With 64% of the vote, Jalen Green got the 3rd spot on the Kings Herald Draft Board. He joins Evan Mobley and Cade Cunningham.
When a choice comes up, pick who you’d want the Kings to pick given all the players remaining. Note: THIS IS NOT A MOCK DRAFT. This is a draft board, a ranked list of prospects you’d like to see the Kings pick. In other words, if we were the Kings front office, when our pick came up, we’d take the top name left on our board. So pick your choice, not who you think Monte McNair or anyone else would choose in a slot.
Explain your choice in the comments, and lobby for who should be added to the next pick’s choices.
This poll ends at 5 AM tomorrow. The next one will begin on Monday. We will go roughly 20 picks deep.
Davion Mitchell? Who puts him fourth on a Kings big board? (or any big board)
Identify yourself!
Bold! Who thinks Davion would kick ass next to Curry on the dubs? Identify yourself!
Suggs leads off my 2nd tier of prospects.
He finishes off my 2nd tier of prospect.
He also ends my 2nd tier of prospects, but I have him #3 overall.
OT: Meanwhile the Kings have yet to fill Kalamian’s vacant seat.
Pfft. Experience. Success. Who needs coaches like that?
I mean to be fair, was there any chance those guys were coming to work under Luke Walton? That’s like be disappointed that Kings miss out on Kawhi Leonard this summer in free agency.
I guess it is fair to suppose why the Kings can’t have nice things but, that seems pretty obvious at this point : )
And I think when you have that kind of mindset like “oh well, the Kings just suck” then ownership has a free pass to continue to suck, not pay to win, and continue to line their pockets. I feel like we are giving them a pass to grift.
Haven’t we had some well regarded assistants the past several years? I don’t think they moved the needle all that much in terms of wins/losses and player development. Not that the organization should throw in the towel, I just don’t get excited or disappointed when the Kings bring in any assistant coach.
It’s difficult to change the culture here when many players and coaches that have come and gone have little positive to say about their time in Sacramento (other than “the fans are great”)
I don’t think it’s a free pass, but rather the reality of the situation at this point…I still hold Vivek and the organization accountable for why the situation is what it is.
I also don’t feel they are cheap really. Walton makes middle of the road coaching money. I don’t think $ is the reason he was brought back…they genuinely feel continuity is the best path (feel free to disagree). They have paid (overpaid) for the free agents that have been willing to come.
They have just sucked something bad at evaluating which players to draft and sign. 15 years of suckitude is the price of that…and as such at this point we shouldn’t expect quality assistants or free agents to come running this way. That’s all. Couple of smart draft picks or trades and that can shift pretty quickly.
No top-shelf (or perhaps even mid-shelf) assistant is going to take Kalamian’s spot. There’s such a large chance that Walton will be canned by this time next year. Who’s going to sign up for a one-year gig in Suckramento if better opportunities are out there?
That is totally true, which is why I think the Kings will do some PR hire by selecting a woman to be assistant. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some very deserving women for coaching, but I feel the Kings will do it for the press and not the qualifications.
Oh they done did that already before!
To remind us all of the dysfunction under Ranadive here’s something to re-read. I won’t link to the old site’s article, but here’s a snippet from it: (a snippet inside a snippet…inception thingy)
Sam Amick, via USA Today –
More twists and drama than Game of Thrones and a disappointing ending as always.
Lindsey Harding’s already a female coach on the Kings. If they hire another woman, it’ll probably be b/c that woman is the most competent &/or cheapest candidate.
Went with Barnes again, the Kings have much more need for a 3/4 body. I think Suggs is going to be a great replacement for Kyle Lowry if Toronto is able to get him. The fit there is so natural, and the timing perfect.
Yep, I expect Suggs to end up in TOR as well.
Yep, a point-forward would create so much chaos as defenses collapse from cuts. Barnes’ ceiling is probably Ben Simmons.
Suggs. Next, Moody or Bouknight
Went with Suggs. I still like Kuminga, but he is a clear step below Suggs for me.
I can at least see Suggs in the league for 15 years as an average starting PG (at worst). I can easily see Kuminga being the next Kevin Knox or Jaylen Brown.
Kuminga definitely has a huge range of potential outcomes. And Knox probably does represent the darkest timeline, but I think Kuminga has shown more present skills than either Knox or Brown did at the same age. Of course, Brown is a huge development outlier. He hit pretty much every boost on the track so far.
I think in the right hands, like say San Antonio, Kuminga could develop and blossom into a star. In the wrong hands, like say Sacramento, he has better bust potential.
The non-Kings draft outcome I’m desperately hoping for is the Spurs drafting Kai Jones just to see what they make of him
The non-Kings draft outcome I’m desperately hoping for is:
Cunningham @ 9
Mobley @ 39
Until it doesn’t happen, there’s a chance it will!
Suggs for sure (and I’m gonna have a conversation with Akis about Davion Mitchell being on this list so early…)
Mitchell needs to be available at 9, Akis wants him gone early?
7 to the dubs! Puts them back in contention!
Man, Mitchell is getting A LOT of love these days. It’ll be interesting to see the response when he ends up getting drafted in the late-teens/early-twenties.
Steal of the draft!!! Those other GMs all failed on evaluating him!. Grade: A
We’ll see!
I think he should be in the 14-20 range.
That’s certainly a more palatable range.
Here’s a fun exercise. Go compare draft profiles and college production for Davion and Jevon Carter.
Yeah I don’t get it either. I guess people see a lot of “Donovan” in his game that they think he’s Donovan 2.0 or something.
Laziest damn comp I’ve ever seen.
I don’t even know where it comes from. They have very little in common beyond their last name.
and they wore the same jersey number. And both first names start with D. Oh man, the comparisons are starting to get real….
I know, right?
However, I do see a similarity in his game to Joni Mitchell.
And the seasons, they go round and round
And the other teams go up and down
We’re captive on the treadmill of shame
We can’t return, we can only look
Behind, and wish Luka came
And go round and round and round, in the treadmill game
(Honestly, I didn’t really have to change anything and it would already be painfully accurate in describing Kings fandom.)
No NO, Joni Mitchell paved paradise ..
You want lazy? I won’t even leave Sac.
Randy Brown.
He’s not Donovan Mitchell! He’s Jrue Freakin Holiday!
I get the defensive comp, but Mitchell is minus 3 inches and some wingspan compared to Jrue, and Holiday came into the league at 19 and shot 39/36.5/38% from deep in his first three years – whereas Mitchell didn’t shoot above 32% from deep until he was 23.
I get this is a time where you bet on the person and not the stats, but beware guards with senior-year breakouts.
The Jrue comp pretty much ends at “guard who defends.” They’re pretty different physically, athletically, and stylistically. Defensively, draft version Mike Conley is a better comp. Offensively, they both rely on a great first step, but Conley had better PG instincts. Overall, Conley is probably a decent ceiling comp for Mitchell.
He doesn’t have anything approaching draftee Donovan’s length, vertical pop, or offensive diversity.
Yes, I see a more stout version of Avery Bradley in Davion Mitchell.
Which is very much where he should go! And if he was in the late teens, I’d be championing getting another 1st to go get him – but having him 9 or higher really makes me think he’s being set up as a future media-driven “bust”.
People love their NCAA tourney narratives!
Hmm. I think there are four things that make me believe he’s for real. On-ball defense (maybe best in the draft), quick first step in either direction (also perhaps the best in the draft), motor and attitude. Did Jevon Carter have that ability to blow by defenders? If not, they have to be in different categories.
Javon has excellent lateral quickness, but Mitchell’s first step is better and finishes better at the rim. Javon had a better pull-up game and more offensive versatility overall. But we’re talking about relatively small degrees of difference. Overall, their profiles are extremely similar across the board. Same size. Both make their living as high motor, high effort, dog-the-PG, one-position defenders. Both have excellent lateral quickness but not a ton of vertical pop.
I was thinking his first step and burst would require the other team to put a good defender on him. Whereas with Jevon you could get away with putting your worst defender on him.
Maybe. I don’t think they need to put a good defender on him because he doesn’t have much of a pull-up game and isn’t a great facilitator, so his defender can likely reliably sag off him a bit both on-ball and off. Add that to NBA defenders being simply better than college both in terms of staying in front of him AND in terms of teammates rotating to stop drives and protect the rim, and I don’t think the other team has much to worry about at the moment. He truly does have a special first step though. He’s fun to watch.
Akis had me update and publish the post today. I added Mitchell because he was next highest on the NBA.com consolidated mock. Also because I knew you’d get mad at it and I thought it would be funny.
Oh you
Time to go get Suggs he’s the last of the top tier in my opinion. Still with the game plan of BPA to hell with fit. He would be an upgrade as well if we got him at 4. Also love his tenacity and play. Reminds me of Bridges especially after last night. Sorry philly.
The closest thing to Bridges in this range is Moody. I’m not saying he IS Bridges. But if that’s what you’re looking for Moody is probably your guy.
I don’t mean bridges comp as in pound for pound the same player. I just mean that Suggs has that ability to just rise to the occasion even if his shot isn’t falling he’s just busy and useful. Just like bridges.
I whole heartedly agree that a more straight up comp is Moody. But I was just referring to that drive aspect. I love that intelligence and effort almost more than any paper stats these days.
im sick of the blue chip prospects who are supposed to be. I just want to see glimpses of what they are even before they get to the NBA. I think that’s what blinded Vlade with bagley and several other bad picks. Including as much as it pains me Giles. They were supposed to be good so that had to mean they would be. Vs what they showed which was a lot of holes even in college.
I cannot like this comment enough.
Moody is definitely growing on me.
The ability to block a doorway would (sadly) be a huge upgrade for the Kings.
Could he guard a Coke machine too?
Not this one
I bet Skal could cover that, too!
I went with Davion Mitchell, because he was listed.
(j/k–Suggs for me)
Barnes. A do-everything player who specializes in passing and defense. Barnes is my favorite non top 3 player in the draft.
Matt Norlander of CBS listing Jeremiah Robinson-Earl in his top 10 is a spicy meatball.
Solid player, but damn that’s bold (or click baity).
I wouldn’t mind him at 39, but not at 9. (Good Lord, I’m having PapaG flashbacks!)
Yeah, I wouldn’t be especially surprised to see him go in the 20s, but he’s an early-2nd round type through and through.
Some ‘analysts’ love to have at least one hot take in their draft. Whether it’s just for click bait or they actually believe that will be their “bragging rights” bid, I don’t know.
Chad Ford has * at number 4.
.
.
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*whoever actually gets picked at number 4. Check back after the draft to see.
I like him a lot also. Seems like a PF version of Justin Jackson. 1st rounder for sure.
Wait, do you like him a lot or does he seem like a PF version of Justin Jackson? Those two things don’t follow for me. Justin Jackson is a 25-year-old that got waived by the youngest, worst team in the league and finished the season on a two-way deal. He’s closer to being out of the league than he isn’t to having an impact.
A PF version of him would be different. About 50 pounds, rebounding, physicality, screen-setting. A frequent part of the Kings narrative last year was they can’t handle physicality and get pushed off their spots.
Fair enough. I guess I pictured a PF version of Justin Jackson having all of the shortcomings Justin Jackson has, just a few inches taller.
(For five weeks from now, which will be after the draft)
EJ Onu at 39!
He’s certainly an interesting lottery ticket.
OK, after yesterday’s brain fart, today it’s Scottie Barnes.
Davion Mitchell? I dunno. I’d pick Keon over him, and Moody, and Bouknight.
Scottie Barnes.
Yes, we all know he can’t shoot. He is also 6’9″ and has elite ball handling/passing skills for someone his size. Can also guard multiple positions and is a good defender. I believe his upside potential is comparable to Ben Simmons.
I’m voting for Suggs again.
Alert! We got a case of voter fraud right here!
You can’t vote twice, Richie!
I voted for Suggs.
I think, hereon, the picks will be more interesting as consensus breaks down.
I nominate Moses Moody.
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