Image via WikipediaPicks Owned: 5th, 33rdAreas Of Need
Even though the Kings will eventually need to find a special point guard who is capable of sharing the backcourt with the ball dominant Tyreke Evans, they absolutely need to upgrade the frontcourt, where they routinely played at a deficit at the center and power forward positions. The pieces Sacramento has at power forward in Carl Landry and Jason Thompson would be greatly enhanced by playing beside a strong center.
Draft Targets
If DeMarcus Cousins happens to drop all the way to the fifth slot, the Kings may very well have repeat Rookie of the Year awards. Even though Geoff Petrie would have assuredly taken John Wall first overall if Sacramento had won the lottery, Cousins is the better overall pick for the franchise assuming his personality issues get sorted out completely.
During his first few seasons in the NBA, Cousins will absolutely score primarily at the rim on lobs and put-backs, but I would be surprised if he doesn’t have one of the better low post games and an occasional 15-footer (especially on the pick-and-pop) a season or two before his restricted free agency year.
Preferably instead of Johnson if Cousins is off the board, however, the Kings could possibly trade down a few slots to preserve some cap space and then draft a Cole Aldrich or Greg Monroe to address the center position.
As far as the 33rd overall pick, either Dominique Jones or Terrico White would be excellent options to pair with Evans.
Draft History
- 2009: Tyreke Evans, 4th / Omri Casspi, 23rd / Jon Brockman, 38th
- 2008: Jason Thompson, 12th / Sean Singletary, 42nd
- 2007: Spencer Hawes, 10th
- 2006: Quincy Douby, 19th
- 2005: Francisco Garcia, 23rd
- 2004: Kevin Martin, 23rd
- 2003: No pick
- 2002: Pick traded
- 2001: Gerald Wallace, 25th
- 2000: Hedo Turkoglu, 16th
Like so many GMs, Petrie's most successful picks have come when he has ignored position and made BPA picks. The Kings have had good success outside of the lottery with the 23rd overall pick in Martin and Casspi and hopefully they can translate that to the 33rd overall pick this season.
History of the 5th Overall Pick
- 2009: Ricky Rubio, Wolves, NA
- 2008: Kevin Love, Wolves/Grizzlies, 19.4
- 2007: Jeff Green, Sonics/Celtics, 12.7
- 2006: Shelden Williams, Hawks, 12.7
- 2005: Raymond Felton, Bobcats, 14.1
- 2004: Devin Harris, Mavericks/Wizards, 17.6
- 2003: Dwyane Wade, Heat, 25.7
- 2002: Nikoloz Tskitishvilli, Nuggets, 5.2
- 2001: Jason Richardson, Warriors, 16.9
- 2000: Mike Miller, Magic, 15.3
http://kings.realgm.com/articles/188/20100615/sacramento_kings_draft_preview_(5th_33rd_overall_picks)/
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