| 30 Teams, 30 Days: Sacramento Draft Preview Authored by Jason M. Williams - June 3, 2009 - 9:00 pm
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2009 Draft Picks: 4th, 23rd, 31st
Pre-Draft 2009-10 Projected Starters:
PG Beno Udrih
SG Kevin Martin
SF Francisco Garcia
PF Jason Thompson
C Spencer Hawes
Key Reserves:
SG Rashad McCants
SF Andres Nocioni
SF Donte Greene
PF Ike Diogu
What the Kings Do Well:
The Kings have done a nice job of rebuilding with some intriguing young prospects. Despite the fact that they were a league-worst 17-65 last season, there were some positives last season to build upon in the coming years.
Interestingly enough, Kevin Martin went from being one of the league’s most underrated players while he was only making $1M per year, to one of those over-glorified scorers making superstar money now that he’s collecting $10M for a team that only won 17 games. He did still lead the team with 24.6 points per game and was a nuisance from downtown hitting on 41.5% of his three-pointers.
Jason Thompson was the Kings’ first pick last year that caused murmurs throughout the crowd at WaMu Theater in New York. Originally forecasted as a late first rounder, Thompson was snatched up at the tail end of the lottery selections by the Kings and proved them correct during a stellar rookie season. He started 55 games for the Kings and averaged 11.1 points and a team-leading 7.4 rebounds per game.
Spencer Hawes continues to improve as the center of the future, and was finally given the full-time starter position when his older clone, Brad Miller, was sent to the Bulls at a deadline deal. Hawes added 11.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and a team leading 1.21 blocks per game.
Greatest Areas of Improvement:
Upgrade at Point Guard
The Kings broke the bank for the Yoguslavian Assist Machine and now find themselves searching for a fixture at the point position for the future. Udrih led the squad with 4.7 assists, but was less than spectacular last season and the team needs a facilitator to get the ball in the hands of all its young athletic players.
Scoring in the Paint
The Kings grabbed Thompson a year after Hawes in hopes of finding their starting power forward and center combo of the future, but neither guy really thrives with his back to the hoop on the block. Even more telling is the fact that they have very limited depth up front, with basically only the career underachiever, Ike Diogu, in reserve. The Kings could use another big that can put points on the board to back up
Who’s Gone Number 4 Recently?
Four of the last five number 4 picks have been point guards, with the only exception being Tyrus Thomas. Chris Paul is proving to be one of the best point guards in the league, Mike Conley has been an effective starter for two seasons, Russell Westbrook made a strong case for Rookie of the Year votes last season, and Shaun Livingston was playing well before his career-threatening injury turned him into a 12th man.
2008
Russell Westbrook, Seattle Supersonics
2007
Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
2006
Tyrus Thomas, Portland Trail Blazers (traded to Chicago)
2005
Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
2004
Shaun Livingston, Los Angeles Clippers
Who Should the Kings Target?
For more in-depth analysis and background regarding the players that the Kings should target in this year’s Draft, click on each player name to be redirected to Christopher Reina’s Prospect Report piece.
- Jrue Holiday of UCLA
At first blush, Holiday is strikingly similar to his predecessor, Russell Westbrook, and could end up falling in the same four-spot a year later come draft day. Holiday is another big athletic point guard who can score in bunches, play effective defense, and be an intangibles guy with a UCLA basketball education that often fares well in the pros. The only question is whether or not the Kings are willing to reach again this year.
- Brandon Jennings of Roma
Brandon Jennings had top point guard selected in the 2009 NBA Draft written all over him until he declined a scholarship to play at Arizona and ventured over to Italy to play one season where he wasn’t as great as anticipated. However, scouts love the potential that he can bring to the arena and realize that while he may require a lot of work to harness his skills, he could end up being one of the top picks made this June 25th. Will the Kings gamble on Jennings?
- Jordan Hill of Arizona
Hill would give the Kings starting frontcourt some added competition for the top spot. Hill has the tools to become a great two-way player at the power forward position, and his skill set has often been compared to a young Chris Bosh – yet another fourth overall pick. If the Kings are able to develop both Thompson and Hill, they could have a two-headed juggernaut at the four position for the next decade.
Picks Over the Past Five Years
The Kings have done very well with their picks over the past five years. They snagged Kevin Martin with the 26th pick, Francisco Garcia with the 23rd, and recently took Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson – all high value selections. Both Sean Singletary and Patrick Ewing Jr. were traded along with Ron Artest to Houston in August in exchange for Donte Greene, Bobby Jackson, and a 2009 first round pick (23rd overall).
2008
Jason Thompson, 12th
Sean Singletary, 42nd (traded to Houston)
Patrick Ewing Jr., 43rd (traded to Houston)
2007
Spencer Hawes, 10th
2006
Quincy Douby, 19th
2005
Francisco Garcia, 23rd
2004
Kevin Martin, 26th
Ricky Minard, 47th
Who Do the Fans Want?
According to Andrew Perna’s Sacramento Kings Lottery Summit, an interactive forum featuring the responses of true RealGM hoops fans hoping to add their two cents to the Kings Draft discussion, the fans of Sactown have made it known that they would an upgrade at the point guard position.
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done differently to make the playoffs?
ICMTM: Nothing! We were officially lottery bound when Ron Artest was traded away.
kingsfan10: Considering we were the worst team in the league with 17 wins, there were no playoff aspirations.
Smills91: We really weren't playoff bound this year, even with the veterans we begin the season with.
cdt3: We could not have made the playoffs.
perezident: We won't be a playoff team for a good while. I think we made it perfectly clear that we are in a full rebuilding mode the minute we traded away Bibby, Artest, Miller and Salmons.
n_a_h_t_a_n: The Kings were never going to make the playoffs this year. I think there was a lot of false hope from fans at the start of the year, which eventually led to Reggie Theus' firing after 30-odd games.
UKF: We are a very young team, ten players had four years of experience or less, so it was very hard for this team to make the playoffs this year.
SacKingZZZ: Blackmail?
mitchweber: Learn some semblance of defense, develop offensive cohesion, and an ability to execute in crunch time.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
ICMTM: We still can score the basketball, but we won 17 games so we can't be strong at many things.
kingsfan10: I don't think we have a strength that we can rely on consistently every night.
Smills91: Our biggest strength is getting to the free throw line and shooting well there, in large part due to Kevin Martin.
cdt3: Spencer Hawes' jumpshots and post moves, Jason Thompson's touch off the glass, and Martin's efficiency.
perezident: I think our biggest strength was the nice young core; these young guys can turn it on.
n_a_h_t_a_n: I’m going to say after the deadline, with Andres Nocioni and Rashad McCants in the lineup, they spread enthusiasm to a team which desperately needed it.
UKF: A nice core of talented youth.
10B10: We got to the free throw line pretty consistently. We also shot the three at a decent percentage and forced some turnovers.
SacKingZZZ: Overall skill level, shooting, and passing (later in the year).
mitchweber: Despite any real offensive cohesion or an effectively applied system, the team could score and get to the line, mostly because of Martin.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
ICMTM:Hawes. After Brad Miller was traded, he and Jason Thompson played well.
kingsfan10: Thompson. He proved the critics wrong. He gave us a player with rebounding prowess and hustle.
Smills91: Thompson. Everyone called him a R-E-A-C-H. However, he showed he can be a double-double threat every night in the future.
cdt3: The youth. They took a lot of lumps, but there was a great deal of improvement between the early games and late games.
perezident: Thompson turned it on late, but I believe the guy who had an effective season was Hawes.
n_a_h_t_a_n: Noc and McCants for the reasons above; I’d like to keep them this season for sure.
UKF: McCants and Noc were nice after the All-Star break, but Hawes and JT showed us that they can be a formidable pair down low in future years.
10B10: Spencer was really strong in stretches and Thompson showed that he was worth a lottery pick.
SacKingZZZ: Hawes, but I wasn’t all that surprised.
mitchweber: No huge surprises, but I'd say Thompson was nice considering how many reacted to his drafting. Also, after some real doubts, Hawes proved to be player with very nice potential.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
ICMTM: Kevin Martin went from a super efficient off-the-ball scorer to almost a volume scorer.
kingsfan10: Beno Udrih. We gave him a long, lucrative contract, but he didn't met expectations.
Smills91: Udrih. We invested in him and he totally let us down.
cdt3: Anyone on defense.
perezident: The coaching staff, Udrih and Donte Greene.
n_a_h_t_a_n: Udrih. He stunk. Lots of silly turnovers, below average defense, and bad shooting.
UKF: Beno. He was absolutely terrible. I was as disappointed in him as a father would be if his son decided to take up ballet instead of football.
10B10: Udrih was obviously a huge disappointment, but Martin didn't step up to the plate the way I would have liked him to either.
SacKingZZZ: Udrih, but he did get things going after Salmons was traded because he was able to run the offense more.
mitchweber: Like others have said, Beno. I think he'll be better next year, as he did seem to be better after the Noc trade. But still, I think everybody expected him to show a bit of a better command of things and to put up better numbers.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
ICMTM: I'm 50/50.
kingsfan10: Now that Geoff Petrie is fully in control with the coach selections, I feel confident that we will improve.
Smills91: Very confident. Petrie has assets to spend in the first rebuilding season since 1998.
cdt3: Very.
perezident: I’m not too confident. I’m basically hoping for the best and expecting the worst.
n_a_h_t_a_n: I’m fairly confident with the draft. Petrie has found players in four out of the last five drafts, so I’m confident he can do it again.
UKF: I like Petrie making our decisions. He has proven he knows how to draft and make deals.
10B10: I'm confident in the front office, I'm just not confident that we have the tools to get much better next season.
mitchweber: I'm confident that the draft will improve the team, given Petrie's record. The same goes for free agency at this point.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
ICMTM: Potential superstars. A star point guard would be nice.
kingsfan10: We desperately need a point guard that can effectively run this team.
Smills91: Point guard, depth in the paint and a small forward.
cdt3: A point guard with unrelenting confidence and mental toughness, an enforcer or shot-blocker off the bench, and a lockdown defensive small forward.
perezident: Point guard, point guard, point guard. We also need a prospect at small forward.
n_a_h_t_a_n: A point that can lead a championship team. I’m talking someone with at minimum the talent of Chauncey Billups.
UKF: Point guard, point guard, point guard.
10B10: Point guard, and toughness/defense on the front line.
SacKingZZZ: Talent and value.
mitchweber: Point guard, and high level talent in general.
7. Who would you like the Kings to take with their draft picks?
kingsfan10: I’d love Ricky Rubio or Hasheem Thabeet if either falls.
Smills91: I hope Rubio falls to four; otherwise I like Tyreke Evans, James Harden, Jonny Flynn and Earl Clark.
cdt3: Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Flynn or Evans.
perezident: If Earl Clark looks good in workouts then he's my obvious pick. If not then Holiday, Evans, Thabeet, Clark in that order.
n_a_h_t_a_n: Take Harden or trade down for Holiday plus a sweetener.
UKF: Evans, Rubio, Flynn and Eric Maynor would all be fine with me.
10B10: Rubio (somehow), or Holiday.
SacKingZZZ: Harden.
mitchweber: If he falls, Rubio, or possibly use the fourth pick to trade up for him. Otherwise, I would look to use the value of a player like Harden or Thabeet to trade down and take an effective point guard.
Click here to read other draft previews in our 30 Teams, 30 Days series
Who do you want the Kings to draft at number 4? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions.
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