With 47.6% of the vote, Darius Acuff Jr. is off the board for the Kings Herald Community Draft Board. He joins Darryn Peterson, Caleb Wilson, Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa off the board.
This is the readership’s opportunity to create a democratic draft board which represents the order in which we as a collective would like the Kings’ draft board to look like. It does not represent the desires of individual writers or fans, but some semblance of the community’s collective thinking.
When a choice comes up, pick who you’d want the Kings to pick given all the players remaining. Note: THIS IS NOT A MOCK DRAFT. This is a draft board, a ranked list of prospects you’d like to see the Kings pick. In other words, if we were the Kings front office, when our pick came up, we’d take the top name left on our board. So pick your choice, not who you think Scott Perry or anyone else would choose in a slot.
Explain your choice in the comments, and lobby for who should be added to the next pick’s choices. We’ll be doing this every weekday morning over the next few weeks.
It’s between Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler here for me and I’m going to lean Flemings because I think he’s the truer Point Guard. He might not have the measurables some others do, but he makes up for it with effort. When I see him using comparisons like Cason Wallace, that’s the kind of mentality I want. I think he’s a smart kid who knows how to maximize his talents (same could be said for Keaton though) and will help any team he gets to. I do worry about his long term upside and his outside shot but I think he can figure it out. Plus, he’s got Kings in his name already!
Still on Flemings for all of the reasons noted in the last thread. Would not be averse to Wagler.
Brown Jr. for me, with Flemings as a close 2nd.
Brown just seems to have the knack for playmaking. He does need to rei(g)n in his shot selection, be a bit more disciplined, and wait for the offensive sets to develop. I think all that can be taught in due time.
The size and athleticism, along with IQ, give him the highest ceiling for me.
I read a comp that compared him to Jordan Poole and now I can’t get that out of head. It gives me the heebie-jeebies.
ha ha. It’s kind of difficult to comment because of the back injury. If that’s not an issue, he should be part of the discussion. If it is an issue, I’d pass on him at 7.
Then, assuming there is no back injury / durability issue … there still are issues with shot selection and assist-to-turnover ratio, which make me think his comps are more like D-Lo or Monk. Was amazing in that Kentucky game, but not so great in the others I saw. The thought did occur to me that another year in college would not be the worst thing for him, but he has clear nba talent so I understand.
Pretty cool that he dribbled “Blue Monday” at the combine. Not sure where to rank him.
Shot selection is easier to fix than most people think. The coach just needs to tell him not to take those shots. Show him what a good shot is, find the spots on the floor where he is efficient, and try to get those more often.
The turnovers are bit more nuanced. Did he make the correct read but was off a bit with the pass? Forcing passes? Handle loose and got swiped? Live ball vs. dead ball turnover? The tape will show that (Insert Luke Walton joke), not the stats.
Comps: Poole (ugh), Anfernee Simons (solid enough), LaMelo Ball (good with some refinement), Monk (ehh).
The No Ceilings crew seems really high on Brown. I also found this guy on YouTube that does a good video breakdown (AVC is the channel).
Poole would have been a good player, but he had the mentality/inflated ego of a chucker and never changed his approach.
Isn’t that the knock on Brown Jr? That he is a bit of a chucker?
It is. It’s also worth knowing if that can be tamed. Stop the inefficient shots, take the more efficient shots. If they think he can do that, then great. If not, pick someone else.
Acuff at 7 would be great. He might be there.
Wagler still on the board? That would be my vote.
Cut and paste from last time:
Voted Wagler. Reason/Ceiling: What if Tyrese Haliburton and Side Show Bob had a child?
If he shaves his head and can prove he can play off the ball… a little bit of Reggie Miller.
Lobbying to add Ebuka Okorie. Reason: ACC scoring leader as a freshman. 1st team All ACC with Boozer and Caleb (see Kings Herald Draft Board).
I am again putting a vote in on Keaton
Another reason I prefer him over Flemings (who I like, but not as much), is that Flemings has questionable shooting, Wagler is consider a pure shooter/marksman. If Flemings is compared to De’Aaron Fox, it is his shooting, not his scoring, that was at times discouraging (see WCF shooting for Fox). I have less worries about that with the 6/6″ Wagler though he is not the fast twitch athlete that Flemings is purported to be.
To be fair to Fox, there are a lot of NBA players that would not even have attempted to play on that ankle/leg.
Fox had a “get out of hell free” card and he cashed it in.
A good decision on his part. And he is one year into his $228.6M/4 yr contract. Nice!
My critique of De’Aaron’s game is his 3 point shooting. He worked on it, he made it better, but during his time in Sacramento, it was frustratingly inconsistent and there were times when he persisted in hoisting them up regardless of an off night. The guy scored 60 points in an NBA game – he can score! Shooting 3 pointers… not so great.
I am using him as a reference as Kingston Flemings is oft compared to Fox, who is a two time All-Star. Flemings has purported to have a wonderful persona and is heralded as a floor general. Love it. If he ends up shooting somewhat like De’Aaron Fox I will be disappointed.
Today’s NBA game is about shooting as much as it is scoring. Given that we are on an even tier with Acuff, Flemings, Brown and Wagler – I am biased to going with someone who comes in with a known ability to shoot often and with accuracy. I also happen to be particularly enamored of tall PGs and KW (K-Dub?) is 6’6″. Me likey, makes me kinda giddy.
So if we’re going with the Flemings/ Fox comp, then the Acuff / Trae Young comp would be equally applicable? Of the two, which would you prefer?
My comp for Wagler is along the line of Austin Reaves. I would take Wagler if it were determined that he was the best player, but I have reservations that he is an NBA PG from day 1, so if he is the pick the hope would be that (a) the Kings clear the deck at shooting guard and (b) bring in a guard that can handle alongside him.
I see Wagler in the mold/role of someone like Devin Booker (not the outcome, just a comparison of the role). Can handle the ball a little bit, not a great creator but can make some plays, and probably won’t be the primary guy for a team. He makes solid decisions, usually within the structure of the offense. When it comes to “creating an assists” because he can manipulate the defense and pass people open, he just doesn’t really have that quality.
It will take a structured system to get him assists, and the Kings are into this “go hoop” style of offense which I don’t think is what Wagler will excel at doing.
I’ve seen comps for Wagler that include Austin Reaves, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton as well as a less athletic Brandon Roy and a better shooting version of Josh Giddey.
Who the heck knows? I sure as spit do not. I like the shooting, I like the height, he is often referred to as High BBIQ, and he was the lead guard for the Illini and though thin (180 lbs) they are known fighters (I added that last part).
The Ringer has his comps as Ty Jerome, Jason Preston, Caris Levert, Austin Reaves. With those comps, they have him rated 5th on their big board and being drafted 9th by the Mavericks.
Others have different views and spots for him to land. I think he will be solid for a team that knows how to use him.
A bit side tracked topic here:
The ratings and pundits. I can’t help myself – the Kangz have jaded me something fierce and that may be unrelated – but I tend to think the different evaluators place a good deal of bias as to either where they think someone will fit and/or where they want them to be. As we are referencing the franchise of Sacramento, they always get the loser bias (well deserved) but not as an objective a choice as could be.
Any of the point guards fit with the Kings because Sac has nothing. And as the brain trust of Sac saw fit – they don’t get their choice of the 5 guards (Acuff, Flemings, Wagler, Brown, Burries) they get the 3rd choice (unless Mara is picked early than expected). I will also add that these 5 have been up and down the scale from 5 to 9, changing week to week.
The Kangz fan in me expects that whichever two go highest on this board will be gone when the 7th choice rolls around and Sac will get the leftover. Might turn out for the best, but we are sad Sacs, after all. Not sayin’, just sayin’.
I now wonder of Mara rises far more than we are expecting because the other 29 GMs realize they are going to need size to combat Wemby for the next 10+ years. I read a report that the Clips may even take him at #5.
The LAC and Nets have a need at the 5, more so the Clippers. Nic Claxton ($97M/4 years started this last season) is going to be 26 next season and is constantly in trade talks. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see OKC trade up to the 5 or 6 to off load the now much maligned 3rd Team All-NBA Chet Holmgren and picks #12 and #17 (some propose this happens with Dallas).
Obviously, Mara at 5 or 6 puts the Kings in the position for Acuff or Wagler or Flemings – oh wait, that’s the same position. Unless you think whomever is left is the one you don’t want
Wouldn’t it be something if Perry has Mara atop his big board when the #7 hits and has the plethora of guards ranked below him. Does he take his BPA or not?
OKC trades up to replace Hartenstein. Holmgren remains. Hartenstein traded. Mara replaces Hartenstein.
I was just noting what one site had. The guards in that range of the draft are slotted to different teams, by various draft guys.
Some of that is actual intel from teams, others may be subjective about the player and team need. That being said, I expect Flemings, Acuff, Wagler, Brown to all go between 5-10, with maybe one of them slipping to 12 (Nets might think Mara fits, and choose to move Claxton, etc).
I like him as well. I’m on Flemings here, but would not bet a nickel on which one of Flemings, Acuff, Burries, Wagler or Brown will wind up being the best of the bunch.
For Darius Acuff, Jr. – the comps I have been seeing are more of a Jalen Brunson, Damian Lillard type than a Trae Young. There is also a Stephon Marbury (“Starbury”) comparison. I like those first two over the newly appointed Wizard type. I don’t have favorable memories of Starbury but that might be more an attitude.
I see a lot of Dame in Acuff, but I do like the Starbury comp, and yes for play style and not personality.
Marbury is way more athletic. Those guys you mention are his ceiling. Acuff’s floor is Jimmer.
I think it’s more likely that Flemings will be closer to Davion than Fox.
After those other picks,
Give me Flemings at six!
Like a choice between Hearns vs. Hagler
There is the battle of Flemings or Wagler
Still Wagler for me on this tier of so many guards.
I voted Acuff last round, but in reality, it is Kingston over Acuff for me. I watched an interview with him and he totally won me over with his analysis of the game and his personality. Plus, he defends. King Kingston is the way.
interview .. haha
Haha it’s not crazy to think personality should play a part, right? He seems likable, passionate, smart, etc. I dont know, I just feel like he would be a true leader in the locker room and Kelvin Sampson said the same.
I agree Tunel, I think if Flemings is the pick that he will quickly win over the fanbase with his attitude and personality.
Quickly winning over the fanbase? I don’t think that’s the primary goal here.
Interviews are part of the picture, for sure. I’m just laughing because I think people are placing too much weight on the interviews …
I’m not saying Flemings is a bad guy and he’s not a bad player either. I just think his defense is overrated and no-one has articulated a role on offense for him that would justify a #7 pick.
I think that how one interviews with an organization may be more important than an inch or two of wingspan, but I don’t laugh at those that think otherwise.
And the case for Flemings has been well articulated, both at a national level and here in the threads. You’re just not buying him, and that is 100% fine. You may very well wind up being right. Or wrong.
Yeah, and possibly more importantly that one actually is willing to meet with the team to do an interview.
I’d argue there are hours of film on every player, but a face to face meet and greet can go a long ways in determining one’s character.
In my quick research, two players the Kings never worked out or met with prior to the draft: Ben McLemore and Thomas Robinson. The very definition of falling knives. It pays to do your research. From what I can tell every other lottery pick has either interviewed, worked out, or both.
It’s good to know if a player can diagnose a play set, see what is happening and not happening on the court, know about his interests and how that fits with the team, etc.
It’s one part of the process. If the tape looks good and a team likes what they see, a good interview will inly fortify that position.
The main point of contention is whether or not he’ll be a plus defender. I am not buying that he’ll be one.
In terms of projected offensive role, I am not hearing predictions that he’ll be a primary initiator or a go-to scoring option. So I do not think that has been articulated in a way that would justify a top 10 pick.
Got it. You do no t believe the college D stats that show Flemings to be a plus defender to be legit. And you may be right. It may be system fueled. That said, the statistical evidence is there. You simply give it no credence, in the same way that you give Acuff’s lousy D stats no credence. And again, you may be right. Or not.
I have never discussed Acuff’s defense online.
And statistically, there is a good reason not to, if you like Acuff.
I think the fact that Flemings has already shown that he’s a smart player and a willing defender means a lot. He may end up being limited by his size, but I’d definitely take the bet that a small (-ish) college player who showed both defensive smarts and intensity, coupled with speed and quickness, will be a plus NBA defender. Nothing in the draft is certain, but I’d be more certain of Flemings as a plus defender than many things others seem to take for granted about other players in this draft.
I already discussed the point about Flemings’ defense on the prior thread. The reason for me bringing it up again here is to identify where the disagreement is, not to actually reargue it. If you are interested in my reasoning about this point, it is on the prior thread.
I think I’ll continue posting my thoughts on the thread that’s currently being read and commented on, but thanks for the input.
The Spurs famously care about things like this. It’s part of the reason they targeted Harrison Barnes and De’Aaron Fox. Both are high character, high intellect, team players. The Spurs have had more than a little lottery luck, but we can all see how much more successful they’ve been than the Kings, especially post-Geoff Petrie.
If you read my comments, I said interviews are part of the picture.
Personality’s important, but I care more about basketball-related attributes.
I kind of care about both. A $40b airport with a 10 cent control tower is not where I want to fly.
A $.10 control tower would presumably affect a player’s BBIQ, which is definitely a basketball attribute.
Coinflip for me on Wagler and Flemmings, so I’ll go with Wagler since he led them to a victory over Flemmings and Houston in the Sweet 16.
Yup, coin flip for me as well. I chose Wagler for size over Flemings, but would be happy with either. Burries would then be next for me. I currently have Brown Jr. last on the guard tier.
Same! I’d honestly be happy with either but the extra size is nice like you mentioned.
After Flemmings, I don’t know if I’ll have Burries before a F or C yet, but I also have him ahead of Brown. I want nothing to do with teenage back problems.
Nooooooooooo!!! RIP Rick Adelman. 🙁
Official statement from NBCA:
https://nbacoaches.com/nbca-mourns-the-passing-of-legendary-nba-head-coach-and-hall-of-famer-rick-adelman/
Damn. Owner of 8 of the Sacramento Kings 11 playoff appearances. Conductor of the golden age of Kings basketball. RIP, coach. You will be missed but never forgotten.
Shit. The season technically isn’t over, so this ices it as the worst season in Sac Kings history.
My heart goes out to his loved ones.
That’s awful. RIP. ????
Kings’ statement on Twitter:
https://x.com/SacramentoKings/status/2061584279721885780?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Put some memorial in the rafters. No other Kings coach has been remotely close to his success here.
On a different path: can you imagine if Coach Adelman had never been in Sacramento? Look at his predecessors and successors … we might never even had those 8 wonderful seasons to treasure.
8-8 playoffs for Coach Adelman.
3-33 for everyone else.
thanks for the great years of coaching the Kings. That team was amazing!
Adelman was a genius at getting maximum production out of his players. Especially his role players. Unlike every Kings team since then, players would come here and maximize their talents, and then often fall off after they left.
Guys like Scot Pollard, Keon Clark, Kevin Martin, Laurence Funderburke, Bonzi Wells, Ron Artest, Brad Miller and Jon Barry built or resuscitated careers, or had their best years with the Kings. Those teams were more than the sum of their parts, and almost every team since has been less.
Great coach, seemingly a good guy, and never sought to put the spotlight on himself. He just won games, both with the Kings and other teams. I agree that there should be some sort of memorial for the best coach in Sacramento Kings history.
I consider Wagler the 5th best prospect in the draft. His significant improvement over the course of a year from HS to college makes me think he has a lot of potential. I’m skeptical about Fleming’s potential due to his poor shooting during most of the Big 12 schedule & also b/c of his size.
Rick Adelman has passed away 🙁
Mara can be of immense help to defend Wemby.
I have Burries here as the most complete player. There simply aren’t any holes in his game. That being said I’d be fine with any of the guys left on the board. I think Peterson and Acuff are the most boom/bust guys in this draft. I feel like all five of the guys listed will at least be solid Pros.
Flemings because he posted outstanding results at the combine.
Here is the AI summary:
Shooting Drills
3-Point Star Drill: #1 overall. He paced the entire combine by sinking 19-of-25 deep balls, outperforming notable sharpshooters.
Shooting Off the Dribble: #2 overall. He knocked down 26-of-30 attempts, validating his dynamic pull-up game.
Athletic Testing
Shuttle Run: #2 overall. He clocked in at an explosive 2.69 seconds, showcasing elite lateral quickness and change-of-direction.
3/4-Court Sprint: Tied for #2 overall. He blazed down the court in 3.07 seconds, cementing his reputation as one of the fastest end-to-end guards in the draft class.
Max Vertical Jump: Top 5. He cleared 40.5 inches, providing elite vertical pop to combat his shorter standing reach.
Pro Lane Agility Test: Top 5. His fluid footwork translated cleanly into the agility gauntlet.
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