Sactown Scouting Report: Should The Kings Consider Trading Up?

Leading up to the NBA Draft, Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry has been going through all potential options of what they could do with the seventh overall pick. This edition of the Sactown Scouting Report explores whether they should consider trading up in the lottery and, if so, what it would potentially cost to do so.

While fans were understandably disappointed when the Kings fell to seventh on lottery night, I believe they’re still in a great spot to help add a young, long-term core piece. Whether they’ll be a franchise-caliber player capable of being the best player on a championship team is a different question, but keep in mind just how few of those there are in the NBA in total.

And even those players need the proper surrounding talents. Most people probably didn’t believe Jalen Brunson was good enough to be that guy, but having the supporting cast of Karl Anthony-Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart makes it easier.

That’s why I’m not going to be overly obsessed with Sacramento needing to find a savior at seventh overall. Obviously, that would be the most ideal outcome, just like every other team around them, but a more realistic goal would be finding a core piece who fits their rebuild/retool timeline moving forward.

With an aging top end of their roster and few young talents, the Kings are not in a position where they should be passive. Perry and his front office should be aware of the price of the picks ahead of them. They likely already have exploratory conversations with the likes of the Nets (6th), Clippers (5th), and even Chicago (4th), or others in the top three. Whether or not they should actually pull the trigger on any of those deals is a different story.

If they were to stand pat at No. 7, the Kings should be in range for one of Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown Jr., Keaton Wagler, or Kingston Flemings to still be available. While there are notable differences between those prospects, I believe they are in a similar enough tier that attaching serious assets to move up would be a mistake. Again, it’s a good spot to be in.

But recent history shows that moving up marginally within the lottery may not be too expensive. Washington moved from 8th to 7th in the 2023 Draft and gave up two future second-rounders to do so. In 2018, the Clippers used two future seconds to move up from pick 12 to 11, where they selected Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder also moved up from 12th to 10th in 2023, but took on the Davis Bertans contract from Dallas to do so.

(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

So, if the Kings are as obsessed with Acuff and want to move up one spot to secure him, would picks No. 7, 45, and a future second be enough for Brooklyn to give up No. 6? Or maybe pick 34 would have to be within the conversation.

If the Nets were eyeing the same player, there would be no reason for them to do so; if not, it could be more about securing that spot so no other team can make a deal to move ahead of the Kings at No. 7.

Moving up to 5th overall may be more complicated, with there seemingly being little reason to believe the Clippers would accept two second-rounders to slide down two spots. If they were to ask for a future first in a deal, Perry should hang up. Making that sort of move would only make sense if they believed there was a player clearly a tier above the rest of the options on the board by the time that selection came around.

Finding a way into the top four, where the likes of Caleb Wilson, Cameron Boozer, or even Darryn Peterson could be sitting, would likely be an entirely different conversation. Would picks No. 7, 34, and the Minnesota 2031 first-rounder be enough? Or would Chicago require one of Sacramento’s own future firsts?

That’s where the Kings need to be honest with where they are in their rebuild.  They’re just starting a new timeline, and those future picks will matter, as will flexibility moving forward. Sacramento is not in a spot where one piece will send them over the top. Using Dallas as an example, even after landing their star centerpiece in Cooper Flagg, they clearly need more surrounding talent to be a serious playoff contender.

Now, there are examples of trading future first-rounders paying off with the Mavericks’ move from 5th to 3rd to select Luka Doncic in 2018, a decision that nobody in Dallas regrets.

(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

But that’s a move you do when you believe a franchise centerpiece is still on the board, and I’m not convinced there’s enough of a talent difference between Acuff, Brown, Wagler, and Flemings that the Kings should be giving up notable future assets to secure one over the other.

If it’s two seconds on the move to slide up one or two spots to land their preference, I’m all for it. Attaching future first-rounders when the team projects to be well within the lottery conversation for years to come would be extremely risky, though.

Perry and his staff should be prepared to trade up, but not desperate to do so.

More Sactown Scouting Report

• The Pace, Poise, and Playmaking of Kingston Flemings
• Sactown Scouting Report: The Star-Swing Case for Darius Acuff Jr.
• Sactown Scouting Report: Second-Round Guards To Consider
• Sactown Scouting Report: The Unorthodox Upside of Keaton Wagler
• Sactown Scouting Report: The Creative Chaos of Mikel Brown Jr.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings & NBA Offseason Schedule

• Tuesday, June 23rd – NBA Draft (Round 1)
• Wednesday, June 24th – NBA Draft (Round 2)
• Tuesday, June 30th – NBA Free Agency negotiation period begins (3 PM PT)
• Thursday, July 9th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League begins
• Monday, July 13th – Free Agency moratorium ends / signings can become official

Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Related

Why being counted out could help the Sacramento Kings49ers lose Ricky Pearsall for season after decision to undergo knee surgeryJerry Reynolds on what the Kings should do with Sabonis & LaVineFaithful Flashbacks #29: First Playoff Win at Levi’s49ers bring back WR Deebo Samuel on 1-year, $7 million deal49ers OC praises Brock Purdy, WR growth early in Training Camp