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NBA Draft: Will Ben McLemore fall all the way to the Kings?

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Two tweets from friend-of-StR James Ham.

Three thoughts:

1. There's no way Ben McLemore is working out for the Kings. With less than a week until the draft, the only surprise workouts happening will be happening in cases in which a player visits a team picking above his range. McLemore isn't working out for a team two spots below his range.

2. There's a surprise in every lottery. Often a couple. Last year: Dion Waiters at No. 4, Terrence Ross at No. 8. So don't doubt that another player we're not expecting could go in front of McLemore, too. Here's the list that makes sense for that: Nerlens Noel, Victor Oladipo, Alex Len, Otto Porter, Anthony Bennett. Add in Trey Burke and you have six, dropping McLemore to No. 7. That sixth could be any of a couple of other guys ... heck, No. 7 could be any of a couple of other guys. It's a big ol' jumble, and it wouldn't be a total shock at this point if McLemore were on the board.

3. The Kings -- or any team picking at No. 7 -- would have trouble passing up McLemore for Michael Carter-Williams, Dennis Schroeder, Shabazz Muhammad, C.J. McCollum or the others on the board. He's a potential star two-guard. The Kings have Tyreke Evans, of course, but he's a restricted free agent. The Kings also have Marcus Thornton and Jimmer Fredette, but you don't make draft decisions in the lottery based on whether you have Marcus Thornton and Jimmer Fredette. Hey, DALT THINKS MCLEMORE IS THE BEST PROSPECT. I'm pretty sure you can't pass on him unless you are fairly certain you're taking a tremendous sleeper at No. 7.

How would McLemore fit if the Kings kept Evans? I think you could bring McLemore off of the bench at first, and go with spots of an Evans-McLemore backcourt. You could potentially play with some smallball with Evans back at the three. I think you could figure it out at McLemore develops. Unfortunately, that puts Thornton in a trap. But again, you're trying to build a good team, not a good team for Thornton to thrive in.

Regardless, I'm not sure the fact that McLemore hasn't visited Sacramento matters too much. I mean, it matters. But it's a small matter. The front office has some experience, and knows how to watch tape and read data. If they felt he was the right pick without seeing him in person during workout season, I bet they'd feel comfortable taking him. If they like another player better, I bet they'd take the other player. At this point, with a clean slate, I'm totally comfortable with the team's decision-making capabilities.


DRAFT SCENARIOS!!!

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Alrighty then. We’re down to the week before the draft, and the rumors are beginning to fly in a fast and furious nature. This guy’s hot, that guys dropping, this team is looking to trade for a veteran, that team is looking to trade a veteran for a pick. What to do, what to do? Lawdy, Lawdy, what to do?!?

At times like these, I like to simplify! So I distilled it down to seven prospects, which is a big mistake since we know that all seven of these guys will not go in the top seven. It just never works out that way. So if you want to not waste your time, stop reading now. But if you’re at work and you have nothing better to do, follow me as I lay out a dozen scenarios of what might happen when all seven of these guys get drafted within the first seven picks (ha!) and there are no trades to throw a wrench in the top seven picks (ha!! and ha!!!). The magnificent seven are Nerlens Noel, Alex Len, Anthony Bennett, Otto Porter, Ben McLemore, Victor Oladipo, and Trey Burke. As a reminder, the draft order is Cleveland, Orlando, Washington, Charlotte, Phoenix, New Orleans and Sacramento. The following scenarios are in no particular order of likelihood, other than they all have an equal chance of never happening.

Scenario #1: Noel, McLemore, Bennett, Len, Oladipo, Porter, Burke. Of note here is that Otto Porter drops to sixth, as the Wizards determine to draft the stretch four that John Wall is lusting for. Charlotte likes Len and doesn’t mind another season of suckitude while Len rehabs, and Phoenix zeroes in on Oladipo, meaning that both Porter and Burke are on the board with the Kings on deck. The Pelicans opt for Otto, and Trey Burke is a Sacramento King.

Scenario #2: Noel, McLemore, Bennett, Len, Oladipo, Burke, Porter. Same scenario as above, except that the Pelicans are more enamored with Burke than Porter (the Pelicans SBNation site likes Burke bery, bery much. That puts Otto Porter in Kings purple, much to the surprise and delight of many Kings fans.

Scenario #3: Len, Noel, Bennett, Oladipo, McLemore, Porter, Burke. In this scenario, Cleveland chooses Len with the #1 pick, and Orlando happily snaps up Noel. Bennett again fulfills Wall’s wishes. The lack of "hunger" that has been noted in McLemore doesn’t scare off most teams, but most teams aren’t owned by Michael Jordan, who won’t touch Big Ben with a ten foot pole. Oladipo to Charlotte. Phoenix takes McLemore, the Pelicans Porter, and the Kings get Burke.

Scenario #4: Len, Noel, Bennett, Oladipo, McLemore, Burke, Porter. Same as scenario #3, with Burke and Porter switching spots. Welcome to Sacramento, Otto!

Scenario #5: Noel, Burke, Bennett, Len, McLemore, Porter, Oladipo. In this mock of a mock up, Orlando chooses Burke at #2, and Victor Oladipo falls to the Kings. What’s your vector, Victor? An arc headed towards Sacramento!

Scenario #6: Noel, Burke, Bennett, Len, Oladipo, Porter, McLemore. Pretty much the same as scenario #5, except that Phoenix is sweet on Oladipo. With the 7th pick of the 2013 NBA draft, the Sacramento Kings select Ben McLemore.

Scenario #7: Noel, McLemore, Porter, Len, Oladipo, Burke, Bennett. This is one of my two "I hope that we’re trading this pick" scenarios. Washington chooses Porter to fill their small forward vacancy, and the rest charts out pretty much to scale, leaving Anthony Bennett for the Kings at #7.

Scenario #8: Len, Noel, Porter, Bennett, McLemore, Burke, Oladipo. With Len gone, Charlotte determines that Bennett would be a great yin to Biyombo’s yang. This again drops Oladipo and McLemore out of the top four, and Phoenix banks on Ben. Sacramento is now Victorville!

Scenario #9: Len, Noel, Porter, Bennett, Oladipo, Burke, McLemore. Same as scenario #8, except that Phoenix has chosen Oladipo, leaving Ben McLemore to overcome the Kansas Jayhawk hate as the newest Sacramento King.

Scenario #10: Noel, Burke, Porter, Len, McLemore, Oladipo, Bennett. If the first five picks drop like this, both New Orleans and Sacramento could be looking to move their picks. In this setup, the Pelicans have to decide whether they want Oladipo, who would be behind Gordon at the 2 and kind of small to put next to Gordon at the 3, or Bennett, who is perhaps a little redundant with Ryan Anderson as a stretch 4. They take Oladipo with a mind to move Gordon if/when possible, and the Kings again wind up with Bennett.

Scenario #11: Noel, Burke, Porter, Len, McLemore, Bennett, Oladipo. Same scenario as #10, except the Pelicans determine that it would ultimately be easier to move Anderson than Gordon. Bennett heads to New Orleans, and Oladipo is a King.

Scenario #12: Noel, Burke, Porter, Len, Oladipo, Bennett, McLemore. Same as scenario #10, but when faced with Bennett or McLemore, they opt for Bennett. McLemore’s a King.

The draft is less than four days away. I figure that all of these scenarios will be obsolete within the next 24-48 hours (if not sooner), so read ‘em fast!

Poll
Of the 12 scenarios listed, which one do you think is the most likely?

  221 votes |Results

NBA Draft rumors roundup: Nerlens Noel's knee is 'perfect,' according to Cavaliers doctor

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There's a growing sentiment out there that the Cleveland Cavaliers are leaning toward selecting Alex Len (scouting report) as opposed to Nerlens Noel (scouting report) with the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday's draft, as there have been concerns about Noel's surgically repaired left knee and slight frame. However, some of those concerns should be alleviated, because Noel's knee has checked out fine on multiple occasions in recent weeks.

Noel talked to Kyle Tucker of The Courier-Journal on Sunday, and he told Tucker that the Cavs' team doctor checked out his knee during a visit to Cleveland last week. The diagnosis was very positive:

"The doctor said everything was perfect," Noel said. "All three teams I've been to said it looks 100 percent fine and I'm definitely ahead of schedule. It's all been positive feedback."

Noel still isn't jumping yet, but he's running and has been doing some shooting. Noel has consistently said that he hopes to return by November or December, and he reiterated that point to Tucker.

In addition to the knee being in good shape, Noel is reportedly up to 220 pounds after weighing in at just 206 pounds at the NBA Combine. Noel and his recently hired agent, Andy Miller, also quashed the rumors that the big man is receiving bad advice from some of the people around him, a claim recently made by ESPN's Ryen Russillo on The B.S. Report.

-- CSN Bay Area's Ric Bucher reports that Luol Deng, LaMarcus Aldridge and Danny Granger are three high-priced veterans who could be dealt before or during the draft. Cleveland is reportedly interested in Deng, who has one year left on his contract and is owed over $14 million. The Cavs do have a hole at small forward and Deng could help solidify that position for a possible playoff run next season. However, the belief is that the Cavs won't actually trade the No. 1 pick for Deng or any of these guys because they're asking for too much.

-- The Dallas Mavericks are trying hard to get rid of the No. 13 pick in the draft, and according to Fletcher Mackel of WDSU TV, the New Orleans Pelicans may be looking to acquire that pick. The Pelicans would also take Shawn Marion's ~$9 million contract off the Mavs' hands in the deal, which would help Dallas clear cap space for a run at Dwight Howard. With the No. 13 pick, New Orleans would then select Euro prospect Giannis Adetokoubo (scouting report). The Pelicans would reportedly send a future pick to Dallas in return.

-- Steven Adams (scouting report) saw his draft stock rise after testing well at the combine, and that stock continues to go up thanks to strong workouts. A mystery team told NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper that they have Adams as their seventh-best prospect, and now Adams has a workout with the Sacramento Kings on Monday. The Kings have the No. 7 pick in the draft, although drafting a center like Adams would leave a lot of questions about the future of DeMarcus Cousins.

-- The Phoenix Suns are still contemplating a variety of options with the No. 5 pick in the draft, and taking a big man is one of those options. If the Suns go big with that pick, they may feel more inclined to deal Marcin Gortat in order to grab another pick in the first round, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. The Portland Trail Blazers have held interest in Gortat in the past, and perhaps they would be willing to part with the No. 10 pick in exchange for him.

More from SB Nation:

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Is being a fan worth the pain of losing?

NBA mock draft: Best-case scenarios | Scouting reports | Big Board

NBA Draft 2013: C.J. McCollum, Steven Adams visit in possibly last Kings workout

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The Kings are holding what is likely to be their last pre-draft workout today as the NBA Draft is this Thursday and most players will begin their preparations for the day.

Sacramento is bringing in LeHigh guard C.J. McCollum for the second time, but the first time under GM Pete D'Alessandro's watch. McCollum joins Shabazz Muhammad and Tony Snell as the only three players the Kings have brought in for more than one look, but Muhammad was unable to actually work out the second time due to an injury.

Pitt center Steven Adams, who has been rising up draft boards due in part to his size, athleticism and good workouts, is also making an appearance. Adams and Rudy Gobert are the only real center prospects the Kings have brought in that might be lottery choices (unless you count Cody Zeller as a center and not a power forward).

McCollum and Adams will be joined by Arizona's Grant Jerrett, Texas' Myck Kabongo, Syracuse's James Southerland and Indiana's Christian Watford.

Monday Mail Sac/Pick & Droll: Past drafts, 'Reke & Cuz, 2013 StR Draft Extravaganza

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It's draft week Monday, so let's begin the Mail Sac with a draft-related question:

From the one and only andy sims: "Assume you could have seen into the future, and have known exactly how the first NBA years of our most recent lottery picks would pan out. (Not their rookie seasons, but their NBA tenure up ‘til now). Where would you place the following within their respective draft classes? In other words, if Robinson went 5th, what number should he have been based on what he's done in the NBA?"

Thomas Robinson

James Fredette

DeMarcus Cousins

Tyreke Evans

Jason Thompson

And hell, Spencer Hawes

Anyone move up? Anyone leave round one or the entire draft?

There are two ways of looking at this. One is to look at performance to date, and another is to look at who'd you rather want moving forward. I'm going to take the first path, and just look at the career-to-date performances of the players. I'll bold-type the players that were drafted before the Kings' respective picks.

Let's start with the 2007 Hawes draft and mover forward. Here would be my "re-rack" of that draft based on what we know today: Kevin Durant, Marc Gasol, Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Mike Conley Jr.,Thaddeus Young, Arron Afflalo, Carl Landry, Spencer Hawes, and Jeff Green. Other players to be considered include Rodney Stuckey, Wilson Chandler, Jared Dudley, Tiago Splitter and Glen Davis. Again, if I were going from here forward, I would select Chandler, Dudley and Splitter over Hawes. But based on career-to-date performance, Hawes is still a top ten player in that draft.

In 2008, the Kings shocked just about everyone when they selected Jason Thompson with the 12th pick. Based on career-to-date, that draft might roll out today something like this: Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, Roy Hibbert, Danilo Gallinari, Serge Ibaka, Nikola Pekovic, Eric Gordon,Nicolas Batum, Ryan Anderson, Omer Asik, DeAndre Jordan, George Hill, Javale McGee, Goran Dragic, Jason Thompson. Other players to be considered include O.J. Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, Robin Lopez,Brandon Rush, Michael Beasley, D.J. Augustin, J.J. Hickson, Kosta Koufos, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and Mario Chalmers. Holy crap, that turned out to be a pretty good draft! Thompson turned out better than half the guys that were drafted ahead of him, but based on this list he went too high.

2009 saw the drafting of Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans. Evans was selected with the fourth pick by the Kings. Based on the career-to-date numbers, the list would roll out in the following manner:James Harden, Blake Griffin, Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson, Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings, Ricky Rubio, Taj Gibson, Demar DeRozan, Jeff Teague, Darren Collison.

It's amazing what one year can mean when these guys are still playing under their rookie contract. Harden would not have been my #1 guy at this time last year, and one still could have argued Curry vs. Evans. It's easy to forget that the 2012-13 season represented 25% of the careers for these guys (33% for Griffin, 50% for Rubio). I would anticipate this list moving a bit more over the next couple of years (I think that Jeff Teague will move up considerably, for example).

The Kings selected DeMarcus Cousins with the 5th pick of the 2010 draft, and to date he has been better than everyone drafted ahead of him not named John Wall. Laying that draft out today: Paul George, Wall, Greg Monroe, Cousins, Derrick Favors, Evan Turner, Gordon Hayward, Larry Sanders, Eric Bledsoe, and Greivis Vasquez. So far, Cousins would still be the best "value" pick. And if he had his head screwed on straight, he'd be above Monroe on my list. Also interesting to note that the Pacers grabbed George with the 10th pick and Lance Stephenson with the 40th pick. Now that's value!

2011. This one might take a while. While technically selecting Bismack Biyombo with the 7th pick, the Kings really selected Jimmer Fredette with the 10th pick (no, really!). These guys have only been around a couple of years, so this list will still probably change a lot over the next few years. But as of right now: Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Kenneth Faried, Chandler Parsons, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Tristan Thompson, Isaiah Thomas, Brandon Knight, Derrick Williams, Jonas Valancinas, Iman Shumpert, and Biyombo. Fredette would get lumped in with the following players based on career-to-date performance: Enes Kanter, Alec Burks, Markieff and Marcus Morris, MarShon Brooks, Reggie Jackson, and so on. Again, I am not equating Fredette to Kanter in any way other than their career-to-date numbers.

So there are a couple of items of note here. First, passing on Kawhi Leonard was a crusher, with or without the 7/Udrih for 10/Salmons trade. I mean, the Kings weren't going to draft the rights to Marc Gasol with the 10th pick back in 2007, and I can look at the myriad players from 2008 and justify why the Kings passed on each of them at the time. And it's foolish to second guess the Evans pick, which has proven to be solid. But Leonard was a very good prospect at a position of desperate need, and the Kings passed on him and positioned for Jimmer Fredette. That's the kind of deal that sets a franchise back.

The funny thing is, the Kings have achieved top 10 value out of that draft to this point ... it's just that the value came from #60 pick Isaiah Thomas.

2012. Pass out the hot soup and blankets, as this could take a while. Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bradley Beal, Dion Waiters, Harrison Barnes, Alexy Shved, Tyler Zeller, Mo Harkless, Andrew Nicholson, Chris Copeland, Jae Crowder (say Crowder!), Brian Roberts, Festus Ezeli, just about anyone else that you would want to name, Thomas Robinson.

The first thing that jumps out at me here is how few rookies really made a significant mark last year. Seven, maybe? Perhaps this list will expand over the next couple of years, and perhaps Robinson will be part of that expansion. But what a waste of a pick for the Kings.

***

Next up, al_lives: "I just watched the Spurs and the Heat battle it out for the 2013 NBA Championship, and man was it amazing to watch basketball being played at the highest level. All the players and staff knew what they had to do to win: the superstars knew their roles, the role players became stars in their own right and the coaches were so quick to adjust to the opposition that the series became part-basketball game, part-chess match, and 100% a spectacle to behold. My question is: do you see the Sacramento Kings playing basketball at this ultimate level in the future NBA Finals with our current core of Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins?"

I noted somewhere (the podcast, I think) that one of the depressing things about watching the Finals was the realization of just how far away the Kings are from competing at that level. Each team had three players each that are better than anyone on the Kings (Duncan/Parker/Ginobli/and-or Leonard and James/Wade/Bosh). So as of right now, the Kings are three players away from being among those teams, and probably at least a player or two away from being even a fringe playoff contender.

Could Cousins and Evans still develop? That's the hope of the organization. Each player has improved at least a bit each year as a pro, and there is really no reason to think that either player has peaked. Their development has certainly been slower than what one would hope for, as Evans has lagged behind fellow classmates Harden and Curry after having a superior rookie year. To be clear, Evans is a better player than he was as a rookie, but he has not had the exponential improvement that has been seen in Harden and Curry. Likewise with Cousins, who was supposed to possess so much "upside" over a guy like Greg Monroe, yet has not separated himself (and it could be argued that he is slightly behind Monroe as of this moment.

I spoke with Jerry Reynolds a couple of years ago, and Reynolds discussed the need for this team to obtain a player with a bit of a veteran presence that was also better than anyone on the roster. Guys like Fancisco Garcia (or in Jerry's case, Jim Les) were great character guys, but you can only do so much leading as a fringe rotation player. Now I suppose that this is not always the case - Oklahoma City has done alright with their young players being their best players. But it's not easy to pull a Durant/Westbrook combination out of your hat. Can Cousins/Evans be Durant/Westbrook? I'm 99% certain that the answer to that is "no."

The Kings may not add that veteran guy this summer. New ownership may determine to get their arms around the current roster, and then start wheeling and dealing in smaller chunks, trying to pick up small bits of value along the way. I can certainly see the new front office taking more of a "moneyball" approach and staying away from the big contract. And by big I mean that third contract that can eclipse the $20 million dollar level. As much as we debate the prospective contracts of Cousins and Evans, $65-80m contracts over 4-5 years only crush a franchise if a player gets hurt or blue-flu's his way out of town.

All of that said, the new regime has listed player development as a priority. We'll sure no soon enough whether Cousins and Evans are on an upward path or an outward path.

Pick & Droll for today is the Sactown Royalty 2013 Draft Contest.

The prize: Bragging rights.

The rules: Guess the Kings draft pick at #7. If you think that the #7 pick will be traded, then define what you think the trade will be, including the players that will ultimately be coming to the Kings (for example: The Kings trade the #7 pick for the #11 and the #25, selecting Michael Carter-Williams at #11 and Mike Muscala at #25).

1st Tie Breaker: The proper guessing of the #36 pick serves as a 1st tie breaker.

2nd Tie Breaker: List the first seven picks, in order. You do not have to list the teams that draft the players, just the players.

3rd Tie Breaker: First one to have their picks in, which are to be left in the daily Mail Sac/Pick & Droll threads. However, once you submit your picks they cannot be changed.

Deadline to submit picks is Wednesday, June 26th, 6 PM Pacific. Updated lists will appear in the Mail Sac/Pick & Droll posts of Tuesday-Thursday this week.

So in the threads, your contest comment might look something like this:

"7th: Joe College. 36th: Sergio International. 1-7: Tipsy, Queasy, Surly, Sleazy, Edgy, Dizzy, Remorseful."

Or -

"The Kings trade the 7th pick and Patrick Patterson to the Houston Rockets for Thomas Robinson. I really don't care about the 36th pick at this point, and the NBA can kiss my ass. Honeymoon's over!!!"

It's that easy!

-

Send your questions and topic ideas to asksactownroyalty@gmail.com. As always, it's OK to jack this thread (and only this thread).

NBA Draft rumors: Kings trying to trade Jimmer Fredette for additional pick

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The Sacramento Kings are looking to flip Jimmer Fredette for a late first-round pick to be used on Tony Snell or Tim Hardaway, Jr., reports Chad Ford and Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The report cites the Indiana Pacers (who pick No. 23) and the Utah Jazz (No. 14, No. 21) as potential destinations. According to DraftExpress, Hardaway is currently projected to go No. 20 and Snell is projected to go No. 32.

Why are the Kings looking at Hardaway and Snell? Ford and Stein report that Kings head coach Michael Malone is "enamored" with both. Frankly, Malone doesn't strike me as a guy who gets enamored too often. And if he'd get to know Jimmer, maybe he'd be enamored of him, too!

Snell is a solid shooting small forward with really poor rebounding numbers and not much of a game inside the arc. Hardaway is a two-guard with some range and versatility. Jimmer never really got much of a consistent chance under Keith Smart in Sacramento, and was widely seen outside of the town as a Paul Westphal pick. (Westphal coached the first seven games of Jimmer's career.)

If the Kings really want another first rounder, it seems probable that they can get one even without trading Jimmer, possibly by using the 36th pick or *GASP* sending cash considerations:

More from Sactown Royalty

* Full 2013 NBA Draft Coverage

* Community Draft Board: who do the fans want?

* Aykis' scouting reports:Guards | Wings | Big men

* Draft scenarios from section214

* A look at the international prospects

Tuesday Mail Sac/Pick & Droll: More draft options, owning your own NBDL team, draft contest

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A grab bag of a question from MarcusZ28: "I have a few questions regarding the upcoming draft, that you may have already answered in one of your previous posts, but hell, I'll ask anyway. What is YOUR ideal situation regarding the draft? Would you like to trade and move up? Would you rather say screw it and move down (perhaps trading for a vet)? Do you simply pick at 7 (if so, who?)... Or do you pull a Maloof and trade the pick for cash considerations for a new coloring book?"

My preference is to pick at 7. My current "hot sheet" is Noel, Porter, Oladipo, Len, McLemore, Burke, McCollum. I would rather have any one of these guys than any obtainable combination of remaining players (for example, Bennett and Zeller would not be an obtainable combination).

Moving up really doesn't interest me, as I think that it would take the 7 and either Evans or Cousins to move up (what else do we have to offer?), and I wouldn't do that.

Trading for a vet always comes down to who's available. Rajon Rondo? Sure, but it's a pretty safe bet that he's not available for the 7. Evans and the 7 for Rondo? Kind of steep for a guy that is down to two years on his contract and a bit mercurial (though extremely talented). Luol Deng? He could be a one year rental, so I'd be hesitant. Same with Danny Granger.

I will admit, though, a new color book is really tempting...

***

From C-riCh: "I read somewhere in the Mail Sac about management's focus on player development and I find this to be very important, considering how young these guys are coming out of college. With that being said, do you think the Kings should purchase a D-League team... say the Reno Bighorns? It would be like how the Rockets and Spurs have done with the Vipers and Toros. Send guys there that need a little seasoning then bring them back when they're ready. What's your take on this?"

The Kings, of course, can already send prospects to the Bighorns, as they have done in the past with guys like Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Honeycutt. However, since they don't own the Bighorns, they can't really make overt demands as it pertains to playing time and the system that is being utilized. If they owned the team, they could install the same system that the big club is using, and they could influence playing time and development in a big way.

But the flip side of this coin is that most players that teams have invested in heavily, even raw ones, are likely to stay with the parent club. There is just too much money in some of these guys to shuttle them off to the NBDL. Even if you look at a guy like Thomas Robinson, it would probably make the organization very nervous to pack up $7 million in guaranteed contract and ship him off to Reno.

I think that if you have the choice of owning or not owning an NBDL team, owning one is the way to go. But when it comes to where you're going to spend your money as a franchise, it may not provide for the best return on investment. If it's not my money and I get to make the call, sure!

***

Pick & Droll: Sactown Royalty Draft Extravaganza.

As we go to press, we already have 27 members in the pool. Who will join this prestigious list of past winners: Ball in Cup, section214, thizboy, elfboy (correctly soothsayered Fredette/Honeycutt/Thomas!!!), and most recently gregsactly.

You have until 6 PM (Pacific) Wednesday, June 26th to submit your picks. Rules can be found in Monday's (6/24) Mail Sac.

#


Member


7th Pick


36th pick


1 through 6


13

Bill2

Bennett

Muscala

Noel/Len/McLemore/Porter/Oladipo/Burke

17

kman949

Bennett

Snell

Noel/McLemore/Porter/Len/Burke/Oladipo

16

Kenanito

Burke

Charles

Len/Porter/Noel/McLemore/Oladipo/Bennett

10

Deleran

Burke

Muscala

Len/Noel/Bennett/Zeller/Oladipo/Porter

8

otis29

Burke

Muscala

Noel/Len/Porter/Bennett/Oladipo/Burke

24

polotown

Burke

Rice

Noel/Oladipo/Porter/Bennett/McLemore/Len

26

double rainbow

Burke

Snell

Porter/Oladipo/Bennett/Noel/Len/McLemore

7

markdog333

Burke

T27/Adams

Len/Noel/Bennett/Oladipo/McLemore/Porter

3

artlee6

Burke

Thomas

Noel/Oladipo/Porter/Bennett/McLemore/Len

18

bumblebeeman

Caldwell-Pope, Adetokundo via MT/35 trade

Leslie

Len/Burke/Oladipo/Noel/Porter/McLemore

6

Ragin17

Carter-Williams

Kadji

Len/Oladipo/Porter/Noel/Bennett/Burke

1

fccpw

Carter-Williams

T??/Rice

5

lay-it-up-like-a-man

McCollum

Goodwin

Len/Noel/Bennett/McLemore/Porter/Oladipo

22

Sir Lurksalot

McCollum

Mitchell

Len/Noel/Bennett/Porter/McLemore/Oladipo

14

Sac King

McCollum

Muscala

Noel/McLemore/Porter/Oladipo/Len/Burke

25

nealtastic

McCollum

Southerland

Len/Noel/Porter/McLemore/Oladipo/Burke

12

A Night At The Arco

McCollum

T25/Snell

Noel/Porter/Len/Oladipo/McLemore/Burke

4

Aykis16

McCollum

T27/Snell

Len/Noel/Porter/McLemore/Oladipo/Burke

15

Czar Nickoli

McCollum

T27/Snell

Len/Noel/Porter/Oladipo/McLemore/Burke

27

DougChristieKO

McCollum

T28/Snell

Len/Noel/Porter/Oladipo/McLemore/Burke

20

49ertrojanmann

McLemore

Muscala

Len/Oladipo/Bennett/Noel/Porter/Burke

2

LaBradford

Muhammad

Jackson

Noel/Burke/Porter/Len/McLemore/Oladipo

9

KingsFan#1

Muhammad

Muscala

Noel/McLemore/Porter/Bennett/Oladipo/Burke

21

49ersDude

Porter

Len/Oladipo/McLemore/Bennett/Noel/Burke

11

section214

T11&35/Muhammad, Muscala via T35 for 28

Charles

Noel/McLemore/Porter/Len/Oladipo/Burke/Bennett

23

Sactown_Loyalty19

Zeller

T23/Snell

Len/Noel/Porter/Bennett/Oladipo/McLemore

19

betweentheeyes

Zeller

Thomas

Send your questions and topic ideas to asksactownroyalty@gmail.com. The thread is now open for your jacking.

More from Sactown Royalty

* Full 2013 NBA Draft Coverage

* Community Draft Board: who do the fans want?

* Aykis' scouting reports:Guards | Wings | Big men

* Draft scenarios from section214

* A look at the international prospects

With two days to go, draftniks still can't agree on who the Nets will take

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They're all accounted for now. The draftniks are down to their last predictions and they still can't agree on the bottom third of the draft. But two players seem to be attracting some attention as the Nets choice. The names of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Gorgui Dieng appear next to "Brooklyn Nets" on two of the seven mocks posted over the past 24 hours. There are some surprises, a couple of which the Nets would appreciate.

The biggest surprise is that Chad Ford now projects 7'0" Canadian center Kelly Olynyk of Gonzaga as the Nets pick, writing...

"Olynyk might have one of the largest ranges of anyone in the draft. He'll get looks as high as No. 11 to the Sixers and No. 12 to the Thunder, but he also could work his way down here. Gorgui Dieng and Tony Snell are other options for the Nets at 22."

    Ford has Dieng going at #26 and Snell at #30. Ford doesn't stop there, though. In discussing the Mavs' desire to trade their pick at #13, Ford writes the Nets might like to move up to take Sergei Karasev, the 6'7" swingman from Moscow.

    "There are several other teams who are after Karasev, including the Bucks, Hawks and Nets, and they could be great trade partners."

    Ford also reprises what he and Marc Stein reported Monday night after it was revealed the Nets and Timberwolves may be talking trade, adding that the talks are "serious" and that if the Nets wind up trading MarShon Brooks for the 26th pick, the target may be Dieng.

    With the Wolves in serious talks to swap this pick for the Nets' MarShon Brooks, I could see the Nets grabbing another big to fill out their front line.

    Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated thinks that if Dieng is there, he will be a Net.

    "Dieng continues to be all over boards, as concerns about his limited offensive potential are causing his stock to fluctuate. Brooklyn doesn't need any more offense from the pivot; what they need is defense, which Dieng can provide. At 23, Dieng has a reputation on that end of the floor (he was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year last season after swatting 2.5 shots and pulling down 9.4 rebounds per game) but his offensive game is better than most think. A strong passer with a decent midrange jump shot, Dieng is also regarded by scouts as one of the best screen men in the draft."

    So does Jonathan Givony of Draft Express ... and John Rothstein, college hoops maven at CBS Sports, who tweeted Dieng doesn't get past the Nets.

    Hardaway is the Nets' choice in the FOX Sports and Sheridan Hoops mocks, with Joe Kotch of Sheridan Hoops contending, "Hardaway, a player the Nets really like a lot, can help space the floor and gives Brooklyn protection behind Joe Johnson."

    Others who show up at #22 in recent drafts are: Jamaal Franklin, out of San Diego State, in the NBADraft.net mock and. Shane Larkin, out of Miami, in the SBNation mock.

    Meanwhile, Tim Bontemps provides grist for the tea leaf readers with a full list of all Billy King's picks in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Brooklyn.

  • 2013 NBA draft - Chad Ford Mock Draft 6.0 - Chad Ford - ESPN
  • 2013 NBA draft - Chad Ford Mock Draft 2nd round - Chad Ford - ESPN
  • 2013 NBA Draft - Experts make their picks for the first round - Chad Ford - ESPN
  • DraftExpress: Mock Draft - June 25 - Jonathan Givony - Draft Express
  • 2013 NBA Mock Draft: Ben McLemore stays at No. 2 - Draft 2013 - Chris Mannix - Sports Illustrated
  • Cavs would trade No. 1 pick for lottery pick, future No. 1 and young player. - Joe Kotoch - Sheridan Hoops
  • NBA Mock Draft, Version 4.0 - Sam Amico - FOX Sports
  • 2013 Mock Draft - June 24 - Aran Smith - NBADraft.net
  • 2013 NBA Mock Draft: Alex Len moves into the top spot - Jonathan Tjarks - SB Nation
  • Year-by-year draft history of Nets GM Billy King - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
  • NetsDaily's Tom Lorenzo Previews Brooklyn Nets Draft - WFUV Radio

Identifying the Prospects that fit Pete D'Alessandro's vision

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Ailene Voisin had a great interview with new GM Pete D'Alessandro the other day in which they talked about a variety of topics. Of particular interest to me were D'Alessandro's answers to what kind of team he'd like to build.

D'Alessandro identified three areas he'd like to focus on, in an ideal world:

1. Up-Tempo

2. Playmaking/Sharing the ball

3. Shooting

Now of course, that's simplifying what D'Alessandro said a bit (I highly recommend reading the entire interview) but for our purposes, let's take a look at the prospects in this year's draft that could fulfill that vision.

***

First, let's eliminate players who likely will not be available at 7. That includes Nerlens Noel, Otto Porter, Alex Len and Victor Oladipo.

There are some rumors that Ben McLemore might be slipping down the draft due to poor workouts and other issues. I can't help but think that this is just a big smokescreen. McLemore is one of the top shooters and scorers in the draft as well as a phenomenal athlete. If he really does fall to 7, the Kings should pick him and never look back.

Anthony Bennett is a player consistently in the Top 7 of most mock drafts, but unlike McLemore, I think there could be a real shot that he is available at 7. He's also a very good athlete, one that would fit an up-tempo style of play, and he's also a good outside shooter. There's some question of his position in the NBA but I see him playing PF, even at 6'7. One thing Bennett doesn't have is great passing instincts. I'm personally not a big fan of Bennett, but I could see the Kings taking him should he drop to 7.

Trey Burke is the first prospect in the Kings range that seemingly fits all three of D'Alessandro's criteria. Michigan was a fast-paced and high-scoring team and Burke was the one leading the way. Burke also features a fantastic 3:1 assist to turnover ratio as well as a great 37.3% assist rate. Burke also managed to be one of the best shooters and the leading scorer on his team. He seems like a great candidate for the Kings, but I think there's a decent chance he could be gone by 7, most likely to the Pelicans at 6.

C.J. McCollum is one player who will almost certainly be there when the Kings pick. McCollum is one of the best, if not the best, scorers and shooters in the draft. He's a fantastic rebounder for his size and while he's not nearly the playmaker as Trey Burke or Michael Carter-Williams, he posted a similar collegiate assist rate as Damian Lillard. There is question about what position McCollum will play in the NBA, but he has good size for a PG and would be a nice fit next to Tyreke Evans, as both players can run the offense. I would not be surprised at all if the Kings snapped him up at 7.

Another PG the Kings have reportedly been interested in is Michael Carter-Williams. MCW is a fantastic athlete and the best playmaker in the draft with a 40.1% assist rate. He also has a reputation as a good defender. However, he can't shoot at all. His career FG% in two years at Syracuse was just 39.8% from the field and 30.7% from three. He would not fit well next to Tyreke Evans, although he might do well with Isaiah Thomas or Marcus Thornton. Drafting MCW would fill the need for an up-tempo pass-first PG but it would simply add to the Kings current shooting problems, at least as the roster is currently constructed.

Cody Zeller is the only big man that I think the Kings would consider at 7. Zeller was one of the top big men in college last year, particularly on the offensive end, and his athleticism would be ideal for a fast-paced offense. He's also showcased the ability to hit the NBA three-pointer in his draft workouts. He'll also give the Kings some big man insurance if things do not work out with DeMarcus Cousins.

Of the other players the Kings have brought in to work out, Shabazz Muhammad is the only one that might be worth the 7th pick. However, despite the fact that he's worked out for the Kings twice, I don't think he'd be a good fit for this team or D'Alessandro's vision. Muhammad would add another player to exacerbate Sacramento's lack of passing; Last year Muhammad had just 27 assists in 32 games. While he's one of the higher scorers in the draft, he does it very inefficiently with a True Shooting % of just .528, the lowest of all the wings in the draft. His rebound rate for a wing is only lower than Tony Snell's. Defensively, he had just 23 steals and 4 blocks all year. I will be very surprised (and disappointed) if Muhammad's name is called for the 7th pick.

There are a few other players that could be in play for Sacramento should the team acquire another first round pick. We've heard of both Tim Hardaway Jr. and Tony Snell as players the Kings like. Both are good shooters and Snell is a particularly good passer for a forward. I also think Sergey Karasev would be a great fit on both those fronts. In terms of big men, Gorgui Dieng and Mike Muscala would both seem to make sense for Sacramento further down in the draft. Both can hit the outside shot and both are good passers for big men. Dieng is a better defender and Muscala is a better rebounder.

***

In the end, D'Alessandro will not be making these picks in a vacuum. He will be consulting with his staff and most importantly head coach Mike Malone. That being said, I think there are three clear targets for Sacramento in Thursday's draft, assuming no crazy drops of players like Ben McLemore or Victor Oladipo: Trey Burke, C.J. McCollum and Cody Zeller.

Thursday can't come soon enough.

More from Sactown Royalty

* Full 2013 NBA Draft Coverage

* Community Draft Board: who do the fans want?

* Aykis' scouting reports:Guards | Wings | Big men

* Draft scenarios from section214

* A look at the international prospects

Kings Extend Qualifying Offer to Tyreke Evans

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In what is both a formality and a comfort, the Kings have officially made guard Tyreke Evans a Restricted Free Agent by extending him a qualifying offer today. By being a Restricted Free Agent, the Kings now have the option to match any offer sheets Evans may sign with other teams.

Evans has had a bit of a rollercoaster career to date. His first year couldn't have gone better as he won Rookie of the Year and became one of just four players to average 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in his rookie year. Since then however he has dealt with injuries, coaching changes, role changes and more.

Evans is still one of the most talented players the Kings have had in recent memory and is probably the best two-way player on the team right now. I think the Kings will make every effort to retain him and hopefully develop him into the star that many of us hoped he could become. He will be just 24 years old next season, and serving under his 3rd coach in 4 years.

Sacramento also has the option of extending Qualifying Offers to forward James Johnson and guard Toney Douglas but as of yet have not chosen to do so. The deadline to do so is June 30th.

More from Sactown Royalty:

*Vivek's Offseason To-Do List: Tyreke Evans

*Cousins Wants a Max Extension

*Tyreke Evans Has Improved This Season

Tyreke Evans officially becomes restricted free agent

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The Sacramento Kings made point guard Tyreke Evans a restricted free agent on Tuesday by making a qualifying offer, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

The Kings will be allowed the first right of refusal and can match any offer another team makes in order to keep Evans. They will have three days to do so under that provision.

The move is thought to be nothing more than a formality since all signs point to the Kings keeping their floor general. Now that they've taken the first step in giving him a qualifying offer, they can either add one additional year to his current deal or rework a new, multiyear contract along with potentially matching any other offer.

The 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year saw a decline in production in 2012-13; in 65 games, he averaged 15.2 points and 3.5 assists after averaging 18.5 and 5.3 over his first three seasons. Despite that, he figures to be a big part of future plans as the Kings move in a new direction under new leadership.

More from SB Nation:

Cavs offer No. 1 pick for Aldridge, Blazers say no

Ziller: Darko and the million ways to go bust

NBA mock draft: We have a new No. 1! | Scouting reports | Big Board

Ziller: John Wall got some tattoos, let's freak out

Buses of Glory: The Miami Heat parade

Flannery: Doc leaves Boston, and the Celtics' teardown begins

Rufus on Fire top 10 mock draft, part I

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Disclaimer: Hello there, readers from the future! I see you've come to see people guess what the draft will be like so you can laugh about it later. Welcome and enjoy!

Derek

1) Cleveland Cavaliers: Nerlens Noel

Apparently the Cavs are seriously debating other options with this pick but no one else makes more sense here than Noel.

2) Orlando Magic: Ben McLemore

ESPN's Chad Ford said last Tuesday that McLemore could slide down a lot of teams' big boards due to his poor conditioning in workouts. Well, here's the good news: conditioning can be improved and reaching up for Otto Porter when they already have Arron Afflalo and a young Moe Harkless at the small forward position makes little sense. Draft McLemore and get him in your trainer's appointment book and quit overthinking stuff, Magic.

3) Washington Wizards: Otto Porter
With Porter the Wizards would get a small forward to play with John Wall and Bradley Beal. The Wizards took a defensive leap last year and with Porter's size and athleticism they could improve further. Besides, giving Wall more weapons is always a good idea.

4) Charlotte Bobcats: Alex Len

Ben's reasoning in the SB Nation mock really sold me on this pick. Yeah, his ankle is fused and won't be able to fully practice until about late summer, but taking the Maryland center makes more sense here than a remaining guard since the frontcourt is a more pressing need. Besides, if you're going to take a risk on a player with health concerns, it might as well be this draft since you're most likely not going to be missing out on a star player at number four anyway.

5) Phoenix Suns: Victor Oladipo

Since the Suns drafted Kendall Marshall here last year (and wound up buried on Alvin Gentry's depth chart until Gentry was let go) and Goran Dragic is still on the roster, it makes less sense for the Suns to go with Indiana's Trey Burke. With Oladipo, the Suns get shooting and someone who is capable of cleaning up after Michael Beasley's defensive lapses!

6) New Orleans Pelicans: Trey Burke

I went back and forth between Burke and Anthony Bennett for this pick, but ultimately settled on Burke. Although the Pelicans have two point guards, Greivis Vasquez had a breakout year but it remains to be seen if he can replicate that long-term. Then they drafted Austin Rivers, whose play last year was discouraging enough for them to believe that they may need to look elsewhere. With Burke, they can move Rivers behind the oft-injured Eric Gordon to shooting guard, his more natural position, and develop a potentially nice and young backcourt.

Bennett made sense here for about two seconds before I realized that the Pelicans already had Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson, whose game would duplicate Bennett's because they both like to stretch the floor. Bennett being a bit undersized has been mentioned as a possible small forward, but Al Faroq-Aminu plays the same position and he played well enough last season Bennett may not see the minutes he needs to get better there either. So, I settled on Burke, but if the Pelicans decided they liked him more than Burke and would be willing to figure out the fit later then I could see Bennett. However, I'll stick with Burke for now.

7) Sacramento Kings: Anthony Bennett

This would be more ideal for the Kings than Burke considering how many guards they have on the roster. Sure they have Patrick Patterson as a young power forward, but since Bennett can play the three and the only threes are John Salmons and James Johnson, they can have the luxury of trying Bennett out at multiple positions. Bennett's scoring potential could also balance out the scoring between the front and backcourts as well.

8) Detroit Pistons: CJ McCollum

With the contracts of Jose Calderon and Will Bynum expiring and Rodney Stuckey entering the final year of his deal, taking the combo guard from Lehigh makes a ton of sense here. Do I have to have more than one sentence? Oh, I'm good with one? Okay, cool!

9) Minnesota Timberwolves: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad is an option here, but KCP is the safer pick. He has good size so he can play defense, he gives the Timberwolves some desperately-needed shooting and most of all, he fills a need at shooting guard.

10) Portland Trail Blazers: Cody Zeller

It was between either Zeller or Pitt's Steven Adams for this pick. On one hand, Zeller didn't improve much in his sophomore season at Indiana but he was still productive. On the other hand, Adams looked raw and has talked about how he isn't going to go in and dominate, but that he'll be able to dominate certain tasks. Well, at least he's realistic, but Zeller is only twenty and he will certainly get the minutes to develop in Portland with JJ Hickson gone.

Josh

1) Cleveland Cavaliers - Nerlens Noel

While he's certainly not a franchise-changing player, Noel gives the Cavaliers a defensive foundation to pair with the offensive dynamo that is Kyrie Irving. They have their core filled at most positions, as Irving, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson appear to be panning out. If they don't select Noel, I anticipate they'll grab Otto Porter.

2) Orlando Magic - Ben McLemore

When the Magic traded Dwight Howard and received a handful of young players that didn't exhibit star potential, many thought they'd received peanuts. Or some other nut. Nikola Vucevic is the real deal, and Tobias Harris is a stud. They lost JJ Reddick in the trade that netted them Harris, however, and are an average 3-point shooting team at best. McLemore fits well in Orlando, and while he's probably not a star, he's a very solid piece for Orlando to build with.

3) Washington Wizards - Otto Porter

The Wizards are building around John Wall and rightfully so -- Wall was dominant last season. Trevor Ariza won't be around when Wall hits his prime, so Porter seems like a natural choice for them. He's a sweet shooter, and when paired with Bradley Beal, Wall should have a ton of room to operate in.

4) Charlotte Bobcats - Alex Len

The Bobcats desperately need a two-way big man. The Bobcats will get a two-way big man.

5) Phoenix Suns - Victor Oladipo

He's my favorite prospect in this Draft without question. With Oladipo, you can be sure of two things: you're getting an elite defender and a great hustle player. And that range he suddenly found last season? All reports indicate it was no fluke. Oladipo has been terrific in workouts. Phoenix will take any talent they can get at this point. There just doesn't seem to be a clear plan in place.

6) New Orleans Pelicans - Trey Burke

Ah, the magic of recency bias. Burke became a monster in the NCAA Tournament and shot up nearly 10 spots on most mock drafts. I'm not sure he's as good as he's shown, but at worst you're getting a good shooter that plays with an edge. Can't complain. If Burke and Anthony Davis figure out how to play the pick and roll together, though? Woo. The Pelicans could be really good.

7) Sacramento Kings - Michael Carter-Williams

I don't know what to expect from the Kings. Their roster is a mess. Their players have little chemistry. They, much like the Phoenix Suns, don't seem to have a plan in place. Their best player is DeMarcus Cousins, and they have some other pieces that could pan out. I've no idea what direction they're going in, but assuming Cousins is their guy, Carter-Williams seems like a great pick for them. He's a traditional point guard, something the KIngs haven't had in a long time. If they don't grab him, I expect them to take a good look at Anthony Bennett.

8) Detroit Pistons - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

They have Greg Monroe. They have Andre Drummond. That front line is going to be absolutely dominant in a couple of years, and the Pistons want to build around it. Brandon Knight wasn't what the Pistons thought he'd be, but he's still serviceable. Caldwell-Pope is a scorer capable of creating his own shot. The Pistons don't have much of that on the wings, so Caldwell-Pope should be on their radar.

9) Minnesota Timberwolves - C.J. McCollum

The Timberwolves are a very good team. They faced a ton of injuries last year and missed the playoffs, so they got a lottery pick. They've been using J.J. Barrea to date, but the Wolves want a change-of-pace player to come off of the bench that contrasts Ricky Rubio's style. McCollum is a ball-dominant combo guard capable of scoring a lot of points in a short period of time. He'd do well in Minnesota.

10) Portland Trail Blazers - Anthony Bennett

Remember Andray Blatche in Washington? That's Anthony Bennett, for the most part. Bennett's more efficient and plays a bit closer to the rim, but the fact remains that Bennett is a one-dimensional player. The Blazers are in a tough spot with their pick, because they have talent at most positions and instead need depth. But if Bennett falls to them, they'll grab him. No question.


Josh's top 10 prospects list

1) Victor Oladipo
2) Nerlens Noel
3) Alex Len
4) Otto Porter
5) Ben McLemore
6) Michael Carter-Williams
7) CJ McCollum
8) Reggie Bullock
9) Trey Burke
10) Anthony Bennett

Ben

1) Cleveland Cavaliers - Nerlens Noel

Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters in the backcourt is a strong scoring duo (even though I need to see some more consistency from Waiters after his very gradual improvement this year) and Tristan Thompson had a very solid season. The Cavaliers don't need Wilt Chamberlain here. Noel's defense is fantastic and I'm sure he can add a few buckets if you need him to. Cleveland was fourth-worst in field goal percentage allowed at the rim and fifth-worst in field goal percentage allowed between three and nine feet from the rim last season. You can bet that changes substantially with Noel.

2) Orlando Magic - Ben McLemore

The Magic could really use some help on both sides of the ball, frankly. Their frontcourt is much better off with a handful of young solid forwards in Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic at center. With J.J. Redick gone, they could use some three-point help. He's also a decent defender and would help them improve their pace.

3) Washington Wizards - Otto Porter

Porter is a very good fit here. He moves off the ball well, which would be a nice addition to John Wall, Bradley Beal and Nene, who can all generate their own offense fairly well. Porter's improvement as a shooter is key here, as he wasn't a great shooter before this past season at Georgetown. Range makes him a multidimensional threat for opponents, rather than just a cutter or transitional weapon. His defense could also take Washington's starting five to a more complete unit.

4) Charlotte Bobcats - Alex Len

Alex Len has the tools to become a solid center on both ends of the floor with good hands, shot-blocking skills and decent mobility for his size. The Bobcats desperately need a big man who can be the high-efficiency finisher to help Kemba Walker. Len can be that guy. I wouldn't be surprised if they went with a more polished offensive player like Anthony Bennett or Victor Oladipo, however.

5) Phoenix Suns - Victor Oladipo

I'm sorry, Shannon Brown cannot be your starting shooting guard in 2013. Or 2012. Or 2011. Or any year. Oladipo gives them a defensive workhorse and, if his shooting at Indiana isn't lightning in a bottle, a three-point threat to help their offense.

6) New Orleans Pelicans - Trey Burke

I have no idea what the Pelicans are going to do here. Greivis Vasquez did well at point guard and Eric Gordon is, uh, an enigma. Robin Lopez was serviceable and Anthony Davis was quietly as good as advertised. A great small forward or center would be best here, but alas there aren't any sure things at this position this late. Reach for Shabazz Muhammad at your own risk. I'll have the 'Pellies' taking Burke to help their backcourt. I wouldn't overlook a 7-footer like Zeller helping shore up their frontcourt, however. Heck, who knows with these things anyway? We're all going to look stupid by about 30 minutes into the telecast.

7) Sacramento Kings - Anthony Bennett

Though you might expect the Kings to draft another guard to go with their 65 others on the roster, I'm betting they get some help in the frontcourt if Bennett is available. He's got long arms, an NBA-ready body and some offensive versatility to help draw focus away from their plethora of shooting guards and point guards that are actually shooting guards disguised as point guards. Burke would nice here, or possibly even Michael Carter-Williams, if they're not scared away by his shot selection and turnovers. The Kings could really use a dynamic passer if there's one available.

8) Detroit Pistons - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

With Detroit set in the frontcourt for years to come, they need a good point guard and shooting guard. Sorry, I just don't think Brandon Knight is the point guard of the future. But I think giving him another year isn't the worst idea when the point guard crop isn't that great. Caldwell-Pope is a decent defender and can score the ball pretty well. If he can become a kickout threat from three, he can work as a Piston. Carter-Williams is a decent look here, too.

9) Minnesota Timberwolves - C.J. McCollum

I love this guy. A true student of the game, McCollum is focused on doing whatever his team needs to succeed. Minnesota could really used a shooter and he can do just that. His ballhandling is solid too and can be that 6th man they could use but his shooting (51.6 percent from three last year) is where they will really need him. If Pope's here, they could go with him as an option.

10 ) Portland Trail Blazers - Cody Zeller

Sadly for the the Trail Blazers, the pool of apt candidates here is not going to wow many. The big man crop is decent, but Portland could really use a defensive and rebounding presence to shore up their frontcourt. Unfortunately, Cody Zeller's length could cause issues in the NBA and Steven Adams is so very raw. Were I Portland, potential be damned - go with Zeller.

City of Sacramento Approves $6.5 million for Pre-development of Downtown Arena

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In the quest to build a new downtown arena, an important step was taken last night.

The Sacramento City Council voted 7 to 2 to approve $6.5 million in pre-development and design expenses for the new arena, the first substantial financial commitment by the city towards the project. Councilmembers Kevin McCarty and Darrell Fong were the only two no votes.

$1.755 million will go to the City Manager's office to hire consultants, while the rest of the money will be spent on design and construction. From the Sacramento Bee:

The consultants that City Manager John Shirey's office plans to hire will provide legal counsel and consult the city on design, financing and construction elements of the arena.

Another firm will help the city analyze its downtown parking assets. Of the $258 million public subsidy the council has tentatively approved for the arena, $212.5 million would be generated by revenue bonds backed by downtown parking spaces and garages.

This $6.5 million investment is not an additional cost to the $258 million public subsidy but rather a part of it.

A shout-out to Crown Downtown as well as our very own Kevin Fippin and Ed Montes for representing Sacramento at City Hall last night. No members of the opposition showed up. The Bee reports that STOP (Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork) have begun collecting signatures to try to force a public vote on the issue. They will need at least 33,000 signatures plus several thousand more as a buffer in the next few weeks to force a special election in December.

Wednesday Mail Sac/Pick & Droll: Paul Pierce, Thomas Robinson, owners that voted wrong, valuing Jimmer & draft extravaganza update!

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More draft-related mail, starting with phillip.cardella: "It seems to me we have cap space and a 7 pick that has no sure fire starter in sight. The C's reportedly are shopping Pierce for a 1st rd. pick. I think DMC needs a veteran to put a foot up his rear when necessary. Paul Pierce seems like a good piece to me. I am not a Jimmer hater, but I'd pack him with that 7th pick if C's bit. I think Pierce could help us contend for a playoff spot, add a much needed veteran presence and help DMC in many ways. Thoughts?"


I see a number of potential issues here. First, Pierce is a Boston icon. You have to at least wonder how motivated he would be to play out the string in Sacramento. Next, Pierce, while still in pretty good shape, turns 36 before the season starts. The man is currently 25th on the all-time NBA minutes list, and with even reasonable health he’ll crack the top 20 this season. Finally, one has to wonder how much a guy like Pierce would even want to deal with Cousins. And how many more mortgages does this franchise want to take out on DeMarcus Cousins?

Paul Pierce is a surefire hall of famer, but he’s the right guy at the wrong time for this franchise. Had he only been here when Cousins was a rookie…

Here’s one from Betty B: "Why did Thomas Robinson fail?"

I love the simple elegance of this question (no sarcasm – the question is so simple, yet the answer is so complex). Let’s see if I can rank the reasons as to why Robinson did not work out in Sacramento:

1.Robinson himself. The team made an investment in Robinson, so they certainly did not conspire to have him fail. For whatever reason, he failed to find his niche in the rotation. I recall thinking that Robinson would come into camp as the 4th big, behind Chuck Hayes, but would overtake him in a couple of months. By the all-star break I had Robinson competing with Jason Thompson for minutes. I didn’t think that he’d be invited to the "Rising Stars" game, but I thought that he would compete for at least 3rd team all-rookie honors. When you miss as badly as Robinson, the first place you look is in the mirror. Technically speaking, Robinson’s hands often betrayed him, he was very raw offensively, and while physically talented defensively, he was far from adroit when it came to defensive rotations.
2.Keith Smart’s failure to help him find some momentum. Remember, I said this was primarily Robinson’s fault. But others share in this debacle. One thing Robinson could do was rebound. He had a very good rebounding rate when given minutes. And for a team that constantly got crushed on the boards, you would think that coach Smart would have found some more opportunities to have Robinson on the floor. The last ten #5 draft picks prior to Robinson averaged an aggregate 26 minutes a night as rookies, while Robinson couldn’t crack the 16 minute mark for the Kings. He bested only Devin Harris for minutes per game by a rookie #5 pick over that period, and Harris was stuck behind 2004-05 versions of Jason Terry, Michael Finley, and Jerry Stackhouse (and Harris still got 19 starts!) on a 58-24 Mavs team. Robinson got less minutes per game than Shelden Williams, and less minutes per game than Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Robinson ranked 24th among 2012 rookies in minutes per game while with the Kings, receiving the fewest minutes among the top 12 picks. If you’re going to draft this kid at #5, you have to have a plan to find at least some minutes for him.
3.The franchise was a mess. Related to #2 in that you don’t draft a guy for a team that has missed the playoffs for six straight years with no plan to integrate him somewhere in the rotation. And jettisoning him after 51 games was a pure cash grab by the lame duck, outgoing ownership.
4.Bad luck. It’s hard to call bad luck on a guy that is guaranteed almost $7m over his first two years. But Robinson was probably drafted into the worst place possible for him, and was subsequently traded to a team that had no time to develop him as they made their playoff push. And now he may be dealt again as the Rockets maneuver their payroll to make a run at Dwight Howard. Again, if Robinson shows more, there’s no way the Rockets part with him right now for what is reported to be a non-lottery (or at least a non-top lottery) draft pick. But I sure would like to see this kid wind up in a place like San Antonio or Indianapolis. I still think that he could be a very effective NBA basketball player. He needs to be in the right place at the right time, but he also needs to be ready to take advantage of his opportunity when it presents itself, because he seems like a guy that is not going to get multiple breaks.

And from esoteric NBA name: "Now that the new ownership is in place, everything is so damn jovial. This is not what we do best. We thrive on pervasive negativity. Frankly, we've grown accustomed to being mad at the proverbial powers-that-be. To fulfill my basic Kings-fan Maslowian needs, I am having a hard time finding something to be upset about. But alas, I have found something that pisses me off: eight owners voted against this city. Do we know who these eight ne'er-do-wells are or is it pure speculation? Does the NBA release their congressional hearing votes? (And I realize this is ripe for an "It doesn't matter, just move on" response/lecture, but dammit, I want to cheer extra hard against these owners' respective teams in years to come.)"


It doesn’t matter, just move on.

I have never seen a published list, but the Maloofs would have been one of those eight, and Paul Allen of Portland was another. Mark Cuban was rumored to be one of the hate eight.

In the end, it’s probably not going to have much of an impact on who or how I root against a team. Micky Arison of Miami was a big Sacramento supporter, but I still rooted for San Antonio in the finals. The writers and fans at Blazers Edge make up my favorite NBA blog not named Sactown Royalty, and I’m not going to hold Paul Allen’s vote against them.

Get busy livin’, or get busy dyin’. I’ll see you in Zihuatanejo.

And let’s close out the Mail Sac with an anonymous donor: "I don’t want to rip open a scab from yesterday, but I was wondering at what point you would trade Jimmer Fredette. Would it have to be a lottery pick or a first round pick or not even that?"


Well, there are some things to be considered here. Fredette could be under contract for another two years, at $2.6m and $3.3m, before he attains RFA status. A draft pick at 18 or lower would yield a player that you could have for four years at roughly that same $6m total investment. On the other hand, in Fredette you have guy that will be entering his third year as a pro, and has proven to be a professional in the truest sense of the word through the most trying of times. If character is a virtue to Kings management (not to mention a proven shooting stroke), parting with Jimmer Fredette is not an easy thing to do.

I suppose the simplest measure would be to look at the current draft class and draw a line, with the guys that I like more than Fredette on one side, and the guys that I like less on the other. So with the disclaimer that the following is highly subjective, let’s roll.

Noel, Oladipo, Porter, Len, McLemore, Burke, McCollum, Zeller, Schroeder, Bennett, Carter-Williams, Muhammad, Adams, Dieng, Adetokunbo, Karasev, Caldwell-Pope, Franklin. So there are 18 guys that would have me parting with Jimmer Fredette in trade.

Now, there are other guys that are close, such as Muscala, Plumlee, Withey, Nogueira, and Olynyk. And Michael Malone might put Snell on that list. But for me, I’d have to have one of those 18 guys to part with Jimmer Fredette right now.

One of the maladies that has befallen us as an overall fan base is the misconception that guys like Fredette (or Isaiah Thomas or Tyreke Evans or DeMarcus Cousins) are done developing their respective games, while this is more than likely not the case. We’ve just been beaten up for so long that actual player development is hard for most of us to conceptualize. And while I’m not ready to proclaim that any of these guys are going to vault into the NBA’s pantheon of elite players, I do believe that there is room for marked improvement, and that includes Jimmer Fredette.

If you don’t blame Jimmer Fredette for the trade that brought him here and don’t excuse him for his shortcomings, what you’re left with is a 3rd year player that still has some potential growth, and from all appearances is a hard worker, a good teammate, and a solid company man. He still needs to improve in some areas (notably ball handling under pressure and defense), but if he utilized properly he could begin to build some momentum for himself that would pay off handsomely for both Fredette and the Kings.

So…yeah. I’ll take one of those 18 guys for Fredette. Otherwise, I hold onto him.

-

Pick & Droll: Draft extravaganza update!


As of 8 PM last night the list has grown to 40 participants. I sense a lot of folks out there in the weeds, waiting until the 6 PM (Pacific) deadline approaches this evening. Here’s the updated list:

#


Member


7th Pick


36th pick


1 through 6


13

Bill2

Bennett

Muscala

Noel/Len/McLemore/Porter/Oladipo/Burke

17

kman949

Bennett

Snell

Noel/McLemore/Porter/Len/Burke/Oladipo

16

Kenanito

Burke

Charles

Len/Porter/Noel/McLemore/Oladipo/Bennett

10

Deleran

Burke

Muscala

Len/Noel/Bennett/Zeller/Oladipo/Porter

8

otis29

Burke

Muscala

Noel/Len/Porter/Bennett/Oladipo/Burke

24

polotown

Burke

Rice

Noel/Oladipo/Porter/Bennett/McLemore/Len

26

double rainbow

Burke

Snell

Porter/Oladipo/Bennett/Noel/Len/McLemore

33

goodnight_punk

Burke

T23/Hardaway Jr.

Len/Noel/Porter/McLemore/Oladipo/McCollum

7

markdog333

Burke

T27/Adams

Len/Noel/Bennett/Oladipo/McLemore/Porter

3

artlee6

Burke

Thomas

Noel/Oladipo/Porter/Bennett/McLemore/Len

18

bumblebeeman

Caldwell-Pope, Adetokundo via MT/35 trade

Leslie

Len/Burke/Oladipo/Noel/Porter/McLemore

6

Ragin17

Carter-Williams

Kadji

Len/Oladipo/Porter/Noel/Bennett/Burke

1

fccpw

Carter-Williams

T??/Rice

40

1damutt

Len

Snell

Noel/McLemore/Porter/Oladipo/Bennett/Burke

37

ItsCarl

McCollum

Charles

Noel/McLemore/Porter/Len/Oladipo/Burke

34

jtkings13

McCollum

Ennis

Len/Noel/Porter/McLemore/Oladipo/Burke

5

lay-it-up-like-a-man

McCollum

Goodwin

Len/Noel/Bennett/McLemore/Porter/Oladipo

22

Sir Lurksalot

McCollum

Mitchell

Len/Noel/Bennett/Porter/McLemore/Oladipo

14

Sac King

McCollum

Muscala

Noel/McLemore/Porter/Oladipo/Len/Burke

31

monoopti

McCollum

Snell

Noel/Len/McLemore/Porter/Oladipo/Burke

25

nealtastic

McCollum

Southerland

Len/Noel/Porter/McLemore/Oladipo/Burke

28

nicolex

McCollum

Southerland

Len/Noel/Porter/McLemore/Oladipo/Burke

36

El_Wray

McCollum

Southerland

Noel/Burke/Porter/Oladipo/Len/Bennett

29

2001nbachampions

McCollum

T23/Muscala

Len/Noel/Porter/McLemore/Oladipo/Burke

12

A Night At The Arco

McCollum

T25/Snell

Noel/Porter/Len/Oladipo/McLemore/Burke

4

Aykis16

McCollum

T27/Snell

Len/Noel/Porter/McLemore/Oladipo/Burke

15

Czar Nickoli

McCollum

T27/Snell

Len/Noel/Porter/Oladipo/McLemore/Burke

38

Dub_TC

McCollum

T27/Snell

Noel/Burke/Porter/Len/McLemore/Oladipo

27

DougChristieKO

McCollum

T28/Snell

Len/Noel/Porter/Oladipo/McLemore/Burke

32

Cincy Kings Fan

McCollum, Dieng via JF/27 trade

Bullock

Noel/Oladipo/Len/McLemore/Porter/Burke

35

sroufe

McLemore

Jerrett

Len/Noel/Bennett/Oladipo/Zeller/Porter

20

49ertrojanmann

McLemore

Muscala

Len/Oladipo/Bennett/Noel/Porter/Burke

2

LaBradford

Muhammad

Jackson

Noel/Burke/Porter/Len/McLemore/Oladipo

9

KingsFan#1

Muhammad

Muscala

Noel/McLemore/Porter/Bennett/Oladipo/Burke

39

Da1Underdog

Oladipo

T27/Muscala

Len/McLemore/Bennett/Porter/Burke

30

recklessmonkey

Porter

Muscala

Len/McLemore/Noel/Bennett/Oladipo/Burke

21

49ersDude

Porter

Len/Oladipo/McLemore/Bennett/Noel/Burke

11

section214

T11&35/Muhammad, Muscala via T35 for 28

Charles

Noel/McLemore/Porter/Len/Oladipo/Burke/Bennett

23

Sactown_Loyalty19

Zeller

T23/Snell

Len/Noel/Porter/Bennett/Oladipo/McLemore

19

betweentheeyes

Zeller

Thomas

Noel/Len/Porter/Bennett/Oladipo/McCollum

-

As always, please submit your questions and topic ideas to asksactownroyalty.@gmail.com. We will begin to focus more on non-draft related questions next week. The ensuing thread is open for your jacking (but remember that threadjacking should be restricted to this thread).

Shooting is not the Kings' biggest problem

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Quick! What's the stock answer to the question about the Kings' biggest need? If you said "shooting" you're mostly right. We would also accept "defense." They both get mentioned a lot.

Only one of those is correct, though. The Kings ranked No. 29 in overall defense, with the No. 27 shooting defense, No. 30 defensive rebounding rate and No. 27 foul rate. Sacramento desperately needs to improve its defense. But shooting? The Kings were No. 16 in effective field goal percentage and No. 12 in three-point shooting percentage. They could improve on that, and should. But it's not nearly the team's biggest problem.

The need for shooting typically manifests as a critique of Tyreke Evans or an explanation as to why certain players wouldn't work in a backcourt with him. But Evans improved his shooting quite a bit in 2012-13, getting up to 34 percent on threes and an effective field goal percentage of .508. (His previous best season was .473. League average among all players last season was .496.) Tyreke ended up with a better eFG than even Jimmer Fredette last season. 'Reke finished behind Marcus Thornton and virtually even with Isaiah Thomas.

All four major rotation guards for the Kings last year -- 'Reke, Jimmer, Isaiah and Thornton -- finished above league average in eFG. The Kings' small forwards? All four of them finished well below league average. John Salmons (2,200 minutes) was at .480, James Johnson (900 minutes) was at a horrid .417, Travis Outlaw (400 minutes) was at .458 and Francisco Garcia (700 minutes) came in at .473. The biggest factors in the Kings not finishing higher in shooting were the small forward deficiencies and DeMarcus Cousins, who led the team in shot frequency but has an eFG of just .467. (Given that Cousins should be taking very few threes, his raw field goal percentage should be close to his eFG.)

So when we're talking about improving the Kings, and we're specifically talking about the shooting of the team: focus not on Tyreke or the backcourt. Focus on small forward and Boogie. Those spots get more efficient and the backcourt maintains or improves, and it will take care of itself. In the meantime, defense please.

(This isn't so much a commentary on Michael Carter-Williams as it may seem -- his presence would likely slice into the Kings' shooting success, unless you're of the mind his playmaking would boost everyone else. Also, on his defense: he did come from Syracuse, so ...)


NBA Draft 2013: Sacramento Kings have variety of options at No. 7

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It was quite the eventful season for the Sacramento Kings, both on the court and off. The impending sale of the Kings hovered over the team for much of the year, but Sacramento's sales pitch to the NBA was a success, and now the Kings find themselves under new ownership with a new head coach and general manager in Sacramento.

On the court, the Kings struggled to a 28-54 record. Sacramento showed promise at times and had one of the better offenses in the league, but a terrible defense kept it from having any real success.

DeMarcus Cousins also continues to be a bit of an enigma, as the big man ran into some disciplinary problems throughout the year. Cousins is one of the most talented bigs in the entire league, but his questionable attitude has the Kings wondering whether they want to make him a key part of their future going forward.

Sacramento needs plenty of help to become a contender again, and a good place to start is the draft, where new general manager Pete D'Alessandro will look to make a splash. The Kings have another top-10 pick this year, and they have had some success with those in recent years, with Cousins and Tyreke Evans proving to be solid contributors. But last year's pick at No. 5 in Thomas Robinson didn't work out, as he was traded to the Houston Rockets midway through the season.

Draft picks

The Kings hold two picks in the draft, with one in the first round at No. 7 and one in the second round at No. 36. Sacramento is reportedly looking to add another pick toward the end of the first round, and it is dangling Jimmer Fredette as trade bait.

Depth chart

Point guard: Isaiah Thomas, Toney Douglas (possible restricted free agent), Jimmer Fredette

Shooting guard: Tyreke Evans (restricted free agent), Marcus Thornton

Small forward: John Salmons, James Johnson (possible restricted free agent)

Power forward: Jason Thompson, Patrick Patterson, Travis Outlaw

Center: DeMarcus Cousins, Chuck Hayes, Cole Aldrich (unrestricted free agent)

Sacramento has just over $42 million committed in salary for next season and it has a key decision to make when it comes to the future of Evans. The talented 24-year-old is a restricted free agent and will likely garner some serious interest. However, the Kings will almost certainly try to keep him and make him part of their core for years to come. Johnson and Douglas could also become restricted free agents, but they haven't yet been given a qualifying offer.

Biggest need(s)

Sacramento could use help in quite a few areas. While the offense was solid overall and Thomas did a generally good job manning the point, a bigger difference maker could be taken, especially considering the amount of great players at that position around the league.

The Kings also need improvement in their frontcourt in terms of both rebounding and defense. Drafting a big man would also provide some nice insurance if things with Cousins don't work out.

Finally, the Kings need some more help on the wing, as it would be nice to find an upgrade over Salmons or to simply add some depth.

Potential targets

Sacramento has been linked to a bunch of names and will have a plethora of options. Michigan's Trey Burke (scouting report) dropping to No. 7 would be a pleasant surprise, although Lehigh's C.J. McCollum (scouting report) or Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams (scouting report) would be excellent consolation prizes. The Kings really like McCollum, and he would be a nice fit next to Evans.

For frontcourt help, some possibilities for the Kings include UNLV's Anthony Bennett (scouting report), Indiana's Cody Zeller (scouting report) and Pittsburgh's Steven Adams (scouting report). Bennett may not fall to No. 7, but if he did, pairing him with Cousins would be a very intriguing option.

On the wing, UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad (scouting report) is an option, although taking him at No. 7 may be a bit of a reach. The Kings have shown interest in New Mexico's Tony Snell (scouting report) and Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr. (scouting report), which is why they're shopping Fredette for a pick later in the first round.

More from SB Nation:

Kevin Garnett draws Nets' attention

Cavs offer No. 1 pick for Aldridge, Blazers say no

NBA mock draft: We have a new No. 1! | Scouting reports | Big Board

Ziller: John Wall got some tattoos, let's freak out

Buses of Glory: The Miami Heat parade

NBA mock draft roundup: Nerlens Noel the likely top pick, but no consensus

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Draft day is finally upon us, and that means final adjustments are being made to mock drafts everywhere. There's plenty of intrigue at the top of the draft, with the Cleveland Cavaliers still unsure of what direction they're going to go with the No. 1 overall pick.

The Cavs have aggressively shopped the pick, but no deals have come to fruition. Kentucky's Nerlens Noel (scouting report) is still the projected top pick in many mocks, but he's not a consensus by any means. Maryland's Alex Len (scouting report) is getting some love as well, despite the fact that he's dealing with injury problems like Noel.

There are a few other interesting things to watch for at the top of the draft. One is whether Kansas' Ben McLemore (scouting report) or Indiana's Victor Oladipo (scouting report) will be the first shooting guard taken. McLemore has seen his stock drop a bit due to poor workouts, while Oladipo is generally loved by NBA executives. However, McLemore is still projected ahead of Oladipo in most mocks.

Another choice to watch is the Washington Wizards at No. 3. Many think the Wizards will take the local product in Georgetown's Otto Porter (scouting report), but UNLV's Anthony Bennett (scouting report) is also in play. Porter is the safer pick and seems like a great fit for Washington, but nothing is guaranteed.

Let's take a look at a bunch of the latest mocks:

SB NationESPNDraftExpressNBA.comSports IllustratedNBADraft.net
1. CavaliersAlex LenNerlens NoelNerlens NoelNerlens NoelNerlens NoelAlex Len
2. MagicNerlens NoelVictor OladipoBen McLemoreBen McLemoreBen McLemoreNerlens Noel
3. WizardsAnthony BennettOtto PorterOtto PorterOtto PorterOtto PorterAnthony Bennett
4. BobcatsBen McLemoreAlex LenAlex LenAnthony BennettAlex LenBen McLemore
5. SunsVictor OladipoBen McLemoreVictor OladipoAlex LenVictor OladipoVictor Oladipo
6. PelicansOtto PorterTrey BurkeTrey BurkeVictor OladipoAnthony BennettTrey Burke
7. KingsTrey BurkeC.J. McCollumAnthony BennettMichael Carter-WilliamsMichael Carter-WilliamsC.J. McCollum
8. PistonsC.J. McCollumAnthony BennettC.J. McCollumTrey BurkeTrey BurkeOtto Porter
9. TimberwolvesKentavious Caldwell-PopeKentavious Caldwell-PopeKentavious Caldwell-PopeKentavious Caldwell-PopeShabazz MuhammadCody Zeller
10. Trail BlazersCody ZellerMichael Carter-WilliamsSteven AdamsShabazz MuhammadCody ZellerKentavious Caldwell-Pope
11. 76ersSteven AdamsCody ZellerCody ZellerCody ZellerSteven AdamsLucas Nogueira
12. Thunder via RaptorsGiannis AdetokunboSteven AdamsKelly OlynykSteven AdamsKelly OlynykSteven Adams
13. MavericksMichael Carter-WilliamsSergey KarasevMichael Carter-WilliamsC.J. McCollumKentavious Caldwell-PopeSergey Karasev
14. JazzDennis SchroederLucas NogueiraMason PlumleeDennis SchroederDennis SchroederMichael Carter-Williams
15. BucksShabazz MuhammadShane LarkinShabazz MuhammadKelly OlynykC.J. McCollumGiannis Adetokunbo
16. CelticsTony MitchellDennis SchroederShane LarkinSergey KarasevJamaal FranklinDennis Schroeder
17. Hawks via RocketsMason PlumleeGiannis AdetokunboGiannis AdetokunboMason PlumleeLucas NogueiraKelly Olynyk
18. HawksRudy GobertShabazz MuhammadSergey KarasevLucas NogueiraSergey KarasevKelly Olynyk
19. Cavaliers via LakersSergey KarasevReggie BullockReggie BullockGiannis AdetokunboGiannis AdetokunboShabazz Muhammad
20. BullsGorgui DiengMason PlumleeTim Hardaway Jr.Gorgui DiengTony MitchellGorgui Dieng
21. Jazz via WarriorsLucas NogueiraIsaiah CanaanDennis SchroederJeff WitheyMason PlumleeShane Larkin
22. NetsShane LarkinKelly OlynykLucas NogueiraRudy GobertGorgui DiengMason Plumlee
23. PacersKelly OlynykJamaal FranklinRudy GobertGlen Rice Jr.Shane LarkinTony Mitchell
24. KnicksRicky LedoTony MitchellIsaiah CanaanShane LarkinJeff WitheyTony Snell
25. ClippersJamaal FranklinTim Hardaway Jr.Gorgui DiengJamaal FranklinRudy GobertAllen Crabbe
26. Timberwolves via GrizzliesJeff WitheyGorgui DiengJamaal FranklinTony MitchellRicky LedoRicky Ledo
27. NuggetsReggie BullockAllen CrabbeAllen CrabbeAllen CrabbeGlen Rice Jr.Glen Rice Jr.
28. SpursAllen CrabbeRudy GobertJeff WitheyIsaiah CanaanTony SnellErick Green
29. ThunderJackie CarmichaelRicky LedoTony MitchellArchie GoodwinMike MuscalaRudy Gobert
30. Suns via HeatArchie GoodwinTony SnellPierre JacksonTim Hardaway Jr.Allen CrabbeJamaal Franklin

More from SB Nation:

NBA draft: 5 scenarios for the top 5 picks

Kevin Garnett draws Nets' attention

NBA mock draft: We have a new No. 1! | Scouting reports | Big Board

Ziller: John Wall got some tattoos, let's freak out

Buses of Glory: The Miami Heat parade

Report: Kings Looking to Move Up for Ben McLemore

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The Kings haven't really been in any discussions or rumors to date to move up in the draft. Everything we've heard was about the possibility of them moving down. Now however, Adrian Wojnarowski reports something different:

McLemore has been rumored to go anywhere from 2 to 6, as reports of poor workouts and a troubling off-court situation have seemingly lowered his draft stock. Still, he's an intriguing talent, as he's both one of the better athletes and better shooters in this year's draft. He'd also give the Kings a great player at SG if Tyreke Evans is not retained.

I'm unsure what exactly it would take for the Kings to move up from the 7 spot to get someone like McLemore. There may even be a tiny possibility McLemore would drop down to 7 (I highly doubt it).

The draft begins in just a few hours. Get excited.

UPDATE:

Sam Amick and James Ham are both hearing rumblings of the Kings doing something big.

More from Sactown Royalty

* Full 2013 NBA Draft Coverage

* Community Draft Board: who do the fans want?

* Aykis' scouting reports:Guards | Wings | Big men

* Draft scenarios from section214

* A look at the international prospects

NBA trade rumors: Ben McLemore targeted by Kings, who look to trade up

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The Sacramento Kings are searching for ways to trade up from their seventh spot in the 2013 NBA Draft, and Ben McLemore is a potential target, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. Both Ken Berger of CBS Sports and USA Today reporter Sam Amick reported that the Phoenix Suns and their No. 5 pick is the most likely option.

Sacramento might have options at the shooting guard and small forward positions, but under new ownership they could ship off Marcus Thornton and John Salmons. The Kings also run the risk of losing Tyreke Evans, who became a restricted free agent on Wednesday as the team extended a qualifying offer.

Though McLemore has slipped and could fall out of the top five picks as questions arose regarding his private team workouts, he is still billed as one of the top talents in the draft class. And considering a number of teams ahead of the Kings are searching for shooting guards, it would be surprising for McLemore to fall to seventh.

Furthermore, it's unclear what will happen considering other teams are attempting to move into the top five. On Wednesday, Wojnarowski reported that the Oklahoma City Thunder were hoping to move from their 12th slot into the top five. The Minnesota Timberwolves were also shopping a package to acquire a top-five pick, according to Chad Ford and Marc Stein of ESPN.

At the very top of the draft order, the Cleveland Cavaliers have also been shopping the top pick, according to ESPN.

More from SB Nation:

NBA mock draft: Cavs keep up guessing | Scouting reports | Team Needs | Big Board

Is Dwight done in L.A.?

Why Noel shouldn't go No. 1

Ziller: John Wall got some tattoos, let's freak out

Tjarks: How international scouting has changed

NBA Draft 2013: Washington Wizards will be keeping their draft pick, according to report

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With just under three hours to go until the 2013 NBA Draft, it sounds like the Washington Wizards will indeed be making a selection at No. 3. Despite rumors flying elsewhere, the Wizards appear to be set on keeping their pick. Via Ken Berger of CBS Sports.

The Wizards had previously seemed open to moving it, as rumors involving players like Ersan Ilyasova and Luol Deng for the pick surfaced. However, neither offer as presented seemed worth doing, and thus, it looks like the Wizards will end up staying right where they are. This despite the latest from Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports that the Kings, at No. 7, are looking to trade up for Ben McLemore.

More on BF:

  • All of BF's draft scouting reports.
  • All of SBNation.com's scouting reports.
  • The latest Wizards rumors.
  • Draft-day roundtable.
  • Does it have to be Porter or Bennett?
  • Draft boards: Community | Umair | Mike
  • Why Mike prefers Otto Porter
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