NBA mock draft roundup: Wembanyama will be No. 1 pick. Who will Sacramento Kings choose?
With the No. 1 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, the San Antonio Spurs will select Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 French phenom with game-changing potential. After that, anything could happen.
The Charlotte Hornets could select G League Ignite point guard Scoot Henderson or Alabama small forward Brandon Miller at No. 2. If they pass on Henderson because they already have LaMelo Ball, the Portland Trail Blazers will face a similar conundrum amid questions about Damian Lillard’s future with the franchise.
Will the Blazers trade the pick for an All-Star caliber veteran in a last-ditch effort to win with their franchise player or will they begin to prepare for life after Lillard? Any number of possibilities could unfold in the lottery and later in the first round.
There’s really no telling how the draft will play out before the Kings find themselves on the clock at No. 24, but here are a few of the players they are being linked to in the latest round of mock drafts.
CBS Sports
24. Brice Sensabaugh
Ohio State | 6-6 | 235 | SF | 19 years old
Gary Parrish of CBS Sports writes: “Sensabaugh, like (Taylor) Hendricks, was a sub-80 prospect in the Class of 2022 who was surprisingly great in his one year at Ohio State. If he improves as a perimeter defender, the wing with a reliable 3-point shot could get on the floor early and help Sacramento become real contenders in the West.”
Sensabaugh averaged 16.3 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 48% from the field, 40.5% from 3-point range and 83% at the free-throw line. He posted per-36 averages of 23.9 points and 7.9 rebounds. There’s no question about Sensabaugh’s ability to shoot and score, but with conflicting reports regarding his height and wingspan, it’s fair to wonder if he has the length, athleticism and defensive acumen the Kings want on the wing.
Yahoo Sports
24. Kris Murray
Kris Murray
Iowa| 6-8 | 220 | F | 22 years old
Murray averaged 20.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals as a junior at Iowa, shooting 47.6% from the field and 33.5% from 3-point range.
Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports writes: “Murray is one of the best 3-and-D guards in this draft class, and Kings fans probably would love to see Murray reunited with his twin brother, Keegan, who the Kings drafted with the No. 4 pick last year. Murray is one of the older, more established players in this draft class and can add some instant 3-point shooting and defensive versatility to the secondary group on a Kings team that made the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.
The Ringer
24. Jett Howard
Michigan | 6-8 | 215 | G/F | 19 years old
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor writes: “Howard had an up-and-down freshman season at Michigan but has the build of an NBA pro and has shown the type of scoring ability that promises a long career. And he’s so smart off the ball that he could fit perfectly in Mike Brown’s motion offense. If he develops defensively, he’d be exactly the kind of big wing defender they need, too.”
Howard, the son of Michigan coach Juwan Howard, averaged 14.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists during his only season with the Wolverines. He shot 41.4% from the field, 36.8% from 3-point range and 80% at the free-throw line. He will need time to develop in the NBA, particularly at the defensive end, but he might be considered the best player available if he’s still there at No. 24.
Bleacher Report
24. Noah Clowney
Alabama | 6-10 | 210 | PF/C | 18 years old
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman writes: “Clowney enters the draft with a project label, though certain teams will be willing to invest and wait on the potential rewards of adding frontcourt three-and-D.”
Clowney is a highly skilled big man with a 7-2 wingspan and potential as a floor-spacing shooter. He averaged 9.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 25.4 minutes per game while shooting 48.6% from the field and 28.3% on 3.3 3-point attempts per game. It could be years before Clowney is ready to contribute for a playoff team, but with his size, length and defensive versatility, he might be worth the wait.
