Well, the Kings weren’t satisfied with just drafting in the lottery and calling it a night.
According to Jake Fischer who reported it first, the Kings have traded for the #29 pick in the draft and the rights to UConn forward Alex Karaban. As part of the deal, the Kings are sending the Eastern Conference finalists their #34 as well as their 2032 second rounder.
Alex Karaban is a 6 foot 6.5 forward who played all four years at UConn. Last season, he averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and shot 46.4% from the field, 37.4% from deep and 85.1% from the line. Karaban helped lead his UConn team to the national title game for a third time last season and is the all-time winningest player in UConn’s history. Karaban also earned himself first-team All-Big East honors this last season.
From Sam Vecenie of The Athletic:
Karaban profiles well to help a team because of his ability to make decisions, move the ball quickly, knock down shots and move incredibly well without the ball. On defense, he is always in the right position, consistently reads the play correctly and disrupts what the opposition wants to do by scrambling well. There are limitations in that he can’t beat anyone off the bounce and there are some on-ball defensive questions that could cause issues.
Still, I strongly believe that any NBA organization would be better off having Karaban’s presence within their system. He’s a hard worker, he has high character and he’s won a significant number of games as a starter on what has been the best college program in the country over the last five years. It speaks volumes that he has been the common denominator on the court in that time.
From J Kyle Mann of The Ringer:
High-level processor on both ends of the floor. Really intelligent maneuverer off the ball, whether it’s becoming a borderline playmaker as a screener, spacing the floor, or remaining engaged and attentive on defense. Karaban was an extremely low-waste player in one of the most execution-intensive systems. He maintained low turnover percentages, high assist percentages, and squeezed a lot of productive passing out of middle-of-the-road usage. His superpower is that he very rarely makes mistakes of commission or omission—his mindset won’t deviate from the game plan or what’s serving the team in the moment
From Ricky O’Donnell of SBNation:
Karaban was the ultimate college glue guy as a stretch forward, and he has two national championship rings to show for it. He just knows how to space the floor and move without the ball. The Kings needed some high IQ players, and Karaban fits that bill. I’m not sure he’s athletic enough to defend NBA forwards, so he’ll need to be a high level shooter.
And just in case you’re looking for a little more of a visual reference to Mr. Karaban, here’s a highlight reel of his NCAA Tournament run:
Welcome to Sacramento, Alex Karaban!
I actually really like this pick. Don’t have any issue moving up a few spots considering the cost was a 2nd way down the road, I think it’s fine. Karaban is an adult and a winner which this team and organization is sorely lacking. I like smart players who can shoot the hell out of the ball and are always in the right place on offense and defense.
Welcome to the Kings, Alex.
Sounds a fair bit like Nique in certain ways.
I’m all for drafting the high BBIQ types (we need more of them around here), but they also still need to be NBA-caliber athletes and players.
The jury is definitely still out on Nique, and it sounds like there are similar questions here.
The difference between Karaban and Clifford, and I think it’s a significant one, is that Karaban did what he does consistently for his entire college career, so we have a much better idea of what we’re getting with him (high floor, low ceiling). Clifford had one (arguably two) good college years against lesser competition. At this point Clifford’s potential upside is probably higher than Karaban’s, but his potential downside is probably much lower. So yes, the jury is still out on Clifford, but while his rookie season showed a few upside flashes, I’d argue we saw a lot more of the downside. I’m still hopeful, but the upcoming season will tell us a lot.
Trading up to take a 4 year college ‘glue’ guy? Didn’t work with Clifford last year yet Perry is doubling down. This team doesn’t need older ‘glue’ guys, they need young talent. This team won’t need ‘glue’ guys until they have a core developed.
Yup, this was an emotional pick, a guy they liked. He is a role player with not much upside and there were stronger players available. Perry reached and needs to think about athletic, defensive minded shooters and not a one-skill dude.
I would have liked Baba Miller as the reach for Defense as he can guard 3’s ans some 4’s
I think whenever you have LaVine and Acuff on the floor together, the best frontcourt combination is Murray, Hunter, and Cardwell . Personally, I’d rather see the Kings start Acuff, Clifford, Murray, Hunter, and Sabonis. That lineup still has enough shooting, gives you a little more defensive versatility, and doesn’t put as much pressure on the defense from the opening tip.
Then I’d bring LaVine in as a super-sub. At that point, you could roll out units featuring Cardwell or Raynaud alongside LaVine, Monk/Carter, and one of Murray, Karaban, Hunter . I think that group would provide plenty of scoring while still being almost respectable defensively.
My biggest concern with LaVine in the starting lineup is that the Kings don’t really have a true elite rim protector behind him. Without that kind of defensive anchor, I worry about the overall defensive ceiling of the starting group. That’s one reason I prefer balancing the lineup a little more defensively from the start.
And I almost forgot about Precious Achiuwa—he adds another option for defensive lineups and could help address some of those concerns as well.
Having competent basketball players around your prized young guy(s) seems like a smart move. Putting a bunch of rookies with raw talent together and hoping they figure it out is a recipe for disaster.
Plus having high BBIQ guys helps develop culture. Low opportunity cost. I’m fine with it.
Lots of comps and similar age/size/shooting/defense to Sam Hauser. If you get even 80% of sam hauser at the 29th pick that’s a solid triple in my book. Time will tell
Hoping Acuff/Karaban is going to be an upgraded version of Lin/Novak lol.
His game kind of looks like Sasha Vezenkov, except we get him when he’s 22 and wants to play in the NBA. There’s likely no star potential but he could turn into a guy who works out pretty ok which is all you’re really looking for past, like, pick 20.
We needed our new McBuckets.
The Karaban Can
I like this kid, 6’11” wingspan, definitely active, elite shooter, doesn’t hesitate (Unless needed), sees the good passes, including leaks outs, keeps the lane clear and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes or turnovers. I think with other good shooters around him (Acuff), it’s going to open him up when opposing teams are doubling other players.
Is he a star or a superstar? No, but that’s not what you expect at 29 or 34.
I like the pick.. we essentially drafted an older (draft age) slower, less athletic (quickness) less explosive, but stronger better rebounding Kevin Huerter
AI helped analysis
Kevin Huerter and Alex Karaban are highly skilled, cerebral wing prospects who entered the draft as elite floor spacers with polished passing abilities. However, Huerter was a younger, slightly longer guard with a quicker first step, while Karaban is a more physical, decorated forward with superior strength and defensive versatility.
A detailed breakdown of their draft profiles highlights the differences:
Measurements & Physicality
College Stats (Coming Out)
Scouting Profile & Playstyle
Draft Projections
Huerter was selected 19th overall in the 2018 draft by the Atlanta Hawks due to his youthful upside and lethal shooting. Karaban entered the 2026 draft pool as an older, heavily decorated prospect (two-time national champion) and was selected 29th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers (and immediately traded to the Sacramento Kings)
You’re leaving out that Karaban is 3 years older than Huerter was when they were drafted. This is a huge omission.
I did put it in the very opening sentence, draft age
My bad. Skimmed past the lead.
So many questions on this.
How did Geoff Petrie manage to become GM of the Kings again, trade back late into the 1st round and get his accustomed BBIQ/Shooter bench player?
While we’re at it, the draft pick trade makes sense for Cleveland too. Did they want a late 1st round pick? Guarenteed roster spot and salary for a guy who typically wouldn’t contribute to a developed team. If I remember correctly, when the Kings were in a similar situation in the early 2000s, they didn’t make a 1st round pick between Gerald Wallace and Kevin Martin. Good on Scott Perry to be able to trade into the late first round. Maybe in a few years the Kings will be trading out of the late first round again.
I like this pick, quite a bit actually, as his fit with the other young hopefuls of Maxime, Nique, and Acuff is obvious.
Hopefully Pete Chilcutt and & Darius Songalia walked with the Kings so Karaban can run.
I don’t want to poo poo this too much but Karaban is a slightly longer, much worse shooting, less athletic version of McBuckets. I don’t know why you would take him over Koa Peat who was still on the board. I get that Peat’s shooting at the combine hurt him a bit, but he is a bruiser that is still young and developing. I’d take his upside over the mediocre (at best) play that Karaban brings. If not Peat then Isaiah Evans maybe. Not excited about this move at all. If you’re taking a swing, at least swing for a double.
I hope he proves me wrong.
So do we think that Perry felt Karaban wouldn’t be there at #34 so he felt he had to trade up for him? I wonder how the process went.
I had a feeling the Cavs were going to trade out of that guaranteed salary at #29, so did the Kings approach them or did the Cavs ring up the Kings?
My point to all this is, you only trade up if you felt Karaban was on top of your remaining board and you think he’s going to be picked #29 or #30. Otherwise wait until round 2 and see how it plays out.
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