The Sacramento Kings won more games than they should have down the stretch of the season, which didn’t allow them to secure the worst record in the league. This then removed the protection of ensuring a top-5 pick in what many think is one of the best drafts the NBA has ever seen, which resulted in them getting the 7th pick in the NBA Lottery Sunday.
Now that we got that out of the way, let’s see who the latest national mock drafts have the Kings selecting with that pick.
Bleacher Report: Kingston Flemings
Though the Kings are going to miss out on the core four players at the top of stacked draft, it could be worse – they could have got the 8th or 9th pick. And they still have a chance at getting a solid point guard in the spot they are in. Acuff and Flemings are largely considered the top two options at the position, along with Keaton Wagler (slightly more of a combo guard). The Kings also technically do not have a point guard right now. So, there is that.
Acuff can score at all three levels. He can hit threes (44%), has a nice pull-up midrange shot, and a floater game. On offense, he plays under control within his own pace and doesn’t get sped up. He can get where he wants and get his shot off through isolation self-creation. He is a high-volume, efficient scorer.
All of that led to 23.5 points per game with Arkansas.
He can get his teammates involved as well – his lob passes are very fun to watch. He averaged 6.4 assists last season. Pair that with just 2.2 turnovers per game in 35 minutes per game and he projects to be able to lead an offense.
On defense, he has issues that can’t be ignored. His instincts and awareness on that side of the ball aren’t anywhere close to what they are on offense. Navigating screens are an issue and many have questioned his effort. Some reports have indicated the team that drafts him will need to put the right defensive infrastructure in place to support him.
When you think defensive infrastructure, you think Kings, so we’re good there.
Acuff’s ability to score from all over the court and his tough mentality on offense do make it seem as though he has true star potential, despite his defensive flaws.
Flemings might not have the offensive game that Acuff has but he brings more on the defensive side of the ball. So, let’s start there: Flemings can get into passing lanes and deflect shots, has good off-ball instincts and speed and a strong motor that adds up to solid point-of-attack tools. He averaged 1.5 steals per game. At 6’4’’ he has the potential to be able to defend both guard spots. Though he might need to add some strength to handle the physicality of the NBA game, but that is what pretty much every rookie has to adjust to.
On offense, his speed and footwork allow him to break down defenders pretty easily. The first-step is fast and he is slippery with the ability to slip through defenses. He can maintain the handle at high speeds and gets his shot up at the rim. His pull-up game must be respected and while he didn’t attempt a lot threes, he shot them well when he did (38%). He averaged 16.1 points last season with Houston.
While he can get to the rim a lot, he does sometimes have trouble finishing. He also only averaged 3.5 free throw attempts per game, meaning foul drawing on all of those speedy drives isn’t translating. And his slim frame could be playing a factor with him avoiding contact.
His passing is a highlight of his game. He can hit overhead outlets, live-dribble bounce passes, push passes and find cutters and rollers easily. He averaged 5.2 assists per game
Flemings does not have the high-volume scoring output that Acuff has on offense, but Acuff doesn’t have the defensive prowess Flemings has.
Either of these guys will fill a need on this Kings roster and be fun to watch, but the bottom line remains: In one of the best drafts in years the Kings are going to miss out AJ Dybansta, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson. It was a nice thought while it lasted though.
Badge Legend