NBA Mock Draft: Who are the Kings projected to take in the first round? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
After the Kings fell just in the absence of the NBA playoffshe next agenda Sacramento will evaluate what to do with its 2024 first-round draft pick.
While the Kings could package the pick in an attempt to land a proven veteran player, the option of adding an impact rookie on a cost-controlled contract is also extremely attractive.
Sacramento is currently projected to receive the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but the Kings could potentially move up in the lottery, with a 3.8 percent chance of moving into the top four and a 0 .8 percent chance of getting it. the number one overall pick.
Here’s what a handful of NBA insiders, project general manager Monte McNair and the Kings will do if they keep the pick and end up selecting 13th overall.
Jared McCain, PG, Duke – Freshman
Finkelstein takes note of Malik Monk pending unrestricted free agency, and the need that would arise for another ball-handler if the Kings’ sixth man opted to sign another player over the summer. A possible solution? Selecting a dynamic guard from a blue blood program.
McCain is 6-foot-3, 197 pounds and started 36 games during his lone season suiting up for the Blue Devils. The dynamic shooting guard averaged 14.3 points, five rebounds and 1.9 assists in 31.6 minutes per game, potentially offering Sacramento another scoring threat in the event of Monk’s departure.
Tidjane Salaun, SF, France
“Salaun, a big wing with a solid shooting base and consistent release, has quickly become one of my favorites in this class,” Boone wrote.
With the Kings lacking proven depth on the wing behind Keegan Murray, Salaun offers an opportunity to add a perimeter player with notable size and potential. At 6-foot-9 and 212 pounds, the French product could potentially slot into either forward position.
The 18-year-old averaged 8.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game during the 2023-24 season for Cholet Basket in the LNB Pro A, France’s top-tier men’s professional basketball league. Despite being one of the youngest prospects in the entire 2024 class, Salaun’s raw but promising upside could attract Sacramento near the bottom of the lottery.
Jared McCain, PG, Duke
“Teams will look to McCain as a combination scorer and secondary playmaker or offensive spark off the bench,” Wasserman wrote.
Like Finklestein, Wasserman noted the potential need for Sacramento to replace the playmaking ability Monk has relied on over the past two seasons if the dynamic point guard leaves in free agency. If Monk signs with another team this summer, the Kings would need to replace the 15.4 points per game the 26-year-old averaged in 26 minutes per game off the bench during the 2023-24 NBA season. McCain could be an interesting option if the need arises.
Ron Holland, G, G League Ignite
“Holland had an uneven season in the G League from an efficiency standpoint, but he is one of the youngest players in the draft and brings impressive scoring intensity and aggressiveness, making him a candidate to be picked higher.” in the lottery depending on how the pre-draft process plays out,” Givony wrote.
Holland is 6-foot-6, 204 pounds and averaged 19.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game for the G League Ignite during the 2023-24 season. The dynamic guard is only 18 years old, but he has tremendous offensive upside and could give the Kings an intriguing option on the perimeter.
Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky
Kalbrosky also pointed to Monk’s possible departure as Sacramento’s most pressing need, with Dillingham being a possible replacement. The 6-foot-3 guard from Kentucky averaged 15.2 points per game for the Wildcats during the 2023-24 season, but more importantly, he did it off the bench after starting just one of 32 games in the that appeared.
Dillinghman checks all the boxes you’d need in a Monk replacement: a crafty playmaker who can create his own offense and get his teammates going. Having played a sixth-man role at a major program, the transition to similar duties in the NBA could be easier for Dillingham than for a player who is accustomed to starting games at the college level.
Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Finally, a drill that is more than just a Monk replacement. Edey was a superstar at Purdue and led the Boilermakers to a second-place finish in the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The 7-foot-4 big man averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game during the 2023-24 season.
With Edey, the biggest concern remains whether his game will translate to the next level. What kind of role can he play in a league where size alone won’t allow you to dictate games like you do in college? Still, Edey’s pedigree and production make him an intriguing prospect who could be worth rolling the dice on in the lottery.