With the 54th pick in the NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings selected Jalen Slawson, a 6’7″ forward from Furman.
Slawson was a 5th-year senior who averaged 15. 6 points per game, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and shot 39% from 3.
Beyond that, I’ll be honest, we don’t know much about this kid. I’m sure we’ll learn more in the days and weeks to come, but at this point we don’t have a lot of in-depth analysis.
What I can say is that Slawson is an older rookie and presumably a more complete player and not a project. He may be able to provide some wing depth, he has good size. Aside from that, time will tell.
Monte McNair’s record with second round picks has been spotty at best, and plenty of Kings fans will be mad that McNair passed on Trayce Jackson-Davis who was still on the board, but ultimately I have a hard time being overly upset about a 54th overall pick.
Good luck to Jalen, and welcome to Sacramento!
Yeah, I would’ve preferred TJD or Tubelis from Arizona
Get Vegas invites to: KJ Williams, Adama Sanogo, Oscar Tshiebwe.
Sanogo is a guy I like a lot. If he’d been 6’10’ instead of 6’8″, I think he goes in the top twenty.
He’s already been picked up by the Bulls on a 2-way.
Colby was a good get I suppose since alot of sites had him rated as a 1st round talent. I know alot on here were ok with him at 24, so in the 2nd and on an even cheaper rookie contract not a bad pick. Probably takes TD role?
Jalen Slawson, I have no idea. Probably end of bench but you never know til the games are played. Not too mad or excited about 2nd rounders in general so we’ll see.
Overall, pretty underwhelming though. Waited and watched every pick, just to trade out of our spot with lots of talent still on the board. I hope Monte has something up his sleeve with opening up the cap space. I’m sure he does and we’ll all be surprised when he makes a big trade or signing in the coming weeks.
whole thing was one big let down. Oh, look at Grady’s red coat!- what a bunch of horseshit.
I wonder how much of this is recalibration on our part – do we need to learn to draft watch in a post-lottery world?
These are the teams with viable cap space right now:
Rockets – $61m
Jazz $47m
Spurs – $39m
Kings – $36m
Pacers – $32m
Pistons – $30m
Magic – $24m
Notice something? The Kings are the only team in that group to make the playoffs last year. We kind of had our cake last year and we get to eat in free agency, too.
If last night’s moves result only in an extension for Domas and re-signing Barnes, I will admit that I will be a bit disappointed. But if we wind up with (say) Josh Hart and Naz Reid, I will be overjoyed with the net of the off season.
The net of the off season. I think that is a thing now. For the past decade and a half it has really been about the draft and the draft only. But now I think that the Kings have built something that free agents might warm to. Certainly you have the opportunity to put up career best numbers in this system, and play with willing and selfless teammates. If the money is there, who wouldn’t come here?
I think that the current environment is to look at the off season globally, and that the draft is just the first piece. Last night, the Kings drafted a potential core rotation player / future piece in Jones while clearing cap room for hopeful roster improvements. I would have liked (say) Sensabaugh, Cissoko and TJD last night, but if we wind up with Jones, Hart and Reid (or similar) I will be much happier. On the other hand, if it’s just Jones and maybe Vez and re-signing Barnes, I will be a little bummed.
Thanks RH for the balanced opinion on last night. I don’t know how any Kings fan could not be happy with last night’s results.
We were one of the best teams last year and we’re now top five in cap space. A ton of good FA’s to go after that can help us win now as opposed to a #24 pick who likely doesn’t help in year 1 if ever.
My hope is we net with that cap space an ideal starting PF next to Sabonis and a defensive wing. I’m perfectly fine and prefer not shooting for the fences for someone like OG or Pascal.
I agree with you, getting players like Reid or Hart would definitely vindicate the strategy we’re seeing based on the draft. And the situation in Sacramento with a fun team being run by a coach who is nearly impossible to dislike? I really hope that free agents look at how things have played out for Monk, and also Huerter, and give strong consideration to being part of something good, and making it even better.
It’s always possible that free agency doesn’t pan out, but if the space ends up being used to eat a large contract for a good player before the deadline, that could work out nicely.
(Tobias Harris comes to mind, polarizing as his contract is. Just one year left on his deal, and he stretches the floor as a PF. His OReb numbers aren’t great, but I’d think playing beside Embiid will put a dent in your stats. Brown lit a fire under Keegan, maybe he can do the same for Harris.)
[At some point, a parenthetical becomes so lengthy that it should probably have been its own comment.]
{Over the next 10-12000 words, I will explain in great detail}
I think you make a really good point Adam, in that unless there is a target that McNair and Brown are just absolutely coveting, then I hope McNair keeps operating at the pace he has been, and leaving some flexibility to absorb money during the season.
The economy of the NBA has changed so much over the last couple of years, it is literally impossible to predict who might become available.
Lookimg at the upcoming free agents this year, Monte drafted guys that are more experienced and ready to play. Also having cap flexibility this season means he’s ready to be active in the FA market. I would be overjoyed if Monte signs Josh Hart and Naz Reid but I would like it if he still trades for an OG Anunoby or a PJ Washington (maybe using Davion and Huerter as trade chips), that’ll really put Sacramento into contender status this upcoming season.
Just imagine our roster this upcoming season:
Fox, Hart, Murray, Anunoby/Washington, Sabonis
Monk, Jones, Edwards, Ellis, Barnes, Reid, Lyles, Slawson, Queta.
First thing that crossed my mind after we cleared $30M in cap space is the Kings will sign Kuzma in FA. I think Monte will also try to sign Naz Reid as a backup to Sabonis. I do not think Sasha will come over this off season which I’m okay since I think Lyles is a much better option and player. That’s my prediction.
The awesome Jillian Adge (@jilladge) is very fond of Slawson, and shared a neat tweet from No Ceilings NBA— of the 13 forwards on their 60-player draft board, Slawson is top-five in: ppg, rpg, apg, spg, bpg, fg%, 3pt%, ft%, and efg%. He’s the only forward in their board to do that.
Slawson is an older player in his fifth year at a small school. He’s also very well-rounded, passionate, a capable disrupter and defender, and long (7 ft wingspan and 8’10 standing reach). His profile indicates that he’s not likely to make it to the bench, much less be a role-player, starter or star. But his profile fits what Monte likes, and if you’re going to take a shot on older small-school players late in the second-round, Slawson seems exactly like the type of player you should take a shot on.
Slawson, or Slamson with an upside down “M”, is already used to wearing purple, as the pic at the top shows. He was likely picked as a TWC candidate – if he impresses more, than maybe he sits at the end of Mike Brown’s bench.
Colby Jones is projected to be a 2nd unit hopeful this season. He too might be a Stockton King as much as a Sacramento one. We’ll see what Anjali thinks I guess. Without being a FRP, he is not going to get guarantee money.
It is going to be a long week and a day before Free Agency opens (30 June) and we find out where McGenius is directing his $36M cap space (free agency signings can start to be finalized on 6 July – that’s two weeks away).
Slawson is a great pick in the 2nd round. I sort of had him and Sidy Cissoko at a similar ranking because of how they contest shots and their physicality on D. Slawson is also a good rebounder. he’s not far off from a Matt Barnes type of player.
Colby Jones is not a bad pick either. Most pundits gave him a 1st round grade and compared him to Josh Hart.
I was wanting to sell back the 24mm prime lens anyway. too much distortion. and I’m not a vlogger.
As long as he can make f-stops on defense, that’d be picture-perfect.
I don’t think it’s so black and white. If we filter out the negatives, we’ll see how he does when given more exposure.
Eddie- see my comments above or below- about Slawson. Now sign Oscar as an undrafted guy.
Furman ran a Princeton style offense, which is similar to what the Kings run. Slawson looks like he can run some DHOs, can back cut, and is a good defender. His shot seems not the best, but does a lot of other things well.
great draft pick based on fit.
I liked TJD here, but the Kings worked TJD out and still went with Slawson. They kicked the tires and took the kid from Furman. Hard to second guess this FO right now…dammit!
I’m a fur-man, myself.
Paladin ’til you puke!
and the duds traded last years late first round Patrick Baldwin for the #57 TJD.
I suspect that he just does not fit what Monte wanted and the duds think he is like a Looney (tunes)
An apology to Eddie41 on his and my comments on Jalen Slawson. He liked him. I did not. Monte liked him. Eddie is right.
I hope Kings get Oscar as an undrafted guy for summer league.
Impressions on draft night: Kings solved 2 of their issues by absolutely dumping the Holmes salary (and man does that cost) and second, by getting a bigger combo guard.
Still need backup for DS (TJD is talking trash today about being passed up) and more length, athleticism on the wing ( I thought OMP was that guy)
But have lots of cap money- more, in fact, that other rivals. Hope that’s good and is useful.
The TV coverage was terrible. No explanation for the trade at #24, no comments on the #4-38 trade and I thought the Kings had Walsh.
Lots of hype. Little substance, poor analysis and JJ can just go home.
Kings will get poor draft analysis grades. Monte will not care. While I suspect that Jones makes the “big team” and Slawson is in Stockton, there are still many openings on the roster. This is not play it back off season.
You build through draft, trades and free agency. I think Jones will be a building block – now let’s see what happens with all that cap space, free agency and trades. This draft seems to set up the other two roads.
In regards to a backup to Sabonis, the Kings currently don’t have another center on the roster. That definitely needs to be addressed. The Kings desperately need size.
One guy who went undrafted but could be a solid camp invite or even a two-way player is Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe. The dude is a beast on the glass. I’m really surprised no one selected him.
Monte has his work cut out for him. Kings need a legit 4 and a legit backup big. Only 7 guys under contract right now (8 if you count Dozier’s non-guaranteed deal). If the Kings sign their 2nd round picks to regular deals that’s 10 at most. Teams need 13 at a minimum.
Monte has his work cut out for him. Kings need a legit 4 and a legit backup big. Only 7 guys under contract right now (8 if you count Dozier’s non-guaranteed deal). If the Kings sign their 2nd round picks to regular deals that’s 10 at most. Teams need 13 at a minimum.
That’s why I think it’s better to spread the cap space out over multiple good players as opposed to trying to sign a big name which would come at a big price.
Agreed.
I think it is important to have multiple fungible contracts as well to be able to easily facilitate moves as the season progresses and the landscape changes due to injuries and teams under/over perform.
The TV coverage was terrible. No explanation for the trade at #24, no comments on the #4-38 trade and I thought the Kings had Walsh.
That was the worst draft coverage I’ve seen in my life. There should be three or four networks covering the draft so we don’t have to be beholden to ESPN. Even Bilas who I love seemed completely off and unprepared last night.
Bring Bilas back next year, but shit can the other three. They were absolutely terrible.
JJ Reddick openly mentioned not having seen any footage on a couple different first rounders. Absolutely embarrassing.
Seconded. After the announcement, and based on the reporting, it wouldn’t have been difficult to conclude that Sacramento had sent OMP and Holmes to Dallas for absolutely nothing.
The other thing that was annoying, was when you’d the the graphic “The pick is in” in the corner, and then the coverage would yammer on for another 5-6 minutes. Either cut to Silver, or don’t put up the graphic. ESPN, even with all of their talent, is still terrible.
Reddick was an idiot- kept talking about himself. Bilas was not engaged- his role was the sardonic one liner from the side, like an old ugly uncle at Thanksgiving dinner. The other two? did not even get their names – Janae? – I was just not familiar and, as such, did not value their thoughts and opinions. I wanted (stupid me) a show about the NBA draft- who this guy is- why is he a good/bad pick, what is this team thinking. But instead, I got repeated interviews about my mother and father are my best friends and biggest supporters (what else are you going to say, youngster? )
None of the 4 addressed the important questions- who, why and what the fuck?
Entertainment for the masses, not information for the partially informed.
I would have loved to have enjoyed this with real informed basketball fans.
They made the evening longer and less enjoyable. They might as well hire Kyle Draper.
On the topic of longer, I remember the drafts to take no longer than 3 hours to be completed but this one was well over 4. Am I imagining things?
I also wanted to resign Holmes a few years ago (like most people on this site) and the team just lost a 1st rounder to dump his salary. wrong there! Great recovery by MM to then get a player at 34 who we all thought was a 1st rounder. A lot of commenters on this site wanted Colby at 24.
The Col Slaw rookie combo should be fun to watch in Summer League.
can never go wrong with col slaw
Drafted him just before the Slawson cutoff.
Me too. I thought it was funny.
Slawson was a name I had circled as likely available at 54, along with Tosan Evbuomwan out of Princeton. This a really nice get for the value. Obviously questions come from just the level of competition but that aside this is a sharp player.
His tape is just really fun from the little I saw pre draft and fits with the Kings priorities. In the Halfcourt he can keep up with all our DHO’s, offball movement and playmaking strengths. But also offers some verticality and shot contesting that will be welcomed. And at his measurables you throw a dart at large wings cause if it hits its such a benefit to rotations.
More broadly I think quietly Monte had an excellent draft. I just think his calculation of this teams strengths is really sound and these two picks show it. At first was sad to see our first outbound, but the Jones value really does cast that in a different light. Obviously what we do with the freed up space is wait and see, but clearly something is lined up. New additions exluded we may have the cleanest books in the league for our tier of team. No small feat in prepping for extensions and the new CBA. I think every player is on an undervalued deal, that is impressive.
But more specifically is the nuance of these player profiles. I admit this is my wheelhouse, but something I just think is drastically underrated is players who excel in navigating between scoring entities. Monte clearly is seeing it similar. Jones and Slawson are swiss army knives, excelling in-between actions not generating production in a vacuum. They are assisters in a rhythm not from pickouts. They are scorers from offball or onball depending on what the possession suggests. These our flow state offensive players and lets face it that is why our team is where it is.
They also address some needs. Both have intrigue defensively, are willing to run on the break. We have a nuanced balance in that regard and these two should step into that fact. In the same token we can use some tenacity and activity on defense. Both picks reflect that need will be willing to get on the floor and do dirty work.
Obviously Jones deserves distinction from Slawson in tier of prospect, but I just am really happy that our FO is seeing our potential in the same way as me. The ball moves faster than people do. We will likely have a talent separation from others if just from our market disadvantages, but these picks suggests a 14 Spurs mindset to reaching the highest level. Targeting democratically minded intelligent players that excel in egalitarian schemes.
Well done Monte!
Good points.
Looks like the Kings also picked up Justyn Mutts. Adam Spinella did a video on him and ranked him as one of his sleepers. Mutts also has two masters degrees. impressive.
Mutts is a dawg.
I’m on the band waggin’
Apparently there’s some advanced analytics on the kid that are promising. But I’m pretty sure the decision to draft him came down to 2 things:1) Already confirmed he looks good in Purple, Black, and White AND if you flop the W in his name….it’s Slamson.
Can someone help clarify? I read on reddit that if the Kings renounce rights on Barnes, they actually have over 50+m to sign free agents. Don’t know if that’s true and sounds too good to be true.
I think with the space created now, Monte is going to do some combo of Lyles, Sasha, Naz, and maybe another 2 bench players. Don’t think a trade is happening, but wouldn’t be surprised either.
I kinda hope that we make a run at Bruce Brown from Denver, I really enjoyed watching him during the playoffs, sounds like he was pretty good at helping them win, and seems like the type of player that would be a positive for us. Might be too expensive, and I know we have other more pressing needs.
I have it around $36m with all cap holds renounced and no options picked up (Edwards). Subtract about $3.4m if you want to retain Lyles’ cap hold and another $2m if you want to pick up Edwards’ option. It also does not include Jones or Slawson.
If Monte’s gonna blow that cap space on Kyle Kuzma I will be quite annoyed.
If we get Naz Reed or Hart, I will be quite pleased.
Also, time to undo the mistake of getting rid of Delon Wright. Washington are sellers.
No clue what the rookies will bring, but it seems that Monte does not like one and done college players. I think the only one he got was Jahm’ius Ramsey, which was no home run.
So many people are seemingly interested and Kuzma and I do not get it! Why would I want to pay $30mil/yr to a black hole with inefficient shooting numbers and mediocre defense?? Please no Kuzma!!! Barnes will do all the same things on better efficiency and less money with a better locker room presence.
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