NBA
Report: Washington Wizards In Pursuit Of Sacramento’s 4th Pick
Jun 16, 2022, 9:59 AM | Updated: 10:25 am
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
As we move to within one week of the NBA Draft, the rumor mill continues to churn out reports that teams are hoping to make a deal with the Sacramento Kings for its highly-coveted fourth pick.
Washington Wizards insider Quinton Mayo reported on Thursday morning that the Wizards are interested in acquiring the Kings’ fourth-overall pick to select talented Purdue guard Jaden Ivey.
Earlier this week, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony shared that Ivey doesn’t view Sacramento as a ‘preferred destination’ as the young guard would likely prefer a role on a team that isn’t already heavy at the guard position.
With De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell in the Kings’ backcourt, speculation has risen that Sacramento general manager Monte McNair will look to use the selection on a forward like Iowa’s Keegan Murray or trade back in the draft to acquire rotational assets.
The Wizards, who currently hold the 10th pick in the draft, could be an ideal partner for the Kings as Sacramento has already brought in projected 10-12th pick Jeremy Sochan of Baylor for a workout.
After trading away perineal All-Star John Wall in 2020, Washington has been searching for a guard that can be paired alongside Bradley Beal to form another dangerous backcourt in the Eastern Conference.
According to Mayo’s report, the Wizards have their sights set on Ivey to fill that role:
Washington’s front office is really high on 6-foot-4 guard, Jaden Ivey out of Purdue. They’ve spent a significant amount of time discussing possible trade packages to acquire the number four overall pick from Sacramento, Ivey’s assumed draft position, sources tell me. Ivey, 20, regularly pulls comparisons to explosive combo guards Ja Morant and Russell Westbrook.
Wizards insider Quinton Mayo – June 16, 2022
Seeing that Sacramento has brought in Sochan (projected to be drafted 10-12th in most mock drafts) and lengthy Australian guard Dyson Daniels (projected to be drafted 8-10th in most mock drafts), the possibility of McNair opting to move back in the draft appears very real.
The Kings could look to acquire some much-needed forward depth from the Wizards in any deal, with at least two of Kyle Kuzma, Rui Hachimura, and Deni Avdija likely at the top of McNair’s wish list–along with Washington’s 10th overall pick.
Any deal involving Kuzma (on the books for $26 million through 2023-24) would likely have to include a similar salary like Richaun Holmes’ contract.
Sacramento will likely have several suitors for the fourth pick as we get close to June 23rd, but keep your eyes on a possible deal with Washington.
After last summer’s deal with the Los Angeles Lakers to acquire Kyle Kuzma in the failed Buddy Hield trade fell through, the 26-year-old might find himself in California once again come next week.
