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NBA Draft 2018: 5 best fits for Michael Porter Jr.

By Rucker Haringey

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 16: Michael Porter Jr. #13 of the Missouri Tigers high fives head coach Cuonzo Martin as he comes off the court during a game against the Florida State Seminoles during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 16: Michael Porter Jr. #13 of the Missouri Tigers high fives head coach Cuonzo Martin as he comes off the court during a game against the Florida State Seminoles during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 1: De’Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings is stretched before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 1, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 1: De’Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings is stretched before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 1, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Sacramento Kings

De’Aaron Fox enjoyed an educational rookie season with the Kings but he’s going to need more help in his second campaign. Adding a big who can space the floor like Porter Jr. would give Fox a ton more room to create off the dribble.

The Kings have invested a lot of resources to fix their power forward position, but it hasn’t worked out. Porter Jr. would likely be team’s starter from day one ahead of players like Skal Labissiere and Zach Randolph. The team hasn’t given up on Harry Giles, but he’s not a talented enough prospect to prevent them from drafting Porter Jr.

The question the Kings will have to answer is whether or not the No. 2 pick is too high for a player with no real collegiate experience. It’s possible Sacramento could trade down and still be in a position to take Porter Jr, but that would be a serious gamble.

The safer strategy would be for the Kings to stay put at No. 2 and spend the pick on Porter Jr. If they make that decision, it would mean passing on either DeAndre Ayton or Luka Doncic. That wouldn’t represent good value for the Kings, but drafting Porter Jr. would fill a definite need for the team.

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