One of the most important days of the NBA calendar for a Sacramento Kings fan has come and gone: the NBA draft lottery. The basketball gods were once again not on Sacramento’s side this year, and thus the Kings will be selecting 9th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. This was the same position the Kings were slated to select pre-lottery, so I suppose it could have been worse.
An official draft order means a fresh round of NBA mock drafts from all the big draft nerds. Let’s take an early look at who they are predicting for the Sacramento Kings at 9:
ESPN Jonathan Givony
9. Franz Wagner | Michigan | SF | Age: 19.8
39. Juhann Begarin | Paris | SG | Age: 18.8
You can check out ESPN’s full NBA mock draft here.
The Ringer Kevin O’Connor
9. Scottie Barnes | Florida State | PF/SF | Age: 19.8
You can check out The Ringer’s full NBA mock draft here.
The Athletic Sam Vecenie
9. Keon Johnson | Tennessee | SG/SF | Age: 19.1
39. Kessler Edwards | Pepperdine | SF/PF | Age: 20.8
You can check out The Athletic’s full NBA mock draft here.
Tankathon
9. Jalen Johnson | Duke | SF/PF / Age: 19.4
39. Filip Petrusev | Mega Bemax | PF/C | Age: 21.1
You can check out Tankathon’s full NBA mock draft here.
Kings Pulse Brenden Nunes & Bryant West
9. Jalen Johnson | Duke | SF/PF / Age: 19.4
You can listen to the entire Kings Pulse mock draft here.
Bleacher Report Jonathan Wasserman
9. Jalen Johnson | Duke | SF/PF / Age: 19.4
39. Kessler Edwards | Pepperdine | SF/PF | Age: 20.8
You can read Bleacher Report’s full NBA mock draft here.
Sports Illustrated Jeremy Woo
9. Franz Wagner | Michigan | SF | Age: 19.8
39. B.J. Boston | Kentucky | SG | Age: 19.5
You can read SI’s full NBA mock draft here.
If you’ve got any other interesting mock drafts to share, feel free to drop them for your Kings fan brethren in the comments below.
They all misspelled Ben Simmons.
I can haz Been Simmons?
I can’t believe I just upvoted a photo of a cat.
I don’t know if it will involve Simmons, but I fully expect the Kings not to be making the #9 pick. Unless they’re making it for someone else, of course.
One can hope. Just seems like ideal year and situation to make a trade for an established player using that pick.
II know, our TKH-member-voted big board is likely to end up as an even more pointless exercise than usual this year!
Sengun!
https://apple.news/AYeVrb98dTQ6VtHHHQ9Ll4g
agree- Sengun
SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell thinks we’re taking Moses Moody at 9. In fact, he argues that he could see Moody going as high as five if teams trust his jump shot. As is, he has Barnes at 5, Kuminga at 6, and Jalen Johnson at 7; if that played out, I’d definitely be ok with taking Moody (if we don’t trade the pick).
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2021/6/22/22539039/nba-mock-draft-2021-instant-first-round-picks-detroit-pistons
I’m told that the great Patton Oswalt himself will be mocking this draft and the Sacramento Kings with great verve and gusto.
Spencer (Spence) Olchin in my book.
Can someone explain to the hype behind Keon Johnson, because I’m just not seeing it.
I much prefer Jalen as my Johnson.
Keon is a ++ athlete with a keen interest in defensive effort. His offense is…how do they say it…a work in progress.
The difference between K & J is that with the former you’re getting a known motor guy, while the latter has upside but also a very unknown/suspect half court offensive game.
They’re such different players that it’s hard to compare them. To some degree they’re opposites. Keon is all athleticism and effort, but his skills and size are mediocre. Jalen has prototypical size and some uncommon skills for that size, but the mentality is a question mark and he merely a good athlete.
Agreed.
Your Johnson may vary.
I was in the pool! I was in the pool!
*comparing Keon’s height listed in college to his combine measurement*
there was significant….shrinkage…
He was probably thinking about baseball.
Need help on the (sch)wing.
My Johnson also lacks prototypical size but I try to make up for it with effort (and a flashy car).
Keon with the record setting 48 vertical jump at the combine. The next Lavine, or the next Harold Miner?
I thought Joe Alexander was the poster boy of Combine stars – actual NBA busts?
Nice pull on that one – I had completely forgotten about that guy.
Jalen is the better Johnson but his head is crooked. A Johnson with a bad head. I worry that Keon is Dion Waiters, Winslow etc. Can’t shoot.
The bad head Johnson can’t shoot either but is good in “open court” which means comes playoffs, he disappears.
Wagner is better but has suspect shot ( theme here), good defender and passer but ceiling is starter role player. Kings need a star. Moody maybe but he disappears too
Sengun- high ceiling ( great stats in tough league) and low floor- can he defend out on the perimeter. if not, then gets exploited. Giddey is a bit high at 9 but he does pass exceptionally well. Same theme- can’t shoot. Kispert shoots but cannot defend at all.
Warriors are at 7 and 14. Also likely to win back to back championships before the Kangz figure out how to tank.
I think the Warriors move those picks along with someone like Wiggins or Wiseman to land a star player for one last run.
My gut, which is admittedly full of shit, tells me that GS may want to hang onto Wiseman, but that could change, depending on who might be available. I’d bet that Dallas would take the picks and Wiggins to get clear of Porzingis, but I’m not sure if the Warriors would want KP. Still, he’d need to carry far less playing along a healthy Golden State roster, so it seems that I’ve talked myself in circles and have nothing of value to add.
Yeah, I’m not a fan of Wiseman and Green on the floor together, but could definitely see Green and Zinger sharing the court. I expect some fireworks from the Warriors this summer as I think they know their window is closing and they may look to go all in for the next few seasons.
I agree. I think the Warriors view the west as up for grabs and will go all in on win now moves, they owe it to Curry, Klay and Green. At least one of those picks is traded as well as Wiseman.
I think they could use Barnes as part of a new death lineup.
I too think they could use Barnes, but that would mean the Kings taking either Wiggins or Green, and money would be on the Warriors wanting to dump Wiggins.
IF the Warriors offered Wiggins, #7, and #14 for Barnes and #9, do the Kings bite?
I like this deal. Assuming the W’s would even entertain it, a lot would hinge on who was available at 7 that the Kings could nab. If Scottie Barnes were available by 7, I’d love this.
You probably have to throw in Bagley to make the salaries work and maybe the 39 for leveling, but I would do it.
If we’re going to deal Barnes to Golden State, then I absolutely would want to get Draymond in return. He’s like Ben Simmons, but with confidence.
I think the Kings do if for no other reason than to flip those picks for a star. But if the Kings can flip those assets for a win now star, why wouldn’t the Warriors just do that themselves?
What “star” or significant player could they get with the #7, #14 and likely Wiggins? Getting salaries to be close would be tough.
Maybe Indy for Myles Turner and T.J Warren?
Good question, and I don’t know the answer. But I think they can probably do better than Harrison Barnes.
Turner and Brogden more likely
yes
there will be a player at 7 and another, lesser one at 14. Wiggins probably valued more than Barnes- duds would never do this.
Agree that the Warriors will likely use the picks to land an immediate contributor. They live in the now instead of constant potential.
yes, duds want to make one last run. Will part with anyone not named Curry or klank or ?Green. I suspect that they will have to give up value in order to make this trade- there are very limited teams with what they want. All bad teams are empty, good teams want their stars and are not building- leaves middle teams. One of them has to decide to jettison a star for a potential future, joining OKC, Orlando, Houston, SAS and Cavs at bottom of tank. Minnesota, Memphis , Kings, Hornets and Charlotte all want to move up, not down.
I bet no trade partners and a bifurcated team or a draft of older guys- Mitchel, Kispert etc. Doubt they reach again for young potential.
Jason Jones selected Davion Mitchell in a writer’s mock for the Athletic, because the best way to improve Fox’s point of attack defense is by replacing him, apparently.
Mitchell really does look like he might be a lot of fun as a pro, but Sacramento has less need for guards, particularly ones so undersized. He’s an amazing defender, but giving away half-a-foot to a lot of guards will be tough to compensate for. He has decent potential to be pretty special as a sixth man, but I don’t know if that justifies a top ten selection.
If Terence Davis is not in the plans, Davion Mitchell could make sense. I hope we move Buddy for a late first.
This is a really good point, Davis can be kept for less than what the #9 selection will be paid, and has the length and skill to be solid at both ends. That seems like both the smarter and safer option than getting Mitchell.
Unless someone unexpectedly slides, the pick is trade fodder IMO. I don’t see anybody commonly mocked in the 9-15 range that I have to have. Or would even prefer to have over a couple late-1st/early-2nd guys.
BHE, since you follow Nova, and we had a good discussion about Saddiq Bey last year, I want to know your thoughts about Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
He’s a guy I want to like more than I do. He’s a smart, mature, unselfish glue guy type. But when watching him, I’m just generally underwhelmed. On defense he works hard, has mostly good technique (though he gets blown by on closeouts WAY too often), and generally gets to the right places to be a positive team defender. But his lack of lateral quickness, length and explosion are regularly on display. He really struggles in space at times and isn’t much of a factor defending the rim. On offense, he’s a smart player, good ball mover, and good positional player. He’s a somewhat common story of a guy that is a big in college, but is probably going to have to become more of a perimeter player in the NBA since he doesn’t have the size to defend NBA-level bigs nor the length and/or athleticism to make up for giving up a couple-few inches. As such, when we start to look at those perimeter skills, we see that his handle is mediocre and I’m not a big believer in his shot. I think he needs some mechanical adjustments, but even then, there’s a worrying lack of touch on his outside shot. He really had a dip in his shooting between his freshman and sophomore year that I haven’t seen much of an explanation for. Ultimately, I think he’s a worthwhile guy to consider at that #39 slot and could potentially carve out a rotation role similar to what we see from a guy like Kenrich Williams (though Kenrich does it as more of a SF, while Jeremiah will do it from the PF slot).
Okay. I won’t get my hopes up. But if that outside shot comes around, I think he could be a good PF for many of the reasons you said.
agree with analysis- he is not Bey or Bridges.
Second round- K. Edwards, JT Thor or the Euro Prackin ( spelled incorrectly I know)Want talent to slip down to 39. There are guards there but Kings don’t need guards.
I have pick 39 Kessler Edwards ranked higher than all the guys mocked at 9.
Sorry, Kessler looked pretty stiff in the bits of the combine I watched. 2nd round might be about right for him. Apparently Bones Hyland impressed though.
I’d be over the moon if we got Scottie Barnes. In orbit if we got Wagner or Senguen. After those, trade down for more picks or package with Buddy.
agree: Barnes first, Sengun 2nd and Wagner third. at 9.
Veddy interesting:
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1407771920733401089
Meanwhile, in Sacramento:
&ct=g
He has the same vacant look in his postgame pressers.
He has the same vacant look
in his postgame pressers.The guys played hard¦.
We know what we need to do¦.
The defense will improve as the guys play more games and learn the system¦.
I can’t tell if he is wearing a mask.
he is. the “I am dumb” mask.
I always liked Ime. Nice to see a former King (2009-10) become a head coach. I wish him luck.
For his role in that 35 pt. comeback vs. Chicago alone, I will always hat tip Ime.
Hittin’ two three’s in a row to cut the Bulls lead to like four I think.
I love Udoka, and this was overdue. When he played here, I don’t know, seventy years ago, it was easy to see that he had the kind of mind one needs to be a good coach. He’s paid his dues in the coaching ranks, so this is a great hire.
It’s also nice that, assuming nothing gigantic happens, Udoka will have a pretty good roster of players to implement his plans.
Alperen Sengun or Ben Simmons please.
Assuming we don’t trade the pick, I think we end up with either Jalen Johnson or Scottie Barnes.
Barnes goes 5 or 6. Could get Jalen, the Johnson with no head.
Went one year to Duke, multiple prep schools, athletic, ? attitude- remind you of someone named Bagley?
This has to be the most polarizing draft in years. In the other thread, some said this draft was weak after the top 4, but at the beginning of the year ppl were exciting at how stacked this draft was and understandably so.
Jalen Johnson, Ziaire Williams, and BJ Boston have fallen considerably, but they respectively dealt with injury, tragedy, and bad point guard play.
Just how does a draft go from stacked to weak after the top 4? General question for the public because this outlook will be a big factor in whether we trade the pick or not. This could be the best year to be in that mid lottery-mid 1st range.
Btw imo if we keep the pick and Jalen Johnson is there, we take him.
I’d be happy with JJ, snug fit a long Fox and Hali.
I think it goes back to predictions that the ncaa would remove the requirement of one year in college, so there would be one-and-doners plus the top guys out of HS. First they said 2019 would be the year, then 2020, then 2021, and then the idea got shelved, but there was top tier talent like Cade, Mobley and Green, so they stayed with the hype. But as the year went on, most tempered the hype after the top few guys. Additionally, since everyone has been entering the draft early, there are less upper classmen which lowers the value of picks because a lot of these guys are raw and are marketing themselves based on flashes.
From what I’ve been able to gather listening to Veciene’s game theory podcast, is that the combination of a very strange NCAA season. As well as the decisions of some players to go alternative routes that haven’t been as available in the recent past. Results in the evaluators seeing a lot of projects vs finished pieces as far as college finished or overseas pro finished.
Also a factor that I thought was interesting that he brought up with a guest he had on was that last years draft as well as 2018 screwed a lot of scouts and evaluators. Meaning 2018 they undervalued and last year they overvalued the wrong talent. He event pointedly brought up Hali as well as Bey being undervalued and over scouted.
This year they are being more conservative but while also really putting in solid work they are finding holes where before they thought it would be more solid, thus the now dropping feeling amongst evaluators.
Also after hearing his eval of Keon makes me love that guy. He’s basically a SF version of Holmes and what he was scouted as in the league. Give me an athlete with heart and some blemishes over the amazing talent but a developing head add of the other Johnson.
Can’t edit but meant headcase*.
Undersized and probably a backup? Don’t get me wrong both are high level athletes but Keon Johnson is not quite ready for primetime. Kings need help immediately.
The buddy, bagley and #9 for Simmons isn’t enough. It’d have to be more a long the lines of Buddy, Barnes #9 and we’d have to take some salary to match.
I’d still do it, buying low on a star that is under contract is the only way we’re obtaining talent.
A core of Fox, Hali and Simmons is intriguing.
I don’t think that Philly lets Simmons go for a poo poo platter. At a bare minimum he would cost the Kings the 9, Hali and a future 1st.
My blind arse guess is that he winds up in Portland for CJ McCollum (2% chance of happening), or in Minny for D’Lo and a pick (1% chance of happening).
I agree with the original premise probably, but curious why Minny gets to trade Russell and one pick and Kings have to trade Hali and 2 picks.
Is Russell a perceived better asset than Hali right now? On a 30 million a year contract? Unrestricted there after…Hali is in restrictive control for years. Thinking Minny would have to give more than that if the Kings had to give up what you listed.
I think that D’Lo makes Philly better faster than the Kings deal, and that would be an emphasis for them. You want to apples-to-apples it? You’re back to offering Fox and a pick if you want to be in the neighborhood of matching D’Lo and a pick.
Yeah Hali might be a more 2-3 year plan vs just next year. But I don’t think D’Lo appreciably improves Philly without Simmons.
But like you said 1% chance.
Minny got D-Lo to keep KAT happy- he ain’t going nowhere.
I think that overvalues Simmons. I am not against trading for Simmons, but only on the basis that his value is at it nadir, and that is not #9 + somebody who could should have gone top 5 in 2020 +and even odds 2022 lottery pick. Not only are those greater assets than Smmons, they are probably also cheaper.
Philly is a 50+ win team over the past three seasons with Simmons on the team. The question/issue is whether they can take the next step with the team as currently constructed. I doubt that they have any interest in taking a step backwards and accepting a package that is less than his current value to the team. And while he has some glaring holes in his game, he is also a willing and capable passer and one of the better and more versatile defenders in the league. Worth his contract? Questionable. Worth more than a team’s spare parts and picks? Absolutely.
The market will give us the answer. I think that Morey may be right when he says that there are a couple of dozen NBA teams that wish they had Philly’s “problems.”
For sure. Philly’s “problem” is figuring out how to take the step from “#1 seed in the playoffs” to an NBA championship.
I wonder what that’s like?
For sure, they are about a “former star taking the vet’s minimum away to chase a title” away from an NBA Championship. Kyle Lowry to do a lot for them.
I really want to edit your comment to remove the extra ‘away’. Mods, please redesign the site to allow us all to edit each other’s comments.
Sadly, I think the Pistons make the playoffs before the Kings. Pistons would have gone from playoffs, to tear down, to rebuild, to playoffs while the Kings struggle to make a 10 seed for years.
They will have:
Hayes
Cunningham
Bey
Grant
Stewart
Not a bad way to start their resurgence.
They also have a clean cap sheet going forward. Their biggest contract is Grant’s and is only $40M guaranteed over the next two seasons.
And the Kings are capped out and (probably?) looking to add win now vets.
Bleacher Report has a trade idea for the Kings at 9: Bagley, Woodard, #9 and a lottery protected 2022 1st for Jonathan Isaac. Injury makes that risky, but Isaac would be an interested add and a huge defensive upgrade at the least. Not sure in Orlando does that though.
I wouldn’t do this…coming off that ACL and he’s played about as many games as Marvin in career. Bagley, Woodard and one pick. Maybe.
Also fantastic writing from Bleacher Report in trading back to back 1st round picks, which you can’t do, unless you have received another first from another team somewhere.
Technically, I believe it could be done, but it would have to be on/after draft day (the Kings making the pick on behalf of the other team).
Yeah your right. Good point.
Would give the Magic 5, 8 and 9. Lot of rookies if not packaging them all.
Wow that’s a LOT to give for 1 player who is as injury prone as Bagley. HARD PASS!
No
goodnes, NO.
Isaac is hurt all the time. Has not proven a thing.
Alperen Sengun!
Gesundheit!
yes
The question is whether McNair can pull rabbit out of his hat two years in a row.
I don’t think he pulled anything out of his hat, one simply landed in his lap.
I’d still love to know who would have been the choice if Haliburton wasn’t there.
Greg wrote such a good article about this in the Bee today that I think he forgot to change the byline to TJ.
Hope is not a plan.
the rabbit jumped in his lap and he was happy.
All things draft:
Top 6 are set- Cade, Mobley, Suggs, Green, Kuminga and Barnes. duds got hosed when moved from 6 to 7. If they want BPA- K. Johnson, Mitchel, Moody. Too much risk at 7- BPA’s are all too young for them. They will want to trade 7, 14 and maybe Wiseman for a proven vet. They could use a PF and want shooters. They do not want to part with stephie, klank or Day-day. Wiggins maybe. They want guards that can shoot and a talented big. The bottom teams have bare cupboards, the top teams want to keep their stars, the middle teams may be interested if they want to tank but interest is limited to about 5-6 teams with the right players ( stars) that the duds want coupled with a desire to trade. Raptors and Siakem were a possibility but not now. I think they will try and fail at trading, like last year. The window is closing. In that case, Mitchell, Kispert and maybe Wagner are their best bets- the first and last here at 7 and Kispert at 14. They may end up with a bifurcated team- young on the one hand and older on the other. They could get desperate and take a bad deal. They would like Siakem, Sabonis or Beal- that level.
Kings- 9 is a tough spot- there are lots of possibilities: K. Johnson ( can’t shoot), Wagner (low ceiling), J. Johnson ( what is in his head?), Moody ( a little stiff), Mitchel or Bouknight (Kings have guards) . That leaves Sengun- high ceiling, low floor. No defense but defense will not be improved by taking a defensive player just for defense. Defense is scheme, coaching, desire and some ability. duds won’t take Sengun at 7, Orlando may at 8. I would not take Sengun to replace Holmes because Sengun is not ready. Perhaps a trade of Barnes or Bagley or Buddy frees space for Holmes and gets more younger (?future) assets.
Not sure that trading 7 gets much- Kings want a player around the age of Fox.
Both the duds and Kings face big complex decisions this off season.
BTW- Simmonds was exploited in play offs- this will continue. Book is out on him- don’t trade for that problem.
Badge Legend