Six forwards Sacramento Kings could pick in NBA draft; OG Anunoby trade might change plans
All eyes in Sacramento will be on the forward positions as the Kings hurtle closer to the 2023 NBA draft and the start of free agency.
Harrison Barnes is an unrestricted free agent this summer. So is Trey Lyles. Keegan Murray will return after a stellar rookie season, but there’s no telling who will man the other forward spot as Sacramento seeks even greater heights after reaching the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
The Kings hold the draft rights to EuroLeague MVP and Olympiacos star Sasha Vezenkov, but they can’t sign him until after Thursday’s draft. The Kings have signaled their intention to bring Vezenkov to Sacramento if they can agree to a contract, but barring a major trade Sacramento will need more reinforcements in the event that Barnes or Lyles are not retained.
Murray and Kessler Edwards are the only forwards the Kings have under contract next season. General manager Monte McNair and his staff will explore trade possibilities with an eye toward an All-Star caliber upgrade. The Kings were connected to Washington Wizards All-Star guard Bradley Beal before the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns emerged as finalists in those trade talks. ESPN 1320’s Damien Barling reported the Kings are “aggressively pursuing” Toronto Raptors small forward OG Anunoby, a potential game changer who was an NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection this season.
If the Kings can’t find a path to big, versatile and defensive-minded wing via trade or free agency, they have a good chance of finding one in the draft. The Kings hold the 24th overall pick in this year’s draft and a pair of second-round picks at No. 38 and No. 54. They could include any number of those picks in a trade for proven talent, but there will be some intriguing prospects if the Kings keep their picks.
Draft projections vary wildly outside of the lottery, but here are five forwards Sacramento could consider if they are still available at No. 24.
Kris Murray
Iowa | 6-7 ¾ | 213 | SF | 22 years old
First, let’s state the obvious. Kris Murray is the twin brother of Keegan Murray, who was an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection this season in Sacramento. They are virtually identical in terms of age, size, appearance, experience and skillsets with some subtle differences.
The easiest way to tell the twins apart? Kris is a left-handed shooter. Keegan Murray is also left-handed but shoots with his right. They are practically mirror images of each other.
Kris Murray is listed as big as 6-8 and 225-pounds. He measured 6-7 ¾ without shoes and weighed 212.8 pounds at the NBA draft combine. He has a 6-11 ¾ wingspan. He falls into a highly desirable category in today’s NBA as a big wing who can shoot the rock and switch on defense, although maybe not on the same level as his brother.
Keegan Murray made a huge leap as a sophomore at Iowa before the Kings selected him with the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NBA draft. Kris Murray made a similar leap as a junior at Iowa, averaging 20.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks. Some mock drafts have him going in the mid to late teens. Others have him in the mid-20s.
Trayce Jackson-Davis
Indiana | PF | 6-8 ¼ | 240 | 23 years old
A league source told The Sacramento Bee Jackson-Davis came to Sacramento on Memorial Day to participate in a pre-draft workout. He is one of the highest-rated players the Kings have brought in during their draft preparation.
Jackson-Davis is a well-rounded player with a reported 7-1 wingspan and skills at both ends of the floor. He averaged 20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.9 blocks as a senior at Indiana. He was a first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection and a consensus first-team All-American who won the Karl Malone Award as the nation’s best power forward.
NBA Draft Room described Jackson-Davis as a “high-level athlete who is able to use his strength and athleticism to punish opposing college players in the paint” and has “become a lethal passer who processes the game at a very high level.” The website went on to call him a “standout defender who is a menace all over the court” and “a very good rim protector for a 6-9 player thanks to his vertical pop and great instincts.”
Dariq Whitehead
Duke | SG/SF | 6-5 ¾ | 217 | 18 years old
Whitehead was a highly rated high school recruit and the MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game. He didn’t look the same in his only season at Duke after suffering a foot fracture in August 2022. He recently underwent a second surgery after the first left him with lingering issues because the foot didn’t heal properly.
Whitehead pushed through the discomfort to appear in 28 games for the Blue Devils, though in a somewhat limited role. He averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 20.7 minutes per game. He shot just 42.1% from the field but connected on 42.9% from 3-point range on 3.5 attempts per game. His wingspan was measured at 6-10 ¼ at the NBA combine.
Bleacher Report describes Whitehead as a “skilled on-ball scorer and hard-nosed defender,” calling him a “good athlete with ambidextrous at-rim finishing ability” and a “tough shotmaker off the dribble.” Questions about the foot could cause Whitehead to slide into the 20s. He might not be the right guy for the Kings given his age and Sacramento’s timeline, but he could be on the big board as a potential upside pick if they choose to go that route.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Marquette | F | 6-7 | 212 | 20 years old
Prosper possesses extraordinary athleticism and a 7-1 wingspan. He also has the size, strength and lateral agility to guard multiple positions. He isn’t a prolific scorer, but he had 31 points in a game against Long Island and scored 29 against St. John’s on a night when he made 4 of 5 from 3-point range.
Prosper averaged 12.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 29.0 minutes per game as a junior at Marquette. He shot 51.2% from the field and 33.9% from 3-point range. He had 16 points and four rebounds in an NCAA Tournament loss to Michigan State, going 5 of 11 from the field and 3 of 7 from beyond the arc.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor called Prosper a “tenacious, disruptive defender” and noted “shades of P.J. Tucker.” He went on to describe Prosper as a “hyperactive off-ball defender who flies around in the passing lanes and often blows up opponent actions on the perimeter. Despite his big frame, he moves with great fluidity, sticking to players who are using screens.”
Noah Clowney
Alabama | F | 6-10 | 210 | 18 years old
Clowney is an energy player with a 7-2 wingspan and tremendous versatility on defense. The Kings have talked a lot about the importance of second and third defensive efforts, and that’s something Clowney does “with great anticipation and awareness,” according to The Ringer.
Clowney is seen as a skilled roller who could develop as a shooter. He’s a switchable defender on the wing, but he will need to gain strength to defend bigger players in the post. As a freshman at Alabama, he averaged 9.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 0.6 steals in 25.4 minutes per game.
Clowney’s per-36 numbers translated to 13.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. He shot 48.6% from the field but went 28.3% from 3-point range and 64.9% at the free throw line. NBA Draft Room calls him “a highly skilled forward with good size and floor-spacing potential. Might be a few years away from making an impact but has upside.”
Jaime Jaquez
UCLA | SF | 6-6 | 226 | 22 years old
Jaquez might make sense for Sacramento if the Kings want to bring in one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft, especially if they end up losing Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk or Davion Mitchell in a trade for someone like Anunoby.
Jaquez averaged 17.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals as a senior at UCLA. He shot 48.1% from the field, 31.7% from 3-point range and 77% at the free throw line. Jaquez is one of the highest-rated players in the draft in terms of defensive win shares and rebounding.
Jaquez is a crafty player who creates space with pivots, fakes and what The Ringer described as “the cleanest footwork of anyone in the draft.” He is an outstanding off-ball defender and a spirited on-ball defender, although he made need to improve his lateral quickness in the NBA.
Yahoo Sports noted that evaluators have said Jaquez “really helped himself” during the pre-draft process with his maturity, resourcefulness and versatility, saying he is a player “who could help contribute earlier than most.”
