With the 42nd pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings selected Maxime Raynaud from Stanford. Raynaud is a 7’1 F/C from France who spent the last four seasons with the Cardinal. Raynaud averaged 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals in his senior year at Stanford while shooting 34.7% from three on 5.5 attempts a game.
Raynaud was considered by many draftniks to be a fringe first round prospect, so this appears to be very good value for the Kings to get him at 42. The Kings could always use more size, and a center that can step out and stretch the floor is a coveted archetype in today’s NBA. That ability should also allow him to pair well with Domantas Sabonis at times.
Here’s what the Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has to say on the newest King:
I value skilled bigs who can shoot the ball about as much as anyone, so I have a fairly high grade on Raynaud. Every NBA team needs a five-out look now, and the hope is that most of those looks involve having enough positional size on the court to have a chance defensively. Raynaud would at least allow a team to stay big at center while hopefully being able to play at a legitimate level. But I’m skeptical that Raynaud can stick on defense given what we saw at Stanford. His lack of footspeed is real, and I think his instincts are often off in terms of finding angles and scrambling. The good news? If there’s someone to buy into figuring out his problems in terms of angles and positioning, it’s probably Raynaud given how intelligent he is and given his rapid rate of improvement over his collegiate career. I have Raynaud right on that first-/second-round cut line because it’s just exceptionally hard to find perimeter big men and because I think there’s a chance he’s smart enough to figure out his defensive deficiencies. Still, the lack of footspeed might cause problems that his mind can’t overcome on that end.
With Raynaud and yesterday’s pick of Nique Clifford, Scott Perry has taken his first steps to adding some needed size and versatility to the Kings, but his greatest work is still ahead of him with free agency and probable trades still to go before the season starts in earnest in a few months. The Kings currently don’t have any further picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, but we will keep you updated if they make any trades to get back in. The Kings still have a glaring need for a Point Guard, but that will likely be solved through free agency or a trade considering the prospects left at this point in the draft.
Poor man’s Chet. Great value at 42 and if his 3 pt shot translates he’ll be able to play with Domas offensively.
I think both of Perry’s selections will be solid NBA rotation players.
Agree
I hope he lives up to his name and is cool in the clutch
good one! As long as he doesn’t get cold feet.
I hope he can Maxime-ize his skills for the Kings;
Maxime-us!
I hope he can improve his posterior, his footwork, and really learn to stick as an on-ball defender –
Glueteus Maximeus
Hits the 3, drives to the basket, solid passing and defense. Finally got our PG.
Finally some size and a touch from the outside.
Monte would have drafted two 6 foot guards.
“It’s equivalent to one 12 footer!”
Finally, someone that understands Kings fuzzy logic!
I believe he was drafted as a F.o.W*. pick:
* Friend of Wemby
to entice his fellow countryman to come to California’s capitol!
or maybe – he’s the Wemby stopper!
Our center is just three tiny guards in a trench coat
Looks like Perry is looking down the road when JV goes or maybe he feels Maxime can be a strerch 4. Perry is going for length, in contrast to Monte’s love for undersized guards. In any case, i like the pick.
I like the pick too. At face value they’re solid picks. The positional fit is interesting because the two picks we made are backups to our two most important/expensive players. Wonder if one or both of Lavine and Domas is on the move.
It’s more likely that both spend a lot of time in Stockton .
I agree on Raynaud, I think Nique is for sure on the roster. Just my opinion. Don’t think they trade into the first round to stash a guy in Stockton, but hey you might be right
Agree on Nique but Carter played several games there just to get big minutes, so it’s all part of the development process . Hope he is good enough immediately.
Bingo. There is a huge difference between a player not being good enough for the NBA and needing to develop in the G-League and a player rotating down to the G-League to get some reps and minutes since Stockton and Sacramento are so close.
It may take till the deadline for Perry to clear some of the glut we have in the backcourt. And the team may prioritize giving minutes to player we want to trade to showcase them.
I have no issue with Nique getting some G-League reps early in the season as more minutes might be going to Monk, LaVine, DDR, Carter, and Schroder / Jones / other FA PG. And then getting more NBA minutes as the season goes on and we clear space.
This isn’t to say I want him full time in the G-League, but going from sitting on the bench to playing a few games in Stockton to work on some of the skills and development the coaching staff has flagged for him (like a pitcher in baseball throwing a bunch of sliders in spring training games) makes a ton of sense.
If he doesn’t get minutes very soon, the move becomes a debacle. If it’s me, I’m tearing this thing down and playing for next years lottery which appears fruitful at this time.
I’m getting rid of DDR and LaVine and Val ASAP and this right now is my starting lineup.
Carter, Ellis, Nique, Murray, Sabonis.
If management is under the dilution the team can be championship competitive then pickup Westbrook for $7.5 million and run out this lineup.
Westbrook
Lavine
DDR
Murray
Sabonis
When we are 10 games below 500 near the trade deadline then start the tear down I just mentioned. Maybe you can dump these guys off on contending teams needing help down the stretch for some salary relief and draft capital.
Agree we want sooner rather than later. But it could take Perry to the trade deadline to clear some of the glut.
It will probably take that long for Nique to adapt to the speed and play of the NBA anyways. I’m not overly concerned about October – February as I am the next 2-3 years.
Regarding Nique, time will tell at 23, how much of his late development was him legitimately improving his skill set, as opposed to utilizing an experience advantage that may not carry over to the NBA. When you don’t have much to work with, you have to make deals like this and cross your fingers they work out or least don’t inhibit your future.
Carter played in the G League because he started the season hurt and didn’t have a training camp. It would be crazy to put a late lottery rookie on the floor fresh off an injury with no offseason. Especially with the talent we had at guard to start the season last year.
Lets see what they can do in Vegas first, then we can make our Nostradumbass predictions.
111-0
For sure. I’m not a monster, I’m just ahead of the curve (the dumbass part)
These are late picks, impossible for them to signal a move as replacements for core players. If these two end up being solid rotational players it’s a huge win.
Well Raynaud is, but we traded into the first for Nique, which to me is a tell. Still a “late first” though so I see your point.
I mean, I somewhat agree with you, but for a late first round pick, becoming a 6th man, low level starter is still a pretty big win.
They can like him to shore up the rotation whether or not he becomes a much better player.
Yeah, I mean most 2nd round picks never carve out a role in any rotation and that might be Raynaud too, he is a bit slow and defensively challenged, he’s sort of the polar opposite of Kalkbrenner.
But I like the gamble. Was pretty much team Raynaud or Protcor by the time it got back to us. Even if he’s a bit of a specialist, could be more useful than some of the other wings going in the round who are all pretty limited by a mix of skill and physical traits and will be lucky to get past the G-League.
I know I heard a guest on KHTK talk up Maxime yesterday saying there wasn’t much at the end of the first round but he’d be one of two players he’d target. He had another favorite too, I can’t recall if it was Nique.
The guest was definitely rating his board based on size (or should say length), shooting and ability to produce value in other areas of the game.
I am sure our friend who was so very upset that the Kings didn’t draft him in the first round will be here to tell us what a great value pick this was.
Or, you know, not.
Damned right! That guy is the worst.
I should ask: Was it me who said it?
First modern big on this roster in forever, great pick at 42
Hope I’m wrong, but this seems like the first miss of SP’s tenure. Not that 2nd rounders are uber important (although I would argue that SAC is not in a place to miss on anyone), I just thought there were better players still on the board.
These guys look like good role players to go around the core, when we find out who the core is.
Tingus Pingus at home
In all seriousness, I hope he pans out.
Interesting pick given it adds a different flavour to our frontcourt. Looking forward to seeing him play in Summer League.
Kings go two players rated higher than their eventual draft number. Is that because they were over-rated or were they “steals”
MR was only player in NCAA to average over 20 and 10 rebounds per game.
I am a homer for sure but I do think these were value picks.
We won’t know for 3 years but at least the Kings did something positive and it appears they did as well as could be expected given their draft position.
Anyone else find it quite interesting, or perhaps ironic, that he is #42 and the 42nd pick?
Hitchhiker approved
This pick saved the draft. It went from disaster ass to possibly rivaling 1996 draft for the Kings. I am really sold on this guy. His fall in the draft is even more ridiculous than Haliburton’s fall. Kings are beyond lucky to get him.
Kings also signed Auburn’s Dylan Cardwell to a two-way. With this signing, Perry is proving to be the anti-Monte, drafting for length and athleticism. 6’11 shot-blocker which should provide some weak side help and can potentially gain a better offensive game at Stockton.
Cardwell is a nice get. It’s been said about many, but he seems to have the physical tools to be a dominant defensive presence. And he shot 40% from three during his college career!*
He’s definitely going to need some time in Stockton. His free throw percentage is pretty bad, but if he can get it anything like respectable, his 71% field goal percentage will provide and-1 opportunities.
Down the line, and I mean way down the line, Cardwell could be a nice fit next to Raynaud if the latter also continues to develop. Hell, if Sabonis comes back this season with a more consistent three-point shot (yes I know, 41.7% last season, but it seemed like he missed every damned one in February and March), Cardwell could play with the lofty Lithuanian.
As ever, a lot of things will need to break favorably, but all of the new guys have intriguing potential and good work ethics. It’s what-if? season!
*on ten attempts
For added context on Cardwell’s shooting, he was 45% on free throws. So he may not be much of a sniper any time soon.
I like both picks. Can’t wait for summer league.
I was bearish yesterday …but. Watched a lot of highlights.. I know highlights show positives and there is a lot of comments about potentially being a poor defender or maybe working his way to being an average defender. He doesn’t have the size to go against big centers or necessarily the speed to play against a lot of fours however, what I did really notice besides decent three-point shooting, and the willingness to drive to the basket was that he was very effective using a little mini hook shot with both hands. He didn’t hurry or rush the shot and he created good separation in order to use that mini hook with both left and right hands. Maybe he’ll work hard and become a serviceable for in certain situations and small ball five. I mentioned small ball five because he does not have the size to match up against the bigger centers until he puts weight on.. I hope we go after Nembhard as an UDFA
Well… Dallas is smarter than us.. they signed Nembhard to an exhibit 10 while we go after a Nogues..who has almost a negative offensive game.. but can defend. 21-year-old is almost a total non-scorer, having averaged just 2.5 points on .474/.316/.542 shooting splits. Not sure that will work in NBA because they will sag off of him and we will then be playing 4v5 on offense
But he is definitely not a MM guard because he is 6’5″ with a 6’10” wingspan, Nogues possesses ideal size and length for a point guard, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony writes, and he’s a tenacious defender who contributes in multiple areas.
It’s easy to like Nembhard, but if he was drafted here, there would be a long, screeching litany of “he’s 5’9″! Why another undersized guard?!?”
The kid is extremely talented, but it’s going to be easy for players to rise up and shoot over him. I’m not sure that can overcome such an unfixable problem.
Looking forward to seeing him in summer league, though. I love me a slick point guard.
Masai Ujiri out as Toronto Team President. Odd timing. Draft just ended, free agency is beginning in a few days.
Yep. No issue with Toronto moving on from Ujiri. But the timing is horrible. Why not bring in the new shot-caller ahead of the draft: why saddlebag the incoming decision-maker with the previous regime’s draft picks? Very Kangzian type of move, that one.
My guess is there was some conflicts in decision making with him and ownership? Maybe he just got fed up and left.
He was due for an extension, perhaps they couldn’t agree and he wanted to explore elsewhere.
Still a miss to not figure this out sooner. But may have been a late development.
Ownership wanted to see progress this season and Ujiri did not want to be a lame deck with restrictions on trades and other moves he could make with more micromanagement from ownership.
Not big enough and slow-footed, but sure, he’ll develop. 😉
Just wondering: If Maxine works out could the Kings use Val as a trade chip to get Anthony Black from the Magic. They are set at point guard with Suggs so maybe they would trade Black. If so he would be our starting point guard for a long time. 6’7″ can play defense but also has a very good offensive game. Not yet 22 he fits Perry’s time line. Also now that the Raptors GM is gone maybe we have a chance to trade Monk and Carter for Barrett. He also fits Perry’s timeline. Just wondering.
Anthony Black is an intriguing prospect. He was a five star recruit for Arkansas and had a decent one year career for the razorbacks. I’m not sure how high the Magic are on him but he’s the type of player I would be looking to get. Again, I like Peyton Watson who I think can be had for Val with a salary filler in there.
I was hoping we would make a deal with Houston sending DDR there and getting some draft capital with Brooks as the salary filler.
Orlando might be resistant to moving Black after sending Cole Anthony to Memphis, but he’d definitely be a nice addition.
Aside from Suggs, Black is their only other “PG” in the roster. I know Bane, Franz and Paolo handle the ball and create their offense, but they gotta have another PG. I think if they were to send Black out (which I doubt they do), they would want another ball handler in return. (I guess they drafted Jase Richardson, so that change things)
Maybe they like Monk?
Trader Jack !
Masai out. What about Immanual Quickly? Barret is fine but….J Kings need a PG.
Black is good but not proven as a starting PG- but Orlando needs draft capitol.
Clifford is a jack of all trades guy. MR has a unique skill- a 7-2 guy with a 3 ball and Cardwell has defensive toughness.
Roster needs some fixing.
Ok. Barrett out Quickkly in. Now I would replace Barrett with Jonathan Kuminga. Bigger, stronger, younger. Wants more than what he gets now. That could be a plus. Quickly, Ellis, Murray, Kuminga and Sabonis. More D and rebounding. Overall less money. I could see that.
PS Quickly 26 but still in Perry’s timeline. Good for 3 or 4 years. Big contract. Black good for 7 or 8 years. Contract not nearly as high as Quickley. I could go either way and be happy but IMO Black is the King’s franchize player for a long time. Thanks for your input. Always like your rebuttle.
Is Quickly better than Monk? Their numbers are nearly identical, but Monk has been healthier. Quickly also makes $14m/year more than Monk, and is on a longer contract.
I would rather have Black. Younger. Already plays starting point in some instances.6’7″ and can play defense. Can shoot even long range. A good passer and facilitator. What more do you want? Great fit for Kings.
Black has started out of necessity, and shoots 34% from 3pt range in 2 attempts per game. He might be a decent gamble, but that’s a lot of projection for him to be a starting PG on the Kings, who say they want to be competitive.
I would take the chance, I just don’t think Orlando gives him up.
I want nothing to do with Kuminga. He wants more, like Kuzma wanted more. We need players that want to bust their asses on D, not players that just want more shots.
Kuzma nixed a trade to Dallas a couple years back because he wanted to “keep playing winning basketball” in Washington. Haha! He also sucked majorly with Milwaukee when they were trying to win last season. No thanks.
Bye bye Pizza Guy.
Bienvenu Gratin Garcon!
Apparently Sac was his preferred destination.
I could see why a smart, skilled big man would like the opportunity to work with Sabonis. I’m hoping that Raynaud absorbs as much as he can, because no matter how you look at it, Domas is a rare bird. If Nikola Jokic had never been born, Sabonis probably have been an all-star many more times.
Rare bird lasagna.
Lithuanian Lasagna => Raynaud rigatoni
And I don’t think Sabonis would be a many more times All-Star – he’d still have that Sacramento stain, as it makes no sense he was not an All-Star this year or last year. Snub followed by more snub.
For grins, here are the last ten 24 / 42 picks:
Tyus Jones / Oliver Hanlan
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot / Isaiah Whitehead
Tyler Lydon / Thomas Bryant
Anfernee Simons / Bruce Brown
Ty Jerome / Admiral Schofield
R.J. Hampton / Nick Richards
Josh Christopher / Isaiah Livers
MarJon Beauchamp / Trevor Keels
Oliver-Maxence Prosper / Tristan Vukevic
Kyshawn George / KJ Simpson
So, based on this small and highly arbitrary sample size, about a 30-40% chance that Clifford becomes a rotation player, and about a 20% chance for Reynaud. I’ll be rooting for both of them to defy the odds.
I give Perry props for what his approach and what he came away with relative to what he started the draft with. But I don’t know that the Kings picked up any significant ground on anyone over the past two days, and probably lost ground to a few teams. If the draft winds up being a springboard to bigger changes, great. But if the off season is this and adding a point guard that would be coming off the bench for the majority of the other NBA teams, my guess is that the 25-26 season will be a race for 11th place in the West.
It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks. The Kings did about all they could this week. On to the next opportunity.
I probably have this wrong, but as I “understand” it, the Kings keep the ’26 pick as long as they have one of the league’s sixteen-worst records this season. I think that even after signing a serviceable point guard, and without an overt tank, that’s a pretty reasonable expectation. I’d hope that if Sacramento is on the playoff bubble come spring that they’ll have better sense and steer into the skid.
I don’t think DeRozan will be terribly difficult to move; he’s a known quantity, and his contract isn’t bad for a guy who gives you twenty points in his sleep.
The real X factor revolves around whether Sabonis stays or goes. I see pros and cons with either approach, but if the opportunity to acquire young talent and good picks is there, it would demand serious consideration. I love Sabonis, and I’m hoping that somehow the ’25-26 roster allows him to shine the way few can so that keeping him makes sense.
The pick that they traded is the ’27 pick that they got from SA in the Fox deal. So it is protected 1-16, but it is SA’s record that will matter when the time comes.
Ah, very good thank you.
I still think we have what it takes to finish in the bottom sixteen.
We can do it!!!
I remain a bit confused. Ham reported that the Kings “protected” the pick, suggesting that it’s the Kings record that is relevant.
https://bsky.app/profile/jameshamnba.bsky.social/post/3lsieebgvzc2i
I believe that the pick that they got from SA was unprotected, and Sac. applied the protections in the trade with OKC.
Put another way, if SA finishes 1-16 worst record in ’27, the Kings get that pick. 17-30, OKC gets the pick.
Since SA did not protect the pick at the time of the trade, so that pick belongs to the Kings no matter what SA’s record is. The Kings have now added a 1-16 protection to that pick in their trade with OKC, so hopefully it’s the Kings record that applies.
No. The protections are based on where the pick lands. It’s SA’s pick(but we own the ability to use it) so the pick lands based on SA’s record. If it lands(based on SA’s record) 1-16, we keep the use of it.
If it was based on our record, then we’d have two picks(SA’s and ours) land in the same slot based on our record.
Since it’s specifically identified as the SA pick, I guess that makes sense. I’ll just hold out hope that in some alternate universe we keep the pick and convey the two second rounders.
It’s based on where the pick ends up and it’s San Antonio’s pick.
Can see the details here
This is in the OKC section: SAN 17-30 (via SAC)
This is in the Sac section: SAN 1-16
The pick used to get into the first round was the Spur’s 2027 1st that we received in the Fox trade. Top 16 protected.
So, our record is not relevant. It’s based on the Spur’s record so I’m guessing the Spurs make the playoffs in ’27 and the pick, will be in the 17-25 range and will go to OKC.
hopefully is above 24 and we can all feel like we fleeced Sam Presti
It’s the SAS pick. If SAS miss the playoffs, in 2027 then the Kings pick it. and 2 second round picks convey. Spurs have 2 years to get into playoffs.
With a healthy Wemby and Fox, a year of experience with Castle and Harper, I think they make it, he says sarcastically.
DS always needed a rebounding, 3 point shooting stretch 4- like JJJ. MR is an impoverished man’s Chet or a Olynyk. He might help in stretches.
I think Perry holds out for the right top 15 PG.
I hope gets Black. What say you Adamsite?
I see Derozan being traded to the Heat for Duncan Robinson and Jamie Jaquez and possibly a draft picks but if not I like the trade.
What about FA. If we can get Black at starting point guard then I would target Santi Aldama in FA.
I like Aldama. Kings can offer him the MLE, and Memphis can match any offer. I doubt the Kings tie up their options while waiting on Memphis to make a decision.
Andaman is the stretch 4 type the Kings could really use. He doesn’t do much defensively, which is his biggest downside.
Overall, I think that as much as the draft picks were decent, and maybe ok or even good – the general feeling (from my perspective) is that they weren’t disastrous.
The previous two drafts had Sacramento trade away a contract to trade a FRP (#24 Oliver-Maxence Prosper was picked for the Mavericks to off load Richaun Holmes, to free cap space to upgrade/extend Sabonis) and in the same draft, the Kings moved up from 38 to 34 in a pick swap with Boston to draft Colby Jones, which included giving the Celtics a future 2nd pick. Also in the 2023 draft, Sacramento used the #54 pick on Jalen Slawson.
Whatever saavy Monte McNair had in drafting Haliburton, Davion and Keegan was not present that draft. (makes you wonder… but in for a penny in for a pound one of the site’s wisest commenters might chime).
The 2024 draft, Sacramento used the #13 pick on Devin Carter. The also traded Davion Mitchell and Sasha Vezenkov to Toronto in addition the Raptors received the #45 pick, which was Jamal Shead, a 6’0″ Senior PG from U. of Houston. Wait! there’s more. Sacramento also traded another 2nd pick to Toronto in that trade. Yes, 2! to off load Davion and Vezenkov. Pretty amazing. Toronto used this 2nd rounder, #39 (this 2025 draft, which is Alijah Martin a PG from FAU), which Sacramento had from Portland Trailblazers. In return for those 2 players and 2 Second rounders, the Kings got Jalen McDaniels.
Jalen McDaniels then was traded to the San Antonio Spurs along with their 2031 second round pick and cash considerations. So Sacramento gave away Vezenkov, Davion Mitchell, #45 2024, #39 2025, and Sacramento’s 2nd round in 2031 for Jalen McDaniels (waived by Spurs).
Pretty eff-ed up. What happened to Monte? Wes?
Scott Perry has so far not worsened the pot, and maybe, just maybe, there is some goodness after the last two drafts.
nm
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