Fansided

NBA teams with the most to gain and lose in the 2018 Draft

By Jeremy Morris

SECAUCUS, NJ - MAY 20: A general view of the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery at the NBATV Studios on May 20, 2008 in Secaucus, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NJ - MAY 20: A general view of the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery at the NBATV Studios on May 20, 2008 in Secaucus, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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4. Sacramento Kings (20-44)

2018 Picks

  • First Round — projected No. 1 – 5 overall
  • Second Round – projected 31st-35th overall

The Kings have not made the playoffs since 2005-06. They’re on their sixth coach since 2011 and like the Magic, they are in desperate need of stability following a decade of turmoil and lack of direction. The Kings’ dire situation has also fueled by rumors about ownership changes, moving to Seattle, and Boogie Cousins mood swings over the last several years — all of which seems to be safely in the rear view mirror.

Dave Joerger is a capable young coach in his second year with the Kings. The front office led by Vlade Divac, is not expected to be retained following this season so time will tell how much stability the franchise experiences in the coming years but a coach who seems to be there for the long haul and a stable owner is at least a better situation than what Kings fans have had before the last year or two.

Whoever inherits Kings’ front office responsibilities will be receiving a roster that can essentially be split into two groups: Aging vets that expire by 2019 and Young players who have yet to prove they can contribute to winning.
Whoever inherits Kings’ front office responsibilities will be receiving a roster that can essentially be split into two groups: Aging vets that expire by 2019 and Young players who have yet to prove they can contribute to winning. /

Zach Randolph and Vince Carter, who both played for Joerger in Memphis were added in 2017 to help provide veteran leadership. They’ve done that, and in fact Randolph has led the team in scoring for most of the season. Neither has played significant minutes lately as the team is trying to give as many minutes to young players as possible.

Kosta Koufos and Garrett Temple have both been decent role players in their tenures with Sacramento but neither is expected to play much of a part in the team’s long-term future at 29 and 31.

Iman Shumpert, who was acquired from Cleveland in February has been a valuable player on a championship team but has been battling plantar fasciitis most of the season and is yet to suit up for the Kings. With a player option of $11MM in 2018-19, he’ll be able to decide his future to a degree but could be subject to trade or buyout.

The team will drop close to $18M in salaries of former players after this season so the team will have some cap room to work with. But as disheveled as the Kings have been for the last decade, they’re unlikely to attract much in free agency.

The Kings’ future is in the hands of a group of players who are as unproven as any in the NBA.

We may have already seen the ceilings for Buddy Hield and Willie Cauley-Stein who are both assets, but not as good as many thought/hoped and not good enough to be building blocks for a team in the Kings’ situation.

So far, De’Aaron Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic have both exceeded the play of Hield and Cauley-Stein, averaging 12+ points per game as rookies. Both have shown flashes of brilliance that give the Kings hope that they will become the kinds of players a franchise can be built around.

Justin Jackson and Frank Mason, also rookies, have also shown promise that they can be solid contributors but have a lot of developing to do to become consistent players.

Skal Labissiere has averaged 8.5 points and nearly five rebounds per game in a season and a half but at 21, is still raw and needs to take another step before being someone the Kings can count on as a key player for the future.

Harry Giles has missed all of this season after having surgery on both knees in October. The Kings are hopeful that 2017 first round pick from Duke can make a full recovery and impact the team next year. After missing this season, he’ll still only be 20 and is under contract through 2021 with team options the last two years of his deal.

The Kings have flexibility and are in better shape than most teams in terms of cap space but it’s unclear what they have in terms of talent and how much their completely unproven roster can develop. They have six or seven potential building blocks but odds are stacked against the majority panning out. The Kings desperately need to pick up another two players that can deepen their core of young players and give the team better odds of two or three panning out to become All-Star caliber players.

With a likely top pick and another at the beginning of the second round, Sacramento has a lot riding on this draft. They need to add talent, depth, and need to prove themselves as a steady organization that will entice players to sign extensions as well as attract free agents in the coming years.

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