The 2024 NBA Draft is approaching this week and the Sacramento Kings hold a lottery pick at No. 13. The Kings did not have a first round draft pick last season. They had two second round picks that they used on Colby Jones and Jalen Slawson. Jones is under contract for next season but Slawson is set to hit free agency as a two-way contract player.
The last time the Kings had a lottery pick in the NBA Draft was in 2022 when they drafted Keegan Murray. Murray was a solid pick and has proven himself to be a part of the Kings immediate future. While Murray was the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Kings are going to need another Murray-impact type of pick with No. 13.
The late lottery is always a strange thing as there could be a mix of players available when the Kings are up. The prevailing thought is to draft the best player available over need when it comes to the lottery. For the Kings though, that could end up being one and the same.
Ron Holland could fall to the Kings in NBA Draft
Ron Holland from the G League Ignite is an interesting case in that he was once projected to be possibly the top pick in the draft. But he's since fallen on most mock drafts to mid to late lottery. There's a good chance that he is available when the Kings select at No. 13. If that's the case, he needs to be the Kings pick.
Holland has All-Star potential. He's a wing scoring threat with some playmaking to his game. It's been no secret that the Kings might be looking to move on at some point from Harrison Barnes as the starting small forward. He's been made available in trade talks as per Jack Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Holland would be the ultimate replacement for Barnes.
During the G League regular season, Holland averaged 20.6 points, 6.6. rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals with splits of 44.5 percent shooting from the field, 24 percent shooting from the three-point line and 75.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line. The Kings do not have to even think twice about drafting Holland if he slips to No. 13.
Isaiah Collier could be the Kings pick at No. 13
The Kings were able to breathe a sigh of relief this past week when Malik Monk agreed to re-sign in free agency. That decision most like altered the Kings draft plans in a big way. They no longer need to think about a replacement for Monk. But the Kings could use an upgrade at backup point guard. They definitely struggled in that regard last season.
Isaiah Collier from USC is another interesting prospect to Holland in the sense that he too was once projected to be in the running for the No. 1 pick. A disappointing freshman season at USC marred by injury has seen his stock slip. But there's no denying his talent.
Collier appeared in 27 games for USC last season. He averaged 16.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals with splits of 49 percent shooting from the field, 33.8 percent shooting from the three-point line and 67.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line. He is lottery talent for sure. He can score the ball, he can pass the ball, he could ultimately be the starter alongside De'Aaron Fox.
Kings could shock the world with Zach Edey in NBA Draft lottery
There's no question that the Kings need help in the frontcourt. Whether it's getting someone else to play alongside Domantas Sabonis or getting a quality backup, the Kings need a big man. Both Alex Len and JaVale McGee are free agents as well.
The Kings might scour the free agent market for a capable big man, but one could be standing right in front of them in Zach Edey of Purdue. Edey might be the one player that there's no general consensus on when it comes to draft experts. Some seem to think he's going to be a good NBA player. Others believe he doesn't have a real spot in the modern NBA.
What Edey does have, however, is size and skill that can't be taught. He's been gaining a little traction lately for the late lottery in mock drafts. Last season, he averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 blocked shots. He most definitely has a place in the league as a good backup center. If Holland and Collier are off the board at No. 13, the Kings should ignore the experts and take the big man ready to play in the NBA.
