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Sacramento Kings Draft Analysis: Sensible Approach Returns Specialty Players

This article is more than 4 years old.

Thursday's NBA Draft was a whirlwind of trades for picks, players and future assets, but the Sacramento Kings rightly stayed put, and didn't fall into bad habits of the past.

The Kings didn't have a pick in the first round but had three picks in the second round. There was speculation that general manager Vlade Divac would try to package those picks in a trade to move up in the draft but, ultimately, he did not. Instead, Sacramento added three players who each have clear-cut calling cards: Wyoming guard Justin James at No. 40, Virginia guard Kyle Guy at No. 55 and Serbian wing Vanja Marinkovic with the draft's final pick at No. 60.

"It was a great night for us, happy with the outcome. So excited to have those kinds of players fit our style of basketball and happy for the future of the Kings," Divac told reporters Thursday night.

Here's the analysis of each of the three picks and how they fit in with the Kings.

Justin James

ESPN's analysis: "James produced a lot of intrigue by measuring 6-6 barefoot, testing out as the fastest player at the Portsmouth Invitational in terms of the .75-court sprint and lane-agility drills and operating on the ball quite a bit, giving him unique versatility for a guard. He plays at different speeds smoothly and does a great job of moving the ball ahead in transition, using well-timed bounce passes on the move to find teammates for easy looks, even being a little bit too unselfish at times. He also knocked down a number of 3-pointers both with his feet set and off the dribble, indicating he has some potential to continue to improve in this area if he can speed up his release.

The intrigue here is James' speed. The Kings ranked third in pace last season and new head coach Luke Walton is expected to continue the trend. The offense is build around De'Aaron Fox's ability to push the ball in transition and make quick decisions.

"A combo guard, very smart basketball IQ, he can definitely keep up with the way we want to play," Divac said. "I think he's a ready NBA player."

At 6-foot-7, 183 pounds, James will have to put on weight to hold up to the NBA grind, but he should be able to get out and run, keep up in transition, and sprint to the corners while Fox puts his foot on the gas.

James has his flaws, but teams aren't looking for players in the second round as much as they are looking for skills.

Kyle Guy

ESPN's analysis: "Guy is one of the best shooters in the draft, capable of coming off screens, but also able to attack closeouts, boasting a little more versatility than your typical spot-up shooter.

His lack of size, length and poor frame may hinder him defensively at the NBA level, but he does have one skill he can hang his hat on with his ability to stretch defenses from beyond the 3-point line."

The Kings acquired the draft rights to Guy and cash considerations from the New York Knicks in exchange for the draft rights to the 47th pick Ignas Brazeikis.

As a junior, Guy averaged 15.4 points while shooting 42.6 percent on threes and 83.3 on free throws as he helped guide Virginia to the school’s first National Championship.

"His shooting is just exceptional. Very confident he's one of the best shooters in this class," Divac said.

In today's league, teams can never have too much shooting. Getting Guy, a hard-nosed player who can make open shots, is another weapon to play off of Sacramento's more dynamic shot creators.

Vanja Marinkovic

ESPN's analysis: "He'll likely be stashed for a few years and will have an opportunity to earn a roster spot if his athleticism, defense, ballhandling and shooting consistency improve."

In Marinkovic, Divac drafted a fellow Serbian who also happened to play with current Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanović overseas. The 22-year-old will likely be stashed overseas until he's ready to play in the NBA.

"I'm very confident he's going to be an NBA player, he has great shooting ability, he knows how to play, his basketball IQ is just off the charts," Divac said.

It's a smart move by the Kings, who didn't want to add three rookies to an already-young roster. Instead, they will retain Marinkovic's rights and keep an open roster spot. A forward-thinking decision by a team and front office optimistic about the future.

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