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Kings Pulse: 2021 NBA Draft Prospect Profiles – James Bouknight and Cam Thomas

We turn our draft attention to two guards who can score the ball at high levels - UConn's James Bouknight and LSU's Cameron Thomas
By | 38 Comments | Jul 10, 2021

We continued our 2021 NBA Draft previews with two scoring stars – UConn’s James Bouknight and LSU’s Cameron Thomas.

Bouknight stands 6’5 with a 6’8 wingspan and incredible athleticism and explosiveness, and averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals for the Huskies on 44.7% shooting, 29.3% from three, and 77.8% from the line. He missed 8 games this season with an elbow injury, and his scoring kept an otherwise defensive-minded UConn squad working; when he played, UConn was 11-4, and 4-4 without him. While his efficiency numbers weren’t great, especially for a score-first guard with lottery hype, there’s plenty of optimism that with NBA spacing he’s a much better shooter than the numbers indicate. He’s also a fairly dedicated defender, a very good rebounder for a guard, and – in my opinion – a favorite for a future Slam Dunk champ. He does need to improve his passing instincts and vision, as well as his catch-and-shoot shot (he shot just 21% on such shots this year) at the next level. But assuming you trust his seemingly strong motor, he’s got a real case as the Best Player Available should he fall to Sacramento at 9… but his ability to put pressure on the rim and shoot off the bounce may make him a likely pick before the Kings are on the board.

Cam Thomas’s greatest strength is his insane, never-ending confidence every moment he’s on the floor. The Tigers finished 10th in points scored on the season, and he did most of that – he averaged 23 points per game, along with 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists, while shooting 40.6% (on 17.2 shots a game) and 32.5% from deep (on 7.2 attempts). He also shot 88% from the free throw line, which was exceptional considering he got there 7.6 times per contest. He has a sweet shot off the dribble, and there aren’t many prettier-looking signature moves in this class than his jab-step fadeaway. The last good part about his game – while he played over 1,000 minutes this season and took 500 field goal attempts, he only had 49 turnovers total!… and only 42 total assists, which signifies his programing in LSU’s offense as (1) get buckets, (2) get buckets, (3) get buckets. The rest of his game is a total mystery, including his near-complete lack of defensive impact. Indeed, LSU as a team didn’t give a lick about defense, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that their leading scorer was ineffective on that end. He seems locked as a future bench microwave, but if he’s going to be more than that, he has to improve nearly every aspect of his non-scoring game.

In this episode, we discussed:

  • Is James Bouknight’s offensive ability worthy of a top 10 pick?
  • What to make of Bouknight’s efficiency stats
  • What can Cam Thomas do efficiently at the NBA level?
  • Can either guard be above-average defenders at the next level?
  • The Phoenix Sun’s run to the NBA Finals, and if we’ll ever see such quick success in Sacramento.

Would you select either Bouknight or Thomas for the Kings? Let us know in the comments!

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jwalker1395
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July 10, 2021 9:09 am

Bouknight is the dude that I snap up in a heartbeat if he’s there at #9. He’s my #6 prospect over Kuminga and I legitimately see an All-Star bucket getter in him. You can’t let that talent pass by, even if his fit isn’t perfect on the current roster.

TheGrantNapear
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July 10, 2021 11:15 am
Reply to  jwalker1395

If Bouknight is BPA at 9, I’m all for it. Fit should not be a consideration for the team with arguably the least amount of talent in the league, certainly top 3.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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July 10, 2021 11:36 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

I think both Bouknight and Moody will be there at #9 because someone will reach for Keon Johnson and Davion Mitchell in the top 8. As of today if it is between Bouknight and Moody as BPA at #9, I’m leaning towards Moody for length, age, and better shooting.

jwalker1395
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July 10, 2021 11:43 am
Reply to  Adamsite

Really hoping Keon Johnson is the Patrick Williams of this class.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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July 10, 2021 11:46 am
Reply to  jwalker1395

I’m afraid of picking Keon. His shooting really scares me. I know he’s athletic, but when that is your best attribute I say no thanks.

Socalpurplecurse
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July 11, 2021 12:32 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

What’s more scary is his turnovers and lack of feel for the game theres plenty of high flyers in the league that cap out as just that a dunk champ that never grows into anything else

Socalpurplecurse
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July 11, 2021 12:29 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Let’s hope but if none are available then I’d go for Kai Jones who’d bring elite athletic ability Size and skill at 7 foot, he’d be an instant double double with his motor and rim running catching lobs and has a nice free throw as well.

SneakerKing
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July 12, 2021 10:40 am

I’ve come around on Kai Jones myself. A little scared about the lack of offense and his rebounding numbers need to improve, but I see a little Jarrett Allen in his game as a rim runner and rim protector.

murraytant
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July 13, 2021 10:29 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Agree. Bouknight can score and would be a good pick at 9. I also agree that Moody may have more upside- younger, longer, better on D. So I go Moody.
and I, too, hope, teams like GSW jump on Mitchell and K. Johnson.
If duds can’t trade pick(s), they might take Bouknight at 7 and Kispert at 14.
and Keon shooting should scare you.

kings4ever
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July 10, 2021 11:47 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

What do you mean ” * if * he is BPA…”? That is completely subjective. It is not like the BPA at #9 will have to a neon sign flashing over his head.

Saying “if Player X is the BPA , we should take him..” is analogous to saying “We should take Player X if the best player is Player X”. It is circular reasoning.

A question that should be asked though is Bouknight better than Terrence Davis?

Uh, probably not. And I like Bouknight. He’s good. I actually do not think the Kings can afford to take Bouknight with their dearth of talent on the wing when the projection for TD and Bouknight as potential stars is not dissimilar.

Bouknight actually has issues creating space. TD is better at creating space. And again Bouknight is a talent, but 55% TS% as a sophomore is wanting.

jwalker1395
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July 10, 2021 11:55 am
Reply to  kings4ever

Davis is a nice player, but you’re suffering from serious late-stage Kangz disorder if you think a backup guard who’s never averaged more than 10 ppg or had higher than a 14 PER at age 24 has the same star potential as Bouknight.

kings4ever
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July 10, 2021 12:15 pm
Reply to  jwalker1395

Are you saying Bouknight is better than TD ? Bouknight shot 55% TS% as a Big East sophomore. TD shot 59% TS% as an NBA rookie and 57% TS% with us.

TD is in the process now of realizing who he can be as an NBA player. There is also a physicality that TD has that Bouknight cannot match. TD has a fearless dawg quality to him. I do not mean this as criticism of Bouknight, he’s got game too.

But it is legitimate question and if you check out the video above you will see the plays where Bouknight has opportunity and razzle and dazzle and he fizzles. In the same circumstance, TD would “feast on fools”.

I think it is you and the collective Kings fan base in general who do not realize how good TD is and can be. He’s a Booby Jackson level player, who won 6th man of the year, and has a lot in common with Donovan Mitchell, a burly guard who will not be denied.

jwalker1395
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July 10, 2021 12:20 pm
Reply to  kings4ever

I truly hope you’re right!

WizsSox
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July 10, 2021 12:22 pm
Reply to  kings4ever

So if Bouknight has a 55% TS as a sophomore and that’s bad, what am I to make of Terence Davis 55% TS as a senior?

I don’t even disagree with you about the potential of Davis. Maybe not quite as high has you, but he can be good. But its a rather flimsy stat argument against Bouknight and then not mention your guy Davis had very similar numbers in college.

51% TS as a junior for Davis as well. Also, since you think he is second coming of Donovan Mitchell…he had a 53% TS as a sophomore.

I don’t think citing one shooting stat is probably a great way to project/draft players. It’s a piece of the puzzle…that’s all.

Last edited 2 years ago by WizsSox
kings4ever
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July 10, 2021 12:39 pm
Reply to  WizsSox

Uh, but don’t you put precedence on TDs NBA TS% over his college TS%? Players mature and develop at their own rate. They come into their own (or not) on their own time schedule.

Just bc TD improved his scoring effeciency substantially from college to pros does not mean Bouknight will chart the same developmental path, obviously.

And by the way, TD has room for improvement on his TS% when he improves his 3 point shot.

What is signifcant in my mind to project this growth is the ability to create space and your shot mechanics.

If you have burst and handles and misdirection and can keep the defense off balance then you can get clean looks at the rim. TD for example gets much better looks from deep than Buddy, even though Buddy is the better shooter.

So when you are projecting Bouknight to become better than TD or a star in general I think you have to look at his shot quality. Is his threat of drive forcing defenders to back up? Is his off the ball activity getting him to open spots.

Bouknight has game in this regard but I do not think TD cedes any ground in this area and will NOT for the next 5 years of his career, i.e. his prime.

Even if you disagree, I do not know how you can conclude the two players are not comprable and this has to effect on your pick at #9 when we are so sparse on the wing.

WizsSox
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July 10, 2021 12:45 pm
Reply to  kings4ever

I prefer to compare apples to apples and seeing as how Bouknight hasn’t played in the NBA it’s hard for me to hold his future TS% against him.

But according to this logic, Davis is just regressing back to normal and didn’t have some substantial growth. Because his TS% was 57% as a college sophomore, then 51 as junior and 55 as senior. So his current 57% with the Kings, is that actually his ceiling then? You did conveniently leave out that he shot 53% TS with the Raptors this year as well.

This is a dumb argument all around and lots of small sample size alert is needed here. I don’t even love Bouknight and don’t disagree that TD might be a better player/prospect than him. I just think some of the stats logic provided to get to that conclusion leaves something to be desired. Each their own.

Last edited 2 years ago by WizsSox
HopelesslyHopeful
July 10, 2021 12:03 pm
Reply to  kings4ever

I think the logic on that, is if, for example for some reason, Evan Mobley slid to 9, you obviously have to draft that dude. But basically, they’re saying they think Bouknight is good enough that his ability trumps fit.

Socalpurplecurse
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July 11, 2021 12:39 pm
Reply to  kings4ever

We must be watching different players TD is like 6’1 for starters and his upside is a 6th man of the year candidate where as Bouknight is a legit 6’5 with triple the athletic ability and legit 3 way scoring potential. He has blowbye speed with handles and creative when finishing, plus that midrange game that both Bradley Beal and Booker has.

kings4ever
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July 10, 2021 12:03 pm
Reply to  jwalker1395

This kid does a good breakdown of the prospects and makes a valid point IMHO Bouknight can struggle to create separaton. Terrence Davis has NO such problem. It is hard to argue with the assessment with the visual evidence provided.

Again I think Bouknight is a good player but is he better than TD? I agree Bouknight over Kuminga but I would feel better about Bouknight if he had more shake and bake a la Ja Morant. As an aside it is the same with Jalen Suggs, he does not have enough creativity to his scoring arsenal.

If Bouknight was more shifty with his moves, more accurate with his midrange (only 37%) he would be 60% TS% instead of 55% TS%. So while I like him, I am not as high on him as you and think the odds we pick him are extremely low.

TheGrantNapear
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July 10, 2021 1:31 pm
Reply to  kings4ever

BPA is simply who the FO views as the best player available when pick number 9 rolls in. It’s not complicated. You pick who you have as the best prospect available at that slot without consideration for fit or need, given how talent deprived this team is.

Socalpurplecurse
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July 11, 2021 12:18 pm
Reply to  jwalker1395

Exactly he is a 3 level scorer with great size and elite athletic abilities and great handles and IQ. He’d be a clear upgrade over our one dimensional buddy. It’s best player available u figure out the rest later, unfortunately everyone has noticed and he could very well be gone by pick 9

TheGrantNapear
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July 10, 2021 11:14 am

Looks like Metu made the Nigerian team, congrats to him!
Funny enough, Jahlil Okafor is on the Nigerian team as well.

TheGrantNapear
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July 10, 2021 2:07 pm

Some of the trades these random websites come up with are hilarious. I’m not the biggest Fox guy, but talk about a complete poo poo platter of a return for Fox. I think they forgot Vlade is no longer the GM.

In the proposed trade scenario, the Pelicans would be sending a package that includes Kira Lewis Jr., Eric Bledsoe, Jaxson Hayes, the No. 10 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2022 first-round pick, and a 2023 first-round pick.
https://www.inquisitr.com/6493749/nba-rumors-proposed-blockbuster-would-send-deaaron-fox-to-pelica

Carl
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July 10, 2021 7:11 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

This team has zero desire to tank and rebuild, so there is absolutely no chance that trade happens. I’m actually not sure how much better you do than three firsts for a good player who hasn’t even made an All Star team, let alone been in the playoffs or more. I suppose you’d want at least one higher lottery first, and that’s the real issue with the deal.

ArcoThunder
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July 12, 2021 8:37 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

Thats a pretty stupid one. No way the Kings are trading Fox right now. He’s the only guy they can actually build something off of and bank on. Burt is second on that list but he’s not in that category just yet in my opinion (in how the business side of things go that is).

now€¦ here is another trade I saw and actually really liked (assuming Holmes is gone which I think he is).

Buddy to the pelicans for Steven Adams, Wes Iwundu, their #10 pick in this years draft and a pick swap option for their 2023 first round pick which likely wouldn’t convey to the Kings.

I love this trade idea. Am I crazy?

Adams is a tough SOB on the court that this team DESPERATELY NEEDS! Plus the kings would have back to back picks in the draft which is a unique advantage to have.

Last edited 2 years ago by ArcoThunder
RAP87
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July 12, 2021 9:15 am
Reply to  ArcoThunder

I’d do that deal even without the picks. Hield for Adams straight up.

ArcoThunder
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July 12, 2021 11:01 am
Reply to  RAP87

Me too!!!

murraytant
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July 13, 2021 10:44 pm
Reply to  ArcoThunder

who gets the swap option? if NOP can swap then they get better of deal. NOP will finish above Kings, get worse pick in 2022.
I wonder if Iwundu could be moved or not included in order to keep money for Holmes.
I do like this.
and I like Barnes to win now Pacers for #13 which can be converted into 18 and 34 from OKC.

RAP87
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July 10, 2021 5:41 pm

OFF TOPIC: Vrenz Bleijenbergh coming in for a workout in Sac. Could be at play with our 39th pick. Would be a steal if he is still available at 39 IMO.

HongKongKingsFan
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July 10, 2021 7:21 pm
Reply to  RAP87

Nice to know at least somebody come to work out with the team.

WizsSox
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July 10, 2021 9:46 pm
Reply to  RAP87

Thanks for the name. I have been able to confirm one thing over the last month.

I am a pure sucker when it comes to grainy Euro highlight reels…when I see guys like Bleijenbergh, Prkacin and Petrusev’s passing and seemingly well rounded games, it probably makes me overlook some flaws : )

I’d be happy if the Kings got any of these dudes at 39 and I would even be tempted to take them in the mid-late 20’s if the Kings had a pick there.

Last edited 2 years ago by WizsSox
RAP87
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July 10, 2021 10:27 pm
Reply to  WizsSox

Agreed. The Knicks and Rockets have a couple of picks in the 20’s so Mcnair can maybe try and acquire one of the picks but we’ll see.. The other would be a trade with the Thunder. Bagley, 9th and 39th for the 16th, 18th and 34th.

murraytant
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July 13, 2021 10:41 pm
Reply to  RAP87

I like Vrenz. Doubt he is there at 39. OKC has 6, 16,18, 34 and 37 and the desire to pick future potential.
Bouknight vs. TD? Bouknight.
I would take Moody though.
BPA is eye of beholder. Knicks may use some late first round picks on Sexton.
I wonder if Rockets would give up pick in order to dump Gordon?

alec26
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July 10, 2021 7:18 pm

Funny read: Who were the 12 players somehow chosen before Devin Booker in 2015 NBA draft? (msn.com)

KIngs missed on Willie Cauley-Stein, but everyone else missed too.

HongKongKingsFan
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July 10, 2021 10:41 pm
Reply to  alec26

Yes….
that’s why I am okay for those draft miss….(as we picked the BPA at our spot)

2012: T_Rob is BPA than Lillard (based on mock draft and those sport journalist)
2013: BenMac is BPA than Giannis
2014 : Just bad bad draft
2015: WCS over Booker (questionable, seems picked for fit, then BPA)
2016: weak draft
2017: Lucky
2018: Thanks Marvin for coming to Sac_Town for a workout…….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

eddie41
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July 12, 2021 8:37 am

Yeah, I’d put Bouknight in the top ten, same tier as Moody. Although I’m not quite there yet with Wagner, and definitely not with Keon.

Hamlet1989
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July 12, 2021 8:50 am
Last edited 2 years ago by Hamlet1989
Adamsite
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July 12, 2021 9:03 am
Reply to  Hamlet1989

I wonder who’s 5% Dyal Capital is buying? Also, I didn’t realize a company could have minority shares in multiple NBA teams. The plan to invest in 6 teams!

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