All signs point to the Sacramento Kings landing a top 5 pick in this year’s NBA Draft. If Sacramento ends the season with the worst record in the league, which they currently hold, they are guaranteed a top 5 pick. And what a year to have a top pick. Many consider it one of the best in years.
And while the top 3 picks are surely to be some combination of Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cameron Boozer, the 4th and 5th pick has often been slated to be North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson and Houston’s Kingston Flemings.
Wilson is out for the season following thumb surgery, but the other four players were in action Saturday.
Let’s take a look at the highlights.
Darryn Peterson
Peterson and Kansas took on Kansas State. There has been questions about Peterson’s injuries and checking himself out of games, but in these highlights from Saturday you can see why everyone is so high on him.
He plays under complete control, is never sped up. He can lead a fast break, easily drop in floaters, has quick-release threes, can finish through contact, slashes and scores, has hesitation moves and more and more. When he is taking a shot you expect it to go in. Let’s take a look at the highlights.
Following the game he made the comment about maybe staying in college one more year, much like Dybantsa did recently. Highly doubt it, but interesting.
He finished with 27 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Cameron Boozer
Boozer and Duke (the No. 1 team in college basketball) took on North Carolina. The Duke offense runs through Boozer and he directs traffic often. Like Peterson, Boozer never gets sped up. He always seem to have a plan around what he is doing on the floor and looks like he is two steps ahead of everyone else in terms of processing the game. His footwork and patience around the basket is elite. Often opposing bigs can’t do anything to stop it.
He has great court vision and drops pretty passes (alley oops and cross court). He can nail threes, which is very important for a big in the NBA today. He can attack the lane off the dribble and finish through contact. He can escape double teams and find the open man.
Not to mention he is a great rebounder who can activate all of his offensive skillets after pulling down the board.
Boozer finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists.
AJ Dybantsa
Dybantsa and BYU took ok Texas Tech. The 6’9″ forward is leading the nation in scoring at 24.7 points per game. He can score all over the floor. He can back guys down, turn around and shoot over them. He can take guys off the dribble. He can finish through contact. His combination of speed, height and athleticism is just too much for many guys to stop. Not to mention, he has pretty good court vision, can bring the ball up the floor and can shoot off the dribble and in the mid-range.
He finished with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
Kingston Flemings
Flemings and Houston took on Oklahoma State. Flemings is one of the best point guard prospects in the draft, and a really good playmaker. His passes are crisp and thought-out. Bounce passes to cutters, drawing the defense and kicking out, hitting guys off screens, kick-outs for threes. Plus, he is ultra quick with the ability to stop and go, and can knock down mid-range off drives.
He finished with 13 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds.
As we move into March Madness season, watching these guys this month is probably going to be 10 times more entertaining than what is left of this Kings season.
Kings are so devoid of talent, any one of the top 6ish players would help (DnP, Cam, AJ, Wilson, Kingston, Acuff, Wagler).
So you are telling me we will be drafting an undersized combo guard!
Are any of them seniors?
My cynicism is at a point where I’m starting to convince myself that every single under-classman at the top of the draft will return to college in order to avoid being drafted by the Kings.
Kings organization is so poor any agent will tell any of these top prospects to stay another year under NIL money instead of being with the Kings.
These guys look great but I don’t think they’ll be there at 5/6. Kangz.
I am excited to see these prospects in the NBA.
It seems this is a draft where we aren’t hearing much about the overseas talent for a change. It is a surprise, as to me, many of the most interesting players in The Association are foreign born. Jokic, Luka, Giannis, SGA, Deni Avdija.
It is a bit reminiscent of the 2017 where there was a big 5, but interesting prospect right after, and Lauri Markennan (played for Arizona) and Frank Nkitilina (France) where in the Top 8
bad editing sorry
It is a bit reminiscent of the 2017 draft, as there was a big 5, but some interesting prospects right after that group, including Lauri Markennan (who played for Arizona) and Frank Nkitilina (France) were in the Top 8
Couple of questions. My thinking if trades can de structured before the draft could the Kings pick up a point guard before the draft. Example: Sabonis to the Magic for Jalen Suggs and Jett Howard. Suggs our starting point quard for at least the next five years when his contract expires. Only 24 now and would play here through his prime. One of the best defenders in the league. OR Monk and Carter for Anthony Black. Also a very good defender and scorer. 6′ 7″ at point guard. Just a couple of ideas
Depending where the Kings land in the draft would it be possible to draft down one or two spots to get more draft capital plus get the player we want? Just some ideas to hash over.
Good thinking Jack but Monk and Carter will not fetch you Anthony Black.
I’m in the Peterson camp but Boozer and Dybantsa also work for me. There’s a drop off after that in my opinion but Fleming should also be a nice player.
The Kings don’t have a lot of trade options at this point other than moving Sabonis who I would keep for now. We need to draft wisely, be patient, play our young guys and let some payroll expire and then possibly take on a bad contract for some draft capital. Hopefully at next years mid season deadline LaVine can fetch us a little draft capital and we can dump DDR in the offseason without sparring any draft capital.
This can turnaround quickly IF we draft the right player and don’t make any dumb moves. I’d like to see something like this on the court next year.
Peterson
Clifford
Murray
Sabonis
Raynaud
Monk
LaVine
Maybe Carter
Some other young player
Make the 2027 draft picks count and away we go.
I think this is a very deep draft. People tend to focus on offensive upside, but Boozer has the entire package. He gets put at the point of attack during 2-3 zone at times, guards the other team’s best players in man coverage and then goes to the other end and runs the offense as a point forward. The guy is an absolute stud. If I’m picking #1, that’s my guy. Peterson’s offensive upside is undeniable. He does everything on that end. But Kansas hides him on defense. I’m not sure if there is something wrong there. Dybantsa is so long and athletic and has a high motor. He can score in so many ways, including just out jumping everyone. On defense he gives effort and has length, but gets out of position a lot and doesn’t get into a good defensive stance (straight legged), which causes him to get beat off the bounce. I think that could be corrected but needs work. I’d go Dybantsa 2, and Peterson 3 depending on how his physical goes. Other guys that I’m really high on are Flemmings, Burries, Morez Johnson Jr., Koa Peat, and Aday Mara. Not a huge fan of Acuff, Philon, or Lendeborg for various reasons. If Morez Johnson Jr. goes in the late first it will be a steal.
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