Seven point guard options for Kings in 2020 NBA Draft
James Ham breaks down seven point guard options that might make sense for the Kings in the 2020 NBA Draft.
The NBA Draft is just around the corner and the Sacramento Kings not only hold the No. 12 overall selection, but picks No. 35, 43 and 52 as well. While they don’t really have the roster space for all four picks, they do have holes to fill.
On Wednesday morning, the team announced three additions, including an assistant GM, a VP of Player Personnel and a new front man for the Stockton Kings. All three of these executives will aid new GM Monte McNair in sifting through talent for the Nov. 18 NBA Draft.
In the coming weeks, we’ll go through some of the Kings’ areas of need and take a dive into players that may be able to fill some of those positions with the team’s four selections.
While it was a position with depth last season, the point guard spot is an area that the Kings should look long and hard at during this summer. The team is likely to sign a massive extension with starter De’Aaron Fox, but they are going to need a long term plan for his backup.
Veteran Cory Joseph has one more guaranteed year with the Kings, but Yogi Ferrell is unlikely to return. There is also potential for restricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic to leave Sacramento as well, which would further hurt the Kings’ depth at the position.
Here is a look at seven point guard names that might make sense for Sacramento.
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 165 pounds Age: 19
Lewis looks like a riser in this year’s draft and he would make a very nice complimentary piece behind Fox. Known for his quickness and ability to fill up the bucket, Lewis cut from the mold of Clippers guard Lou Williams. He’ll need to get stronger and improve his overall shooting from long range, but this would be a strong long term fit for Sacramento, especially if they hope to play with pace. Lewis might be a stretch at No. 12, but if the Kings moved down a few spots, they could pick up an asset, or potentially deal away some salary and add an exciting piece for the future.
Measurables: 6-foot-5, 190 pounds Age: 19
Like Lewis, the Kings would have to use their first round selection on a player like Hampton. He made the decision to skip the NCAA and play in Australia, which didn’t really work out that well. The tape is interesting on the 19-year-old. He struggles on the defensive end, but he’s a bigtime athlete with an elite ability to change direction and speed. He’s more of a combo guard than a true point, but Hampton has good size and major potential.
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 185 pounds Age: 19
A year ago, Anthony was considered a top tier prospect and a potential top 5 selection. After a hit-and-miss freshman season at North Carolina, he’s tumbled down most draft boards, despite his potential. Sacramento would need to use a first round selection on Anthony, but he may stick around late enough that they could either move down or try to package a few assets to get back into the draft. Like Hampton and Lewis, Anthony is more of a score first guard than a true point, but there is a lot to like about his potential.
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 195 pounds Age: 20
This is a different type of point guard than the previous three mentioned. Jones is a game manager and a strong defensive player. He’s slated to go somewhere between the late first round to early second, but he would make a nice long term replacement for Joseph. He doesn’t have the scoring potential of some of the other options, but he also doesn’t have a lot of bust potential. If he’s available when the Kings select at No. 35, they would have to take a long look.
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds Age: 20
The Kings have gone down a similar road to this before when they selected another Kansas guard in Frank Mason during the 2017 NBA Draft. Mason didn’t transition well to the NBA, although he still has a shot to make it in the league. Dotson is a pesky defender and leader. He struggled with his 3-point shot in his sophomore season, but he’s a spark plug and he’ll likely still be on the board when the Kings select at No. 35 and possible No. 43.
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds Age: 22
Winston consistently produced during his four years at Michigan State and he brings an experience level that most of the other prospects don’t have around this range. He’s also a knockdown 3-point shooter, who hit an impressive 43 percent from long range over his NCAA career. Winston is another player slated to go in the 35-43 range. His maturity might allow him to step onto the floor early in his career and his ability to consistently hit from the perimeter could earn him rotational time.
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds Age: 22
Flynn is another older prospect, but one that has turned heads. His transfer from Washington State cost him a year of eligibility, but he picked up right where he left off in his lone season with the Aztecs. He can shoot, handle the ball and he plays with a confidence that should translate to the NBA. At a minimum, this is a player that can start his career running the Stockton Kings. He’ll be on the board at No. 35 and potentially deeper than that.
