2018 NBA Mock Draft: The lottery is done and the order is set

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 17: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils celebrates a three point basket against the Rhode Island Rams during the second half in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 17, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

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BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Deandre Ayton /

Arizona. Deandre Ayton. 2. player. 67. . C

Entering the lottery, Sacramento had the seventh-best odds at landing the first overall pick. They leapt all the way from there to No. 2, giving the franchise the best chance to land a franchise player since 2009, when the Kings drafted Tyreke Evans. It’s great karma after finally trading DeMarcus Cousins and resetting a franchise that badly needed new energy. Fortunately, the Kings can now draft Cousins’s replacement just 14 months after moving him.

Ayton would change everything for Sacramento. Remember, this is a franchise which drafted burnout Georgios Papagiannis at No. 13 just two seasons ago and had to cut him this year to avoid paying a negative to hold up space on the roster. They have invested a ton into the frontcourt, including the fifth overall pick in 2012 on Thomas Robinson and the sixth pick in 2015 on Willie Cauley-Stein, but no one looks set to take hold of the big man spots like Ayton can.

The big man is in definite consideration for the top pick by the Suns, but ending up in Sacramento might be even better for him. The roster and culture of the Kings is cleared out to make way for Ayton, and coach Dave Joerger has historically been a respected defensive coach, most notably with Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies’ defense in his last job.

The Kings need some source of focus moving forward, and Ayton provides a clear direction for a franchise treading water.

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