Sacramento Kings: 5 options for pick No. 34 in 2017 NBA Draft
Mar 18, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) shoots over defender Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Holding the 34th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings could find a diamond in the rough in the second round.
In the lead up to the 2017 NBA Draft, the talk surrounding the Sacramento Kings has focused on their two top-10 selections.
That's clearly justified, considering the pedigree of top end talent in this draft. As with every year, the chance to add a potential All-Star talent will always be the hope of every franchise and fan alike.
But while the buzz has zeroed in on the fifth and 10th picks for the Kings, they hold a pretty valuable second round pick in the 34th overall selection in this year's draft as well.
It's a position the Kings have only held once before in their history back in 1986, when they took UC Irvine power forward Johnny Rogers, who lasted with the team for one season.
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Of course, it's impossible to know how the draft will unfold, what players that will be available and whether the Kings will stay put with where they are, but there's certainly value to be had for any team in the second round.
Historically, players that have been taken 34th overall in past drafts have been two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer, two-time NBA champion Mario Chalmers and current Boston Celtics swingman Jae Crowder.
Obviously those are just the highlights of a long list of past selections and to expect a player of any of their respective impact would be incredibly far fetched for anyone to hope for. After all, drafting in the second round is not an exact science and teams are dealt with the cards that are given to them.
For a team like the Kings and where they stand in their rebuild, mining for gold in the second round may look to draft-and-stash a player overseas, picking an overlooked four-year college player or a project that will need plenty of development to put his skills together. There are so many directions they can go in that we'll just have to wait and see at this point.
So with that set, let's take a look at five potential options the Kings could take with the 34th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Mar 10, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) look to pass while being guarded by Oregon Ducks forward Kavell Bigby-Williams (35) and forward Chris Boucher (25) during the Pac-12 Conference Tournament at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
5. Ivan Rabb, PF/C, California
2016-17 stats: 31 GP, 14 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, .7 SPG, 1 BPG, 2.2 TOV, 48.4 FG%, 40 3P%, 66.3 FT%
Showing similar production to his freshman season with the Golden Bears, Ivan Rabb's decision to return for his sophomore year didn't come with the resounding success one would've hoped for.
Nevertheless, Rabb decided to enter his name in the draft once again, this time staying for good, and the California native is dealing with the residual effects of his decision based on his late first round/early second round projections.
Standing at 6'10", Rabb has many of the qualities teams are looking for in big men in this age of the NBA. Offensively, Rabb's very mobile, shows some touch around the basket and has the makings of being a fine rim-runner and possible lob target, especially in transition.
By far, Rabb's most encouraging trait is his rebounding ability as evidenced by his double digit rebounding numbers this season. Rabb shows great instincts on the glass, consistently making an effort to box out opposing players and grabbing rebounds at tough angles.
Lacking an expansive offensive repertoire, Rabb's limited offensive potential stands as a big hurdle for him to clear in his ongoing development. There's also the need for Rabb to bulk up and increase his physicality, creating questions over whether he can act as a legitimate rim protector as his size and length may suggest.
With a stacked young frontcourt in place, the Kings don't have much of a need for Rabb if he were to be available at No. 34. There are certainly traits like his rebounding prowess that would make him an appealing fit, but the Kings can already find that type of skill-set with their promising trio of big men.
Mar 23, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) shoots during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks in the semifinals of the midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
4. Caleb Swanigan, PF/C, Purdue
2016-17 stats: 35 GP, 18.5 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 3 APG, .4 SPG, .8 BPG, 3.4 TOV, 52.7 FG%, 44.7 3P%, 78.1 FT%
Caleb Swanigan's journey to the college level is one that's as harrowing and inspiring as you'll come across. After a highly productive sophomore season playing with the Boilermakers, Swanigan is on the verge of making what seemed like a virtually impossible dream at one point in time a reality.
The 6'8″, 246-pound Swanigan is incredibly skilled on the offensive end, offering many versatile attributes that are becoming increasingly vital for a player of his size and position. He can back down his matchup to get baskets down low, space the floor to hit three-pointers at a reasonable volume and has a keen eye for setting up teammates for scores.
Thanks to his size and strength, Swanigan is a proficient rebounder on both ends of the floor as he ranked as one of the best rebounders throughout the country this year. Although his stature and bruising physical presence would make one think he struggles with mobility, Swanigan has made considerable strides in his ability to run the floor, which opens up even more scoring opportunities for him in transition.
But as productive as he is offensively, most of the concerns that surround Swanigan lie on the defensive end. Despite having the ideal length, Swanigan struggles to protect the rim due to his limited vertical athleticism and will have to have greatly improve his defense in space when he reaches the next level.
As we wait to see where he ultimately falls in the draft, there is a clear-cut role for Swanigan when he reaches the NBA. Sharing similar traits to traditional big men like Zach Randolph, Greg Monroe and Enes Kanter, Swanigan could follow in their respective footsteps and come off the bench to act as an offensive spark plug.
In order to achieve that, he'll have to work on refining his offensive repertoire and could see some time in the G-League to do so. That might make him an attractive option at 34 for the Kings, though it would be another addition to an increasingly crowded young frontcourt.
Mar 11, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) drives to the basket past Creighton Bluejays forward Cole Huff (13) during the first half of the Big East Conference Tournament final game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
3. Josh Hart, SG, Villanova
2016-17 stats: 36 GP, 18.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, .3 BPG, 2 TOV, 51 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 74.7 FT%
Having wrapped up his four-year career at Villanova, Josh Hart stands as one of the most decorated prospects in this year's draft class. Now making the jump to the NBA, the 22-year-old Maryland native offers a wide baseline of skills and abilities that could make him a valuable contributor when he reaches the next level, despite the projections that slot him as a second round selection.
Offensively, Hart stands as a productive and efficient scorer from all levels of the court. While most of his offense comes in an off-ball role capacity, Hart shows the capability to create offense for himself as well as others with the ball in his hands, though to what degree he'll be able to do so in an NBA setting stands as an intriguing question.
On the other end of the floor, Hart's defensive activity is very promising as he can defend multiple positions, fend off stronger players to attack the glass and does the little things to generate turnovers or gain possession of the ball.
Although his athletic limitations and his age will likely stand in the way of him potentially becoming a higher selection, Hart's all-around talent is enough to counter those concerns and it's easy to see why Hart could make an instant impact no matter where he ends up in the vein of a Malcolm Brogdon this year.
Despite the many options they have at the 2-spot, Hart's versatility and production make him an interesting fit for the Kings. He's clearly on the Kings' radar as general manager Vlade Divac was reportedly in attendance for Hart's pro day and the team recently brought him in for a workout in Sacramento.
Whether he'll last long enough to be on the board by the time the Kings are on the clock at 34 remains to be seen, but bringing in a player of Hart's caliber would be very appealing for where the Kings are at currently.
Mar 23, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) defends Purdue Boilermakers guard P.J. Thompson (11) during the first half in the semifinals of the midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
2. Frank Mason III, PG, Kansas
2016-17 stats: 36 GP, 20.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1. BPG, 2.4 TOV, 49 FG%, 47.1 3P%, 79.4 FT%
Another decorated four-year player, Frank Mason III certainly ended his time in Lawrence on a high note as he won multiple player of the year awards, with the Naismith Award being the standout. Now setting his sights on the NBA, Mason has a very good chance of hearing his name called when draft night rolls around.
A score-first point guard, Mason is an incredibly efficient player from all levels of the court.
He possesses great speed and shiftiness to go from one end to the other to put home a terrific finish, and he has a penchant for making his way to the foul line as evidenced by his high free-throw rate (Mason had a career 47.2 percent free-throw rate at Kansas). Additionally, Mason is a lethal outside shooter, capable of hitting from downtown in a variety of ways.
Despite his physical limitations, Mason is a very disruptive defender, using his hands to try and generate turnovers or being physical with opposing guards at the point of attack.
Obviously, the biggest question regarding Mason is how will he be able to overcome his size limitations on both ends of the floor. While his drive and determination are qualities you hope to see in any prospect, there's only so much with where that can take a player of Mason's stature and opposing teams will try to exploit his physical weaknesses when he reaches the next level.
When it comes to the Kings, finding a point guard is a clear objective for the team in this draft.
Although much of the talk about finding one has centered around their lottery selections, there's always the possibility of selecting not one, but two point guards and if that's to be the case, Mason's name will be an interesting one to focus on should they look to find one in the second round.
The team clearly has an interest in him to some degree as they've hosted him twice for group workouts in Sacramento. With the point guard position open for anyone to fill, Mason could be an intriguing option for the Kings for what he brings to the court and off it as well.
Mar 23, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Jordan Bell (1) reacts during the second half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the semifinals of the midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Oregon defeated Michigan 69-68. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
1. Jordan Bell, PF/C, Oregon
2016-17 stats: 39 GP, 10.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 2.2 BPG, 1.9 TOV, 63.6 FG%, 21.4 3P%, 70.1 FT%
As the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Jordan Bell played a vital part of the Oregon Ducks' Final Four run this season. Now taking his talents to the NBA, Bell stands as an intriguing option for teams once we fully settle in on draft night.
Although he stands a bit undersized for a modern big man, Bell's defensive versatility and athleticism will be his calling card when he reaches the next level.
Whether it's to keep up with guards while defending the perimeter or flying in to swat a shot attempt at the basket, Bell has the exact defensive qualities teams are seeking for a player of his position, thanks to his incredible mobility and outstanding leaping ability.
Bell's defensive anchor projection isn't much of one when you look at his gaudy shot blocking numbers during his three years in Eugene (Bell posted 3.6 blocks per-40 minutes for his collegiate career).
The primary concerns regarding Bell lie on the offensive end and his strength.
Despite being a very capable and efficient finisher around the rim, Bell lacks a fully formed offensive game in a half-court setting that teams can rely on once he makes the jump to the NBA. In terms of his physicality, Bell will have to bulk up a fair amount to match the size and strength of opposing NBA big men.
Of course, selecting a big man with any of their draft picks will only add more questions to sort through for the Kings. But the chance to add a player of Bell's caliber in the second round is one too good to pass up.
With his role playing potential and extensive defensive attributes, prospects like Bell simply don't come in every draft at the range where he may be selected. The idea of pairing him alongside any of their current frontcourt pieces could be a fruitful one for the Kings in the long run.
Whether he will be available at 34 might be wishful thinking, and work will have to be done on the Kings' part if Bell is truly who they have their sights set on for that pick.
