Sacramento Kings mock draft roundup: Which NBA prospects are gaining buzz at pick No. 24?

The Kings are less than a week away from the NBA draft and finally won’t be in the lottery after finishing the regular season as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

But as head Mike Brown said throughout the season, now comes the hard part. Sacramento won’t be sneaking up on anyone in 2023-24 with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis earning third-team All-NBA nods, Brown being chosen as the league’s first unanimous Coach of the Year and general manager Monte McNair being tabbed as Executive of the Year.

What the Kings do for an encore in the coming season could depend on their ability to add talent to a talented and young roster. They are slated for the 24th pick in the first round of Thursday’s draft, so let’s go through some mock drafts from around the internet and offer our takes on the possible additions.

ESPN

24. Kris Murray

Iowa | F | 6-8 | 220 | 22 years old

“The Kings are hoping to further shift toward contending in the West and are believed to be primarily eyeing more experienced college players at this pick. The possibility of reuniting the Murray twins remains in play for Sacramento: Kris is an option for teams drafting higher than this, but in this scenario makes it all the way to No. 24. His shooting and versatility create a solid value floor, and while he profiles best as a role player due to the fact he’s not a dynamic ball handler, Murray seems likely to help a team in relatively short order.” — Jeremy Woo

Our take: Murray was a 20-point scorer last season for the Hawkeyes, taking a substantial jump from 9.7 per game the year prior. He’s an older prospect having played three years in college, which could mean he’s more seasoned coming into the league. The Kings might be looking for a player they could thrust into an important role right away rather than drafting a project that needs developing.

The Athletic

24. Olivier-Maxence Prosper

Marquette | F | 6-8 | 230 | 20 years old

“The Scout: I’m probably going to end up higher on Prosper than most evaluators just because I completely buy his tools and defense. Prosper is an awesome defensive player who profiles exceptionally well toward playing important minutes because of his switchability and potential to take on extremely difficult assignments. But it all comes down to shooting. If Prosper can consistently hit 35 percent-plus from 3, he’ll provide enough value to be a long-term NBA rotation player who helps teams win in high-leverage moments. He’s also been one of the players who has helped himself most in the pre-draft process.

“The Fit: The Kings need players who profile as multi-positional defenders. De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell were strong on defense this season but are too small to guard up the lineup. Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk and Keegan Murray aren’t difference-makers on that end, and Harrison Barnes hits free agency this offseason. Prosper would be a nice developmental player for them to have in the system who could give them a real boost once he’s ready to play. The big key here is shooting. If they buy Prosper as a shooter, it’s a perfect fit.” — Sam Vecenie

Our take: The Kings could use size and athleticism on the perimeter. They’re a smaller team that often plays three- and four-guard lineups. Prosper could develop into a useful defender that can guard multiple positions. Observers are projecting Prosper here for the same reasons the Kings are rumored to be interested in Toronto Raptors wing OG Anunoby.

Yahoo

24. Noah Clowney

Alabama | F | 6-10 | 210 | 18 years old

Our take: Clowney could offer the Kings size and rebounding when Domantas Sabonis is off the court. He has a 7-2 wingspan and is said to play with a high motor, which would surely endear him to the coaching staff, particularly if he can prove to be a versatile defender in the NBA. But at 18, the learning curve would be steep on a team that wants to make a deep playoff run.

The Ringer

24. Prosper

“Bolstering the wing and forward spots should be a priority for the Kings, especially with Harrison Barnes entering free agency and a lack of options behind besides Keegan Murray.” — Kevin O’Connor

CBS Sports

24. Jordan Hawkins

UConn | SG | 6-4 | 186 | 21 years old

“No player in this class is more skilled as a spot-up shooter than Hawkins, whose ability to be his own offensive hub because of his space-creation is underrated and under-appreciated. He profiles as a Duncan Robinson-like talent with better defense.” — Kyle Boone

Out take: There’s always room for elite shooting and Hawkins profiles as one of the best shooters in the class. But he’s small for a shooting guard and would need development to run the point. For now, it’s hard to envision Hawkins carving out much of a role given the depth the Kings have at guard already with Fox, Huerter, Monk and Mitchell already needing minutes.

USA Today/FTW

24. Brice Sensabaugh

Ohio State | F | 6-6 | 235 | 19 years old

“When healthy ... Sensabaugh is a genuinely efficient three-level scorer. He made 50 shots at the basket, 50 shots from mid-range, and 50 shots beyond the arc. Among all freshmen with at least 50 makes in each zone, meanwhile, he joins one of just four (Markelle Fultz, Lauri Markkanen, CJ McCollum) to shoot 40.0 percent from each zone.” — Brian Kalbrosky

Our take: Sensabaugh is considered a natural scorer who can create his own shots off the dribble. The Kings could use that in their offense given how heavily they rely on Fox to create his own shots and Sabonis to set others up with screens and dribble handoffs. Getting a threat who can score in isolation could be beneficial. But Sensabaugh has a history of knee injuries, isn’t an elite athlete and needs work on the defensive end.