The Sacramento Kings took a step backwards last season but the worst part of it all was that they, once again, looked like the NBA’s most dysfunctional franchise.
Kings head coach Luke Walton and second-leading scorer Buddy Hield are bumping heads, at odds over Hield’s starting role and playing time. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Harrison Barnes, arguable the team’s two most talented wings, are rumored to be being pursued by the Milwaukee Bucks. Promising center Harry Giles is likely out of the door as well, as Sacramento can only pay him $3.9 million in free agency after foolishly declining his option for the 2020-21 season.
Related: Full Sacramento Kings 2020 Salary Cap Preview
2020 NBA Draft Picks
| No. 12 overall | No. 35 overall | No. 43 overall | No. 52 overall |
Kings Draft Needs
What will it take to bring the Kings out of dysfunction once again?
Nobody can be sure of the answer to that question but with four picks in the 2020 NBA Draft, including a lottery selection, Sacramento needs to improve the team culture.
The Kings may also need to replace Bogdanovic through the draft, as the $9.3 million mid-level exception is the best deal they can offer impending free agents. If a deal between Bogdanovic and the Bucks does transpire and Harrison Barnes is involved, matching salaries may result in Milwaukee sending a versatile defender and elite shooter in Khris Middleton to Sacramento. However, the Kings can’t guarantee the deal will occur, so they need to have multiple plans to replace the Serbian swingman.
2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist
| No. 12 overall | No. 35 overall | No. 43 overall | No. 52 overall |
| F-C Precious Achiuwa, Memphis | SG Desmond Bane, TCU | C Daniel Oturu, Minnesota | C Nick Richards, Kentucky |
| F-C Onyeka Okongwu, USC | F Tyler Bey, Colorado | PF Reggie Perry, Mississippi St. | C Kaleb Wesson, Ohio St. |
| G-F Aaron Nesmith, Vanderbilt | G-F Robert Woodard II, Mississippi St. | SG Cassius Stanley, Duke | C Filip Petrusev, Gonzaga |
| F Saddiq Bey, Villanova | C Udoka Azubuike, Kansas | SF Jordan Nwora, Louisville | SF Kenyon Martin Jr., IMG Academy |
| F Patrick Williams, Florida St. | C Xavier Tillman, Michigan St. | G-F Elijah Hughes, Syracuse | SF Josh Hall, Moravian |
What The Mocks Are Saying
| The Ringer | Patrick Williams (No. 12) |
| The Athletic | R.J. Hampton (No. 12), Daniel Oturu (No. 35), Devon Dotson (No. 43), Mason Jones (No. 52) |
| USA TODAY Sports | Patrick Williams (No. 12) |
| CBS Sports | Patrick Williams (No. 12) |
| The Score | Devin Vassell (No. 12) |
Projected Roster
| PG | De’Aaron Fox |
| PG | Cory Joseph |
| SG | Buddy Hield |
| SG | Justin James |
| SG | Kyle Guy* |
| F | Harrison Barnes |
| F | Jabari Parker |
| PF | Nemanja Bjelica |
| F-C | Marvin Bagley III |
| C | Richaun Holmes |
