Will the Kings Trade Pick No. 4 in 2022 NBA Draft?
By Reed Wallach
The Sacramento Kings are back in the lottery, picking fourth in the 2022 NBA Draft.
The Kings haven't made the postseason since 2006, so they are regulars to the lottery and were able to move up to nab the No. 4 pick this draft. However, they have been the subject of trade rumors in what is being reported as a three player draft between Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren.
That brings us to the Kings at No. 4, who could select Jaden Ivey or Keegan Murray, or just trade back and accumulate assets.
When Do the Kings Pick in 2022 NBA Draft?
The Kings are picking No. 4 as of now, but there is plenty of smoke around the team's intentions with the pick.
Here is the latest reports both for keeping the pick, and what the Kings may do with it and with them moving the pick.
The Kings want No. 6 + two future first-round picks in order to move down from No. 4 with the Pacers, which Indiana declined, per @bkravitz.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 21, 2022
Sacramento’s outrageous asking price is making it likely they stay put and select Keegan Murray or Jaden Ivey.
So, the Kings could stand pat and debate between Murray and Ivey, but there are plenty of suitors, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
"The Kings continue to receive plenty of trade interest for the No. 4 selection, where the Pacers, Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards and others have made efforts to leapfrog in the lottery. Of those teams, it's believed the Pacers and Spurs are targeting Iowa forward Keegan Murray, while New York and Washington have their sights set on Purdue combo guard Jaden Ivey," Fischer wrote Tuesday morning.
"Rival teams are prepared for Sacramento to gauge all trade interest up until the Kings are on the clock. If there's a surprise pick in the top three, Sacramento could receive a flurry of offers from teams that covet one of the star big men in the class. Several teams picking behind the Kings are also preparing for Sacramento to select Murray if it remains at No. 4 and the top three picks unfold with no surprises. The Pistons, sources said, have projected a strong confidence that Ivey will be available for them to choose at No. 5 if the Kings stand pat."
Keep an eye on the Kings movements on draft night with the likes of Murray and Ivey being highly coveted by the NBA landscape.