roll attacking to his mid-range potential. Barring a free agent scramble this summer, the Kings should be in position to give Tatum his best shot at early initiation minutes, and a trial-by-fire may work well for his adjustment to the NBA game.

There is worry that the Kings’ haphazard development could cause a growth of some of Tatum’s worst habits, particularly regarding shot selection and defensive effort. Point guard help is also a concern — Tatum can be your primary scorer, but he can’t be your primary ball-handler, and that job probably shouldn’t go to Hield, either. Taking Tatum at five means rolling the dice on one of Dennis Smith or De’Aaron Fox being there at pick ten, and that’s probably not happening. This would be a decent marriage, but it’s probably not in either side’s best interest.