We are eight days from the 2023 NBA Draft where the Sacramento Kings currently control pick 24 in the first round. There will be plenty of understandable options when they are on the clock, including intriguing upside swings.
Bryant West, draft expert for The Kings Herald, joined the podcast to break down five of the prospects that we view as “high-risk, high-reward” candidates that deserve consideration.
- Bilal Coulibaly (Boulogne-Levallois)
- Sidy Cissoko (IGNITE)
- Dariq Whitehead (Duke)
- Max Lewis (Pepperdine)
- Julian Phillips (Tenneessee)
While this current front office, led by Monte McNair and Wes Wilcox, has not drafted these types of players in years prior, their draft philosophy could be notably different at 24 compared to when they were selected in the lottery.
🚨NEW KP EPISODE🚨
🔘Special Guest: @BSWest5
🔘Upside swings for Sacramento to consider drafting at pick 24
🔘Factoring in Whitehead’s injury history
🔘Shooting concerns with Coulibaly, Cissoko, and Phillips
🔘Long and versatile wing/forward defendershttps://t.co/4ofpcgjfJi pic.twitter.com/TzJkesCoXg— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) June 14, 2023
Throughout this episode, we spent time diving into some of the intriguing flashes that these prospects show and also present the question marks surrounding them.
Wing/forward defense is much needed in Sacramento and three of the players from this conversation could excel there throughout their careers. There are also options that give reasons for optimism surrounding their elite shooting off-the-catch with self-creation moments that could be signs of more to come.
As we go through this conversation, we talk about each of the five prospects’ potential fits with the Sacramento Kings and rank them in order of who we would prefer at pick 24.
Let us know in the comments which of Coulibaly, Cissoko, Whitehead, Lewis, and Phillips intrigue you and why. Do you think it makes sense for Sacramento to take an upside swing at pick 24? Maybe more so at pick 38?
There will be another episode in the near future that centers around some of the “safer” options Sacramento could have come draft night.
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(settles in for ninety glorious minutes)
Coulibaly will be gone way before 24 so we can scratch him off the 5. Whitehead is an upside swing for sure because of the talent and age, but the foot injuries are a concern.
How many players have come through the draft that have been bad shooters have actually improved their shooting in the league? My guess is not very many have improved a decent amount.
Give me the better all around player that can dribble, pass, and shoot.
oh, yes
Mudiay, Okoro, Pat Williams etc.
actually, sarcasm aside, there may be a few
Jimmer could shoot but only if he was not guarded.
At this time, for the last 16 seasons, I am feverishly scanning the site and all of the mock drafts day after day as the Kings have their chance at the Lotto board.
That’s because the draft was so much a part of the next season and the future of the Kings. Every year, there was a ton riding on “who they gonna get”?
This year, I am trying to not jump too much into that mode. I am interested, I am reading, but at the 24th pick (and 38th and 54th) next season is not riding on next week’s draft. It’s an unfamiliar feeling and a nice one. I am excited and interested, but not anxious… for a change.
great discussion! Of your list, yeah, I think Coulibaly will be gone by 24, but I like Cissoko as a possibility.
Another wing/forward that I’d consider at 24 who really only popped on my radar after I noticed that Kings worked him out, is Jalen Wilson. Vecenie’s recent 180-page report ranks him at 37 overall in his 6th tier. It’s a good analysis which makes me think he could have a Terence Davis role, but with more size.
Is there a reason Leonard Miller (I was hoping we could pick up Miller last year before he exited the draft process) isn’t one of the top 5 high-risk/high-reward options?
Because I have zero expectations that Miller (12th on my big board) will fall to 24. I can say the same for Coulibaly, though.
Okay. It was Coulibaly’s inclusion that made me question whether the likelihood of availability at 24 was a consideration or not.
Surprised I haven’t seen more love for Rayan Rupert. He’s a long, smooth athlete who plays pretty tenacious defense and doesn’t shy away from contact despite being skinny. He’s great running the floor in transition and has a nice feel for the game as a playmaker and dribbler. If he becomes a reliable C&S guy, he might be Mikal Bridges lite.
The more I think of it tho, the more I think Cissoko should be the pick – and that I’d be baffled if 23 teams didn’t pick him first. He’s a perfect fit. Unlike Bryant, I think he’d be the best wing defender on the roster from Day 1. He’s an elite defensive prospect with his versatility, physicality, length, agility, explosiveness, and most importantly – GRIT! The boy is a flat out DAWG! He can guard 1-4, rebound, run the floor in transition, handle the ball and playmake, and he’s a semi reliable 3 ball away from being an ELITE 3&D guy. The perfect piece. And while he has tremendous upside, I also feel his BBIQ, tenacity, defense, playmaking, size and athleticism makes him a Day 1 contributor. NBA Ready AND Star potential? At #24? What more could you want?
I like Cissoko a lot- for what that is worth. And I like O-Max Proper.
A dream draft for me would be one of those plus TJD who magically slips to round 2.
It’s Gerald Wallace all over again…and the Kings team that drafted Wallace back then was so much better and had more playoff experience than this current Kings team.
I would like to see the Kings in the playoffs next season, so who’s going to be the next “Hedo” (not Wallace)? I’m not talking about a specific position but someone who’s a little more polished who can significantly contribute now. Looking forward to seeing the “safer” options episode. I’m still sticking with Toumani Camara…if not the 1st rd, maybe the 2nd rd.
IMO I would like to use the #24 pick in a trade rather than draft any one of these players. If we would have a chance to trade Holmes and or Barnes in a sign and trade I would rather do that. How you ave a chance to kill 2 birds with one stone.
Camara is slow footed but would be worth a 54 or a free agent contract.
Keep i mind that Kings might have 4 picks this year if you count Sasha. and no first rounder next year. So, this year’s two first rounders have to make up for zero next year. I exaggerated and made Sasha into a first round (talent)
I think I saw Coulibaly (so?) at 11 or so on Tankathon today. I wouldn’t be upset to trade all 3 picks to get one in the 15-18 range. If Sasha comes over that plus what we have is pretty good to go into the season with.
Badge Legend