Kings Select Crafty Duke Guard in Latest 2024 Mock Draft

Who would be the best prospect for Sacramento to target in the 2024 NBA Draft?

The Sacramento Kings are on the verge of their second consecutive playoff appearance after a 16-year drought, but hope is fading as they tumble down the standings. There is little room for error in a tight Western Conference, yet the Kings lost their second straight game on Wednesday to fall to 8th in the West.

Barring an existential collapse, the Kings are locked in for at least a spot in the Play-In Tournament, but their priority should be to secure a top-six seed and avoid the Play-In altogether. 

Sacramento's 2024 first-round pick is lottery-protected, so if the Kings make the playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks will take possession of the pick.

David Cobb of CBSSports.com released his latest 2024 NBA mock draft with the Kings holding the 14th overall pick, which assumes Mike Brown and company will face a Play-In Tournament exit.

With the 14th overall pick, Cobb has Sacramento selecting Jared McCain, the Duke Blue Devils' freshman phenom. McCain, 20, is a 6'3" guard who has proven to be an elite shooter and well-rounded offensive talent. Cobb gives his summary of McCain:

For a slender guard, McCain's offensive efficiency has been off the charts. He's a relentless worker who can play either guard spot, and he rebounds well for his size. McCain's defense isn't a strength, but his offensive upside makes up for it, and he's no worse defensively than most players his size.

While McCain is an impressive player, this pick would not make much sense for Sacramento. Sacramento's backup point guard rotation consists of defensive-oriented players like Davion Mitchell, Keon Ellis, and Colby Jones, and while McCain would give the Kings offensive versatility in that aspect, it is not a clear need for the Kings with a lottery selection. 

With the 15th pick, Cobb has the Indiana Pacers selecting Dayton Flyers F DaRon Holmes II, who would be a much better fit in Sacramento than McCain. With the 16th pick, the Miami Heat would select USC Trojans G Isaiah Collier, who would be a near-perfect filler in case sixth man Malik Monk departs in free agency. Long story short, if Sacramento falls into a position where they have the 14th pick in the draft, there are more viable options than McCain. 

If the Kings slip out of the playoffs and land a lottery pick, it could be a blessing in disguise for Sacramento to have the opportunity to add more premier talent. Of course, though, the goal is to make the playoffs, and if the Kings are picking 14th in the 2024 NBA Draft, the season was a disappointment. 

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