National Basketball Association

Sacramento Kings: 5 options for pick No. 10 in 2017 NBA Draft

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:00 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

Fansided, Jordan Treske/FanSided via Hoops Habit

Dec 3, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Rawle Alkins (1) drives to the basket but is stopped by Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The Sacramento Kings hold the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft after acquiring it via the DeMarcus Cousins trade. The question now is what direction will they go in?

Having a top-five pick in this year's draft came as a big surprise for the Sacramento Kings. Having that, along with the 10th overall pick, has come as a luxury for a team finally taking the long view in building their roster.

For as rash and hastily put together as the DeMarcus Cousins trade looked and felt in the moment it occurred, hindsight has given us the benefit of seeing why the Kings were better off with parting ways with the three-time All-Star.

Of course, a lot of that has centered on the return they received from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Cousins and so far, the second half production of sharpshooter Buddy Hield has painted the trade in a different light on the Kings' side of things.

But in receiving the Pelicans' first round pick of this year's draft, the Kings get another bite at the apple to add another young, promising talent to their growing foundation. With that being said, it wasn't guaranteed the pick would automatically convey to the Kings since the Pelicans placed a top-3 protection on the pick.

More from Hoops Habit

With an 87 percent chance of it landing 10th overall, the pick wound up going chalk on the night of the lottery, easing the Kings and their fans alike. Obviously the question for the Kings now is what type of player will they target in the second of their lottery selections?

Going best player available is the most desirable option considering the Kings are in need of adding as much high-caliber talent as they can through the draft, but with clear needs within their roster and possible surprises in store, there are certainly plenty of directions they can go in when they're officially on the clock.

Having two lottery picks may influence their thinking in potentially playing it safe with one selection, while going for a swing-for-the-fences type selection that they can afford to take at this point in their rebuild.

So with no time like the present, here are five options the Kings could consider with the 10th overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Mar 23, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) dribbles the ball past West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jevon Carter (2) during the first half in the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

5. Zach Collins, PF/C, Gonzaga

2016-17 stats:  39 GP, 10 PPG, 5.9 RPG, .4 APG, .5 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 1.5 TOV, 65.2 FG%, 47.6 3P%, 74.3 FT%

The role of the big man in today's NBA is evolving to the point where versatility is becoming an essential trait on both ends of the floor. For Zach Collins, the timing couldn't have worked out better for him to make the jump to the NBA.

Although he didn't log nearly the same amount of minutes as other projected lottery prospects, Collins still managed to stand out, especially in the latter stages of the Bulldogs' tournament run this season.

Offensively, Collins is a very efficient player of his size and position, displaying a great level of athleticism that makes him a reliable lob target. He also shows a capability to space the floor, thanks to his brilliant touch, though there are some questions whether his range will seamlessly translate to the NBA three-point line.

On the other end of the floor, Collins has the makings of becoming an excellent rim protector who can do more than hold his own when defending in space. More times than not, however, Collins can be overly aggressive when guarding his assignment, as exhibited by his high foul rate (Collins averaged 6.2 fouls per 40 minutes this year).

Although he'll have to bulk up a good amount to match the physicality of various big men in the league today, Collins' mix of athleticism and versatility on both ends of the floor make him a promising two-way player in the years to come.

But as is this case with any big man that's being projected near both spots where the Kings are selecting in the lottery, there's just no urgency for the Kings to take a player like Collins, since they're already high on the young frontcourt players they already have.

Mar 23, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) drives the ball past Xavier Musketeers forward Tyrique Jones (0) during the second period in the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Xavier Musketeers defeated the Arizona Wildcats 73-71. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

4. Lauri Markkanen, PF/C, Arizona

2016-17 stats:  37 GP, 15.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, .9 APG, .4 SPG, .5 BPG, 1.1 TOV, 49.2 FG%, 42.3 3P%, 83.5 FT%

When talking about the more notable shooters in this year's draft class, it's virtually impossible not to mention arguably the most unique one of them all, Lauri Markkanen.

Standing at exactly seven feet tall, Markkanen is an incredibly adept and efficient perimeter shooter who can score in a manner of ways that players his size have seldom done before. While capitalizing in catch-and-shoot or pick-and-pop opportunities are his bread and butter, Markkanen is also able to create his own shot off the dribble and has shown some flashes of making key passes when attacking the paint.

As a result of having those traits and skills, Markkanen has been compared to fellow European seven-foot shooters like Kristaps Porzingis and Dirk Nowitzki throughout this process, which may cause more than a few eye rolls at this point.

No matter the case, however, it's truly a testament to what the 20-year-old Markkanen can do offensively that makes him an incredibly appealing lottery level prospect.

The questions regarding Markkanen is whether he can simply hold his own in other areas of the game, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. Lacking great length as well as physicality, Markkanen's defensive capabilities will be a big hurdle for him to clear when he reaches the NBA and it's unclear what position he'll end up primarily defending due to his solid but inconsistent lateral movement.

Whether he's available by the time the Kings pick at No. 10 is another question, but Markkanen's theoretical fit is one that feels like exactly that at this point: theoretical.

Not that he isn't deserving of being selected at that spot, but the Kings will likely not be in the business of selecting a player of Markkanen's position this early in the draft, due to the young frontcourt players they already have in place.

Mar 17, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and forward Deng Adel (22) celebrate against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks during the second half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

3. Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville

2016-17 stats:  34 GP, 15.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, .5 BPG, 1.6 TOV, 40.8 FG%, 35.4 3P%, 80.6 FT%

Most likely the biggest riser in the ongoing pre-draft process, Donovan Mitchell has become quite the coveted name, especially after his exceptional showing at this year's NBA Draft Combine.

With his dazzling athleticism and incredible physical profile, Mitchell is well suited to become a high impact two-way wing that NBA teams are always in need of in this day and age.

Due to his versatility and his high motor, Mitchell is simply a problem for his assignment to shake on the defensive end of the floor. While he is undersized standing at 6'3″, he more than makes up for it with his long arms and his strong frame, which helps him even defend opposing swingmen from time to time.

Although his offensive abilities come with a few question marks, Mitchell's productivity on that end took a big jump as a sophomore this year with the Cardinals.

Mitchell made considerable strides as a three-point shooter and showed some creativity with the ball in his hands, specifically operating out of pick-and-roll situations. But with concerns over his finishing ability and whether he can act as a full-time playmaker, to what height Mitchell becomes as a player offensively is the question teams are weighing at this very moment.

Due to his rising draft stock, there's no question at this point to whether Mitchell is on the Kings' radar as he held a draft workout in Sacramento earlier this week. In regard to his theoretical fit, however, it's not as clear-cut as one might like, due to the questions over Mitchell's eventual role offensively and the many options the Kings have at shooting guard currently.

The upside alone is enough for the Kings to consider Mitchell at No. 10, but it may not be enough for them to ultimately select him, especially if a player of higher value who also plays at a position of need is still on the board.

2. Frank Ntilikina, PG, France

2016-17 stats:  54 GP, 5.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, .7 SPG, .1 BPG, 1 TOV, 45 FG%, 39.2 3P%, 66.1 FT%

Of the players projected to be taken in the lottery of this year's draft, no other players have a level of mystery surrounding them quite as much as French guard Frank Ntilikina.

That isn't hard to deduce since Ntilikina has spent his life up until this point playing overseas for both club (his hometown club, Strasbourg IG, no less) as well as country. Now on the verge of making the jump to the states to take the next step in his professional career, plenty of teams are intrigued with what the 18-year-old Ntilikina can do on the court.

kings

Hoops Habit 1 dSacramento Kings: 5 options for pick No. 5 in 2017 NBA Draft

More headlines around FanSided:

1 d - Write about the Sacramento Kings for A Royal Pain2d - 2017 NBA First Round Mock Draft 2.02d - A Royal Prospect: P.J. Dozier2d - 2017 NBA Draft Rumors: Kings could trade up for De'Aaron Fox2d - 2017 NBA Draft: 5 teams that should consider trading first round picksMore News at A Royal Pain

Possessing a unique brand of physical gifts, Ntilikina has the perfect mix of size, length and athleticism to act as a combo guard in today's NBA. As such, Ntilikina puts his physical traits to good use on the defensive end and with his high work rate on that end of the floor, he regularly harasses opposing guards as well as utilizes his long arms to swat away shots or force turnovers.

In terms of his offensive production, Ntilikina stands as a useful perimeter shooter after fine tuning his jumpshot over time. While he's primarily operated in an off ball role when playing for his club, Ntilikina has shown plenty of creativity and composure with the ball in his hands, especially in transition.

The biggest question for Ntilikina will be whether he can harness his developing set of offensive skills to act as a true point guard. Despite showing some solid ball handling, Ntilikina has been quite turnover-prone when used as a lead guard, showing that his instincts and timing as a playmaker remain a work in progress in half-court situations.

Ntilikina has been on the Kings' radar as they had reportedly been one of four teams to have taken interest in scouting the Belgian-born player before knowing the results of the draft lottery. How much we should read into that at this point is clearly subjective, but it lines up with the prevailing thought that they're looking for their next point guard in the draft.

The bigger question may be whether selecting Ntilikina hinges on if the Kings take a point guard like De'Aaron Fox with their higher pick at 5. If not, then the Kings may have to work a deal to potentially land Ntilikina, especially with the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks being ahead of them at No. 8 and 9, respectively.

Jan 10, 2017; College Park, MD, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward OG Anunoby (3) shoots over Maryland Terrapins forward Justin Jackson (21) during the first half at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

1. OG Anunoby, SF/PF, Indiana

2016-17 stats:  16 GP, 11.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 1.6 TOV, 55.7 FG%, 31.1 3P%, 56.3 FT%

Admittedly, taking a player as raw and carrying a major red flag as OG Anunoby at 10th overall may be more risky than the Kings and their fanbase would particularly choose to do. After all, the 19-year-old combo forward from Indiana needs to seriously refine his offensive repertoire and had his sophomore season cut short after he tore his ACL in mid-January this year.

But the allure of Anunoby lies strictly in his versatile defensive abilities. Thanks to his eyebrow raising physical profile, as well as his superb mobility and athleticism, Anunoby has the makings of an elite-level defender who can guard virtually every position on the floor.

Before his injury, the questions over his offensive role and capabilities stood as the biggest issue of concern regarding the Missouri native.

At this point, there's enough hope that three-point shooting can eventually be a featured part of his game, despite the drop off in three-point efficiency in his sophomore season (Anunoby shot 13-of-29 from deep in his freshman year). With that being said, he has to make considerable strides in becoming a credible — and more importantly, respectable — threat from downtown.

More from Hoops Habit

Aside from that, Anunoby is fairly limited in creating for himself and his feel for the game is very rudimentary at this stage. Couple all of that with the fact that he's mere months removed from a serious injury, and that's a lot of questions to weigh and take on for the Kings if they were to ultimately select him.

It's not an easy option to move ahead and potentially take Anunoby 10th overall, but the reward may outweigh the current risk in the long run. Choosing a player of Anunoby's potential and capabilities is exactly the type of pick the Kings can afford to make with where they are at the moment, since future long-term success has finally become the ultimate goal for the team.

It's a lot to ask of the coaching staff to develop a relative project like Anunoby, but having him develop alongside players that face a similar set of circumstances could be conducive for him to become the desirable "3-and-D" player many hope he can be.

Obviously under this scenario, taking Anunoby is influenced by whether the Kings can take De'Aaron Fox with the fifth overall pick and if that's not the case, they will have to operate under a different plan.

But if the Kings get what they are reportedly hoping for in Fox, Anunoby would be more than worthy enough of picking to tie together their possible starting five of the future.

share

Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Basketball Association

Sacramento Kings