Jaden Ivey doesn’t sound like a guy who wants to be drafted by the Kings
Projected top-five pick Jaden Ivey on Monday revealed that he has only worked out for the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons ahead of the NBA draft on Thursday.
Ivey, a consensus All-American, is widely expected to be the fourth player off the board to the Sacramento Kings behind Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr. in some order. However, Ivey has not been in contact with the Kings, nor has he worked out with them.
He explained that he hasn’t intentionally avoided the Kings.
I’m kinda just letting this process just handle itself. If I got drafted there, it wouldn’t be the worst option. I’m not the GM who picks the guys so I’m kinda just trying to enjoy this process and whatever happens on draft night, I’m just going to stick with it.
However, it appears as though there is more to the situation than that.
A report surfaced last week that stated Sacramento is not Ivey’s preferred destination in the draft. He even acknowledged on Monday that there are scenarios in which he could land with the New York Knicks, who would need to trade up from No. 11 to take him.
The Knicks were mentioned last week among the teams that have expressed interest in potentially moving up to the fourth spot to take Ivey. The Kings’ asking price to accommodate such a move is said to be steep and it is unclear if New York has the assets needed to strike a deal.
Ivey believes he could fit in with the Kings, or any other team.
They recently just drafted Davion Mitchell. They have guys like (Domantas) Sabonis. Obviously, a great guy like De’Aaron Fox. They have a lot of talent (and are) trying to get some guys in to complement them. I think I’d fit in anywhere but we’re going to see what happens on draft night.
Ivey averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a sophomore last season at Purdue. Given his overall skills, Ivey is projected to be able to contribute now while also developing into a potential star, making him a prime target for teams.
Of course, the Kings can still draft Ivey despite not speaking with him. They drafted Mitchell last year after not receiving his medical information or interviewing him prior to the draft. But the comments made by Ivey on Monday were not exactly a ringing endorsement of the team.
In any case, Ivey has spent much of the summer in Los Angeles training at Proactive Sports Performance. He has worked extensively on improving several components of his offensive game.
I feel like just this summer, I worked on areas of my game that can help me showcase who I am on the NBA level. I’ve been working on my mid-range, floaters and things I really couldn’t show on the college stage. I think I’m ready for all of the types of challenges that are going to come my way in the NBA.
The situation between Ivey and the Kings will be worth monitoring as the draft approaches. The Kings have been mentioned as a team that will look to make a move so it very well could be another team selecting fourth overall on Thursday.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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