The Sacramento Kings have had their fair share of draft misses over the years, and it's safe to say that the front office has had its fair share of questionable decisions. While the team has had some success in recent drafts, it's hard to ignore the missed opportunities that have haunted them for years. In this article, I'll take a look at five of the biggest draft misses since the Kings moved to Sacramento, and I'll offer my own interpretation and commentary on each one.
One thing that immediately stands out is the 2018 NBA Draft. The Kings had the second pick overall and managed to drop the ball several times in both rounds. This still dogs the team to this day, and it's hard to ignore the missed opportunities. For example, the Kings passed on Jalen Brunson, who has since become a key player for the Dallas Mavericks. Brunson was viewed as an undersized point guard, but his success since then has proven that teams were wrong to pass him over.
Another example is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was available in the first round at number 11 overall. The Kings and a few other teams slept on SGA, and he went on to become a key player for the Oklahoma City Thunder. If the Kings had done their homework properly, they would have taken a chance on him.
In 2012, the Kings had the number five pick in the draft, and they passed on Damian Lillard in favor of Thomas Robinson. Lillard has since become one of the best shooters in the game, and he's on the verge of returning to an interesting Portland team. This is a prime example of how the Kings could have made a better choice with their draft pick.
The 2011 NBA Draft also comes to mind. The Kings had the seventh pick overall, and they used it on Bismack Biyombo. Biyombo was traded before the end of his first season, and the Kings sent him to the Bobcats as part of a three-team trade that netted them Jimmer Fredette from the Bucks. Making it worse is the fact that Kawhi Leonard went just a few picks later at 15. This is another example of how the Kings could have made a better choice with their draft pick.
Finally, the 2018 NBA Draft comes to mind again. The Kings had the second pick overall and could have chosen either Luka Doncic or Trae Young. Instead, they went with Marvin Bagley III because then general manager Vlade Divac thought he was the best choice to hang around. Bagley left Sacramento in 2022, and it's hard to ignore the missed opportunities. If the Kings had chosen Doncic or Young, they could have had a key player for years to come.
In my opinion, the Kings have had their fair share of draft misses, and it's hard to ignore the missed opportunities. The 2018 NBA Draft is a prime example of how the team could have made better choices. However, it's also important to remember that the NBA only moves forward, and the Kings have had some success in recent drafts. Scott Perry seems to be much better at the draft than his predecessors, and the team is on the right track. What many people don't realize is that the Kings have had some success in recent drafts, and it's only a matter of time before they make another big move.
