As we discussed this weekend, draft season is a time for rumors, smokescreens, and outright lies. With that in mind, there’s a juicy rumor making the rounds on the interwebs and it’s worth diving into a little deeper. The rumor in question comes from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and concerns who the Sacramento Kings might pick with the second overall pick in next month’s NBA Draft.
Could the Kings pass on Luka Doncic? They absolutely could. It’s early in the draft process and every year there are players who rise and fall. The Kings shouldn’t be locked in on any one player right now. They should do their due diligence and meet with as many top prospects as they can, and get as many as possible to work out for them. Not only does this allow the Kings to make an informed decision, but it helps them establish relationships with players for the future so they know who they might be interested in for future trades or free agency opportunities. In that sense, it could very well be the Kings themselves pushing this rumor.
It could also benefit the Kings to lower Doncic’s draft stock to prevent teams from trading for the first overall pick. One thing worth noting is that Givony’s report treats it as fact that the Phoenix Suns will select Deandre Ayton.
Anything could happen between now and the draft. The Kings could pass on Luka in the draft and start a freefall for him. It seems rather unlikely though, and if you’re a Kings fan desperate for Doncic to wear purple I wouldn’t panic just yet.
Hang in there folks, it’s going to be a long month.
