Nine bigs Kings should target in first, second rounds of draft
James Ham has nine big men that might make sense for Sacramento when they select at picks No. 12, 35, 43 and 52.
The NBA Draft is just three weeks away and teams are sifting through players. Sacramento is in a unique position because they not only have a late lottery pick, but also three second-rounders.
New general manager Monte McNair has plenty of holes to fill in his roster and there is a good chance he comes out aggressive on draft night with so many assets to work with.
If the Kings stand pat and make all four selections, they might be able to build some depth on the roster. They’ll need at least one guard, a forward with versatility and possibly a big man to fill out the squad.
We’ve already taken a look at some of the options in the backcourt and at the wing. Here are nine big men that might make sense for Sacramento when they select at picks No. 12, 35, 43 and 52.
Measurables: 6-foot-9, 225 pounds Age: 21
This is the lone big man that might make it to the Kings at No. 12 out of the top tier of players. Achiuwa doesn’t have great range, but he sets mean picks, can finish in the pick-and-roll and projects as a defensive anchor. With Harry Giles and Alex Len entering the offseason as unrestricted free agents and Richaun Holmes under contract for just one more season, Achiuwa could be a long term solution at the five.
Measurables: 6-foot-10, 225 pounds Age: 20
Smith is moving up draft boards after a breakout sophomore season. Rarely do you see a college player improve in almost every area of the game, but that is exactly what Smith accomplished from his freshman to sophomore season. He raised his scoring, rebounding and block numbers substantially and he added a 3-point shot to his arsenal. Selecting Smith at No. 12 is a stretch, but if the Kings could move down six to eight spots and collect another asset, Smith might make a nice long term partner for Marvin Bagley on the front line.
Measurables: 6-foot-10, 250 pounds Age: 20
Perry posted 18 double-doubles in his sophomore season at Mississippi State and nearly doubled his statistics from his freshman year. His game is a bit raw, but he has an NBA body and should have no problems finding minutes early in his career as an enforcer and hustle player. He needs to work on his decision making and fouls might be an issue early in his career, but there is a lot to like from Perry’s overall game. There is a possibility that Perry lasts until No. 35, but it’s unlikely he drops much further than that.
Measurables: 7-foot, 200 pounds Age: 18
Pokuševski is all over the place on draft boards. He’s a huge kid, measuring in at 7-foot with a 7-foot-3 wingspan. He has tremendous range and a very smooth stroke. There are concerns about his toughness and willingness to mix it up with other bigs at the NBA level, but this is a prospect that could pay huge dividends down the road. This is a wild draft and Pokuševski could go anywhere from the mid-first round all the way to where the Kings are selecting at No. 35. If he’s still on the board in the second round, Sacramento might take a gamble as a draft and stash candidate.
Measurables: 6-foot-10, 240 pounds Age: 21
Oturu does it all. In his sophomore season at Minnesota he became a double-double machine. He finished the year averaging 20.1 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. In addition to posting huge numbers across the board, Oturu also extended his range out to the 3-point line, where he shot 36.5 percent on 1.7 attempts per game.
Oturu is slated to go anywhere from the last first round all the way to around pick No. 40.
Measurables: 6-foot-10, 265 pounds Age: 19
Carey loves to bully his way around the paint. He averaged 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in just 24.9 minutes per game as a freshman at Duke. He shot 38.8 percent from long range this season, but it was on limited attempts. This is more of a throw back big that can get you a bucket from close range. Carey Jr. is projected as a late first to early second round selection and there is a possibility he lasts to the Kings at No. 35 and maybe even No. 43.
Measurables: 6-foot-10, 220 pounds Age: 22
Tillie is an intriguing prospect. Injuries slowed his development in his final two seasons at Gonzaga, but if he was healthy, there was a shot he would be selected in the first round. Tillie projects as a stretch big with a high IQ and good passing skills. He shot 44.4 percent from 3-point range over his four seasons at the NCAA level and there is a good chance that he will be available at pick No. 43 and possibly even No. 52.
Measurables: 6-foot-9, 220 pounds Age: 21
Reed can fill up a box score. The junior forward posted 15.1 point, 10.7 rebounds, 1.6 assist, 1.9 steals and 2.6 blocks per game last season for DePaul. He needs to sure up his perimeter shot in order to earn major minutes at the NBA level, but his overall production, athleticism and length put him in elite company this season. Reed is slated to go in the mid-second round and there is a possibility he could still be on the board when the Kings select at No. 43 or No. 52.
Measurables: 6-foot-8, 245 pounds Age: 21
The mark of a good prospect is their ability to not only improve their game but to add to it every season. In his junior year at Michigan State, Tillman took leaps forward as a scorer and rebounder, but he also developed into one of the best passing bigs in this year’s draft. He is still improving as a shooter, which will limit his ceiling slightly at the NBA level, but there is a lot to like about Tillman’s game. Tillman is projected to go in the early second round, but he could slip a little further and still be on the board when the Kings select at No. 43.
