NBA Mock Draft: Who the Kings Should Pick in the First Round originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
After the Kings fell before the NBA playoffsO next order of business for Sacramento will evaluate what to do with their 2024 first-round draft pick.
While the Kings could package the draft in an attempt to sign a proven veteran player, the option of adding an impact rookie on a cost-controlled contract is also extremely attractive.
Sacramento is currently projected to receive the 13th overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft, but the Kings could potentially move up in the lottery, with a 3.8 percent chance of moving into the top four and a 0.8 percent chance of nab the No. 1 overall pick.
Here’s what a handful of NBA experts draft general manager Monte McNair and the Kings will do if they keep the pick and end up at No. 13 overall.
Jared McCain, PG, Duke – freshman
Finkelstein observes Malik Monk pending unrestricted free agency, and the need that would arise for another ball handler if the Kings’ sixth man chose to sign elsewhere over the summer. A potential solution? Crafting a dynamic guard for a blue blood program.
McCain is listed at 6-foot-2 and 197 pounds and started 36 games during his lone season suiting up for the Blue Devils. The dynamic guard averaged 14.3 points, five rebounds and 1.9 assists in 31.6 minutes per game, potentially offering Sacramento another scoring threat in the event of Monk’s departure.
Tidjane Salaun, SF, France
“A big wing with a solid shooting base and a consistent release, Salaun has quickly become one of my favorites in this class,” Boone wrote.
With the Kings lacking proven wing depth behind Keegan Murray, Salaun offers the opportunity to add a perimeter player with notable size and upside. At 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, the French product could potentially fit into any of the forward positions.
The 18-year-old averaged 8.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game during the 2023-24 season for Cholet Basket in the LNB Pro A – the top French men’s professional basketball league. Despite being one of the youngest prospects in the entire 2024 class, Salaun’s raw but promising upside could entice Sacramento near the end of the lottery.
Jared McCain, PG, Duke
“Teams will see McCain as a combination of scoring and a secondary playmaker or offensive spark to come off the bench,” Wasserman wrote.
Similar to Finklestein, Wasserman noted the potential need for Sacramento to replace the playmaking ability it has relied on in Monk over the past two seasons if the dynamic guard leaves in free agency. If Monk signs elsewhere this summer, the Kings would need to replace 15.4 points per game, the 26-year-old’s average of 26 minutes per game off the bench during the 2023-24 NBA season. McCain could be an intriguing option if the need arises.
Ron Holland, G, G League Ignite
“Holland has had an uneven season in the G League from an efficiency standpoint, but he is one of the youngest players in the draft and brings impressive scoring intensity and aggression, which makes him a candidate to be picked in the lottery depending on how The pre-draft process ends,” Givony wrote.
Holland is listed at 6-foot-2, 204 pounds and averaging 19.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game for G League Ignite during the 2023-24 season. The dynamic guard is just 18 years old, but he has tremendous offensive upside and could give the Kings an intriguing option on the perimeter.
Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky
Kalbrosky also noted Monk’s potential departure as Sacramento’s most pressing need, with Dillingham being a potential replacement. The 6-foot-2 guard from Kentucky averaged 15.2 points per game for the Wildcats during the 2023-24 season, but most importantly he did so off the bench after starting just one of the 32 games in which he played. .
Dillinghman checks all the boxes you need in a Monk replacement – a crafty playmaker who can create his own offense as well as boost his teammates. Having served as a sixth man for a major program, the transition to similar roles in the NBA could be easier for Dillingham than for a player who is used to starting games at the college level.
Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Finally, a simulation that is something other than a Monk replacement. Edey was a star at Purdue, leading the Boilermakers to a second-place finish in the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The 7-foot-2 big man averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game during the 2023-24 season.
With Edey, the biggest concern remains: Will his game move to the next level? What kind of role can he play in a league where size alone won’t allow you to dictate games the way you would in college. Still, Edey’s pedigree and production make him an intriguing prospect who could be worth rolling the dice in the lottery.
