
The Sacramento Kings have struggled for years to convince top draft prospects to visit Sacramento. Even in years when the Kings had higher picks, Sacramento was often left deciding whether or not they should draft a player without ever having met with the player or put them through a workout. It ended poorly at times, especially in the cases of Thomas Robinson and Ben McLemore where the Kings passed over players who'd had impressive workouts such as Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.
But this year seems different.
The Sacramento Kings have brought in a string of players who are very much in the range of the 9th pick. Our own Tony Xypteras has been updating our tracker with each new workout or interview that leaks. But in case you haven't been paying attention, here are a few of the bigger names that have had either a workout or an interview with the Kings:
Moses Moody
Scottie Barnes
Ziaire Williams
Jalen Johnson
Keon Johnson
Alparen Sengun
Kai Jones
Corey Kispert
Those are just the big names, the tracker has the full list. And those are just the ones we know about. Since the Kings have inexplicably decided not to communicate who they have visit for workouts, this is just what's been compiled through social media and relentless legwork Jason Anderson has been doing for the Bee.
The Kings are very unlikely to have worked out any of the top 5 names in the draft (Cunningham, Suggs, Green, Mobley or Kuminga), but otherwise have at least met with the majority of the players expected to be in their range. The only notable players missing from the list right now are Davion Mitchell, James Bouknight, Franz Wagner, and Josh Giddey. Due to the Kings' secrecy, it's entirely possible they've worked out or interviewed those four players as well.
At the risk of celebrating the Kings for achieving what most teams would simply consider normal, I feel it's worth celebrating progress. I'm impressed that the Kings have been able to get a good look at the majority of the players in their range.
We've yet to get any clear indication which way the Kings might be leaning, although there are plenty of people who would tell you they know exactly who the Kings will pick. It's also entirely possible the Kings end up trading the pick altogether. Whichever decision they make, it's nice to know that it will at least be based on first hand knowledge of the prospects.
I hope it works out for us.
We’re at episode IV of hoping.
“I hope we can be like the Suns.”

And all daddy issues fixed
Where’s the one where Luke likes a tweet that says he should leave the rebels?
Also, note the lack of a right hand.
Not quite:
Luke, I am your father¦
If we can draft another Wookie of the Year candidate like Haliburton I’ll get my hopes up!
Haha! This was good
The Kings are succeeding at failing.
Bummer this pittance of normalcy represents hope.
You think the Kings could go to Tatooine, bring back the universes most kickass R-2 unit, a protocol droid, Han Solo, Chewbacca and Luke Skywalker? Then go on to rescue a princess, blow up 2 Death Stars, defeat an Emperor, Darth Vader and the entire Galactic Empire? Nope not these Kings.
Vlade Wan Kenobi would have picked out a ho-hum Sandman. Luke would have been killed by Stormtroopers. Vlade gets double crossed trying to by a ship from Jabba and turned over the Empire. On the way out he talks *#[email protected]$ about Han Solo/Chewbacca for getting enslaved by the Huts to make himself feel better … and ain’t never heard of no robots.
The closest the Kings have ever come to anything Star Wars is probably Episode 8??? Three-ish decades later the Empire has rebuilt into the First Order, has an entire fleet, new super-weapon plant and ready to take over the galaxy again. The Kings’ Alliance has 3 mouth-balled ships, a skeleton crew and no plans or clue to contact anyone else for help … THAT IS KINGS MANAGEMENT!!
High quality you say?
Come on, Monte. Make it 2 for 2!