The Sacramento Kings traded into the first round Wednesday in the NBA Draft and selected Nique Clifford with the 24th overall pick. Clifford is a gritty, all-around wing who can score from anywhere, guard multiple positions and rebound well.
Let’s take a look at what some of the larger national outlets are giving the Kings in terms of a draft grade.
“With this move, the Kings earned a B grade for the first round of the 2025 draft. Of course, Clifford has high upside and should be an immediate help to the Kings on both sides of the ball. Despite this, Sacramento did trade away a solid pick in the 2027 draft and with their lack of future draft capital and the team stuck in an interesting place, it could end up backfiring for them. While that could end up being the case, Clifford was a great pick for the Kings, especially at where they got him as he will give them another great scorer and defender in their backcourt.”
“At 23 years old, former Colorado State star Nique Clifford is the oldest player we had projected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. He was born on the exact same day as Jalen Green, who is already on his second contract and has played professional basketball since 2020. But Clifford can immediately step on the court as one of the most versatile players in the class. He is a do-it-all player who should get minutes sooner rather than later.”
“Clifford is one of the best-prepared prospects in this class to play serious basketball immediately. It took five years of college to get here, but he steadily assumed more responsibility year-by-year until his on-ball responsibilities skyrocketed this past season, and his efficiency somehow jumped significantly along with them. Is his ceiling high? Hard to say. But the floor is great.”
“Clifford is part of a growing NBA trend: Drafting seniors who can step in now and help teams. He is a plug-and-play guard who can score, pass, and defend, a player who averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game last season and shot 37.7% from 3-point range. He can be a backup guard for the Kings next season.”
“It’s a very solid pick. Clifford is a versatile wing and a good athlete on the perimeter. He’s an excellent perimeter rebounder and a good passer and cutter. He became an NBA prospect because he made substantial gains with his shooting. If that’s sustainable, then he’ll prove to be a very solid NBA player for years to come.”
“Oklahoma City didn’t really have room for a second first-rounder on its roster, so shipping out this pick to Sacramento made sense. The Kings get an older plug-and-play piece on the wing in Clifford, who dominated as a fifth-year senior at Colorado State this season. He’s electric as a driver, has strong passing chops and improved his three-point shot at CSU.”
The average grade among these grades is a B+. It is a positive sign, but the proof will be when he actually steps on an NBA floor. It will make watching the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas fun this summer, which is from July 10-20. The Kings will not be participating in the California Classic.
Also, make sure you check out frequent commenter SPTSJUNKIE’s breakdown on Clifford as a prospect over at NBA Draft Network!
So during the draft I mentioned he was still on the board and the Kings got him. I like the move assuming the Kings are in rebuilding mode. It wouldn’t make sense that they are trying to win now and make this move. If the Kings fall below the top 16 in next years draft after having a better than expected year they lose next years first.
I hope they are able to move DDR soon and possibly score some more draft capital. There some good players still on the board. Remember Nemhard recently went in the second round.
That’s incorrect. We traded the Spurs 2027 first that we got in the Fox trade. Top 16 protected. One of the benefits of getting a 1st this year is that it opens up our 2027 1st to use in trades.
Last sentence should read:
One of the benefits of getting a 1st this year is that it opens up our
20272026 1st to use in trades.Why would it affect the ability to trade 2026 or 2027 pick? Stepien rule states you can’t trade future back to back years 1st rd picks. Since the Kings owed ATL their 2025 pick, they couldn’t trade 2026. But now that the pick has been conveyed and the draft is over. It resets automatically.
Yes 2027
F the national media with their lazy Kangz tak- oh wait.
I mean
Thank you for the shout out Blake! Excited to watch him in SL. Think he can be a good one for us.
Draft grades are like those guys who go on the radio to tell you who is going to win this weekends college football games…
“This week’s lock of the day is…”
I was a bit worried seeing him listed at 6’5″ with a pretty solid frame, but seeing how the NBA is moving toward a position-less league recently, we will need players who fit this role. Jalen Williams is 6’5″, Lou Dort is 6’4″ and built like a linebacker, Caruso is 6″5,’ and a player who does everything I’ve always wanted on the Kings’ roster, Josh Hart is 6″4′. Each of these players play as some kind of forward/big guard role on their teams and were very successful. Not sure if Clifford has the skills in him to be any of those players but these are the player types we need to draft and develop. It doesn’t take away from our need at point guard and power forward but hoping that will be addressed in free agency and trades.
Monte McNair compared Devin Carter’s play style to Derrick White and a few others that played in the 2024 postseason, and that hasn’t come to fruition yet. I hope Clifford works out.
Crazy that a rookie like Carter who played in a couple dozen games hasn’t reached his full potential yet.
“Hasn’t come to fruition yet”, that’s what I said.
I was watching the Bleacher Report stream as it was far more digestible than that ESPN clown show, or even the other ESPN-produced Windy show they were doing which was almost as bad.
Wasserman gave the Kings one of his only A+ grades of the draft. Funnily enough, the only other A+ grade was Jase Richardson who went right after Clifford.
Fleming off the board
https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3lska4rjlr222
Question: Would anybody else besides Adamsite and myself think Anthony Black would be our starting point guard for next season?
I’d prefer him to Schroder, but not sure how we’d get him.
I have a trade package that would bring Black to SAC and send J.V. out in another trade. Black a 6’7′ and young has already started some games for the Magic.Could be the Kings franchise guard for years to come. Saves us to use FA for another player like Santi Aldama is also young and is 6’11”, Great fit for power forward.
Trade: Malik Monk to the Magic for Anthony Black and Goga Bitadze. The Magic are already set at PG but need more scoring. Monk provides that and Goga is a good backup to Sabonis. Now we can trade J. V. for another younger player but that’s another trade.
This pick gives us something to look forward to. Hope he’s not another Colby Jones or Bruno Caboclo.
Badge Legend