The benefit of having a “weaker draft class” (like the 2024 NBA Draft) is that there’s almost always a super strong class after it. And the 2025 NBA Draft class, led by the prodigious Cooper Flagg, is incredible. projected to be a power.
Unfortunately, as things stand, our Sacramento Kings I don’t have a first (or second) round choice in the upcoming project. The reason for this is the Kevin Huerter Trade The Kings orchestrated the return in the 2022 offseason.
As part of that plan, the Kings traded a lottery-protected first-round pick in 2024. Since the Kings ended up finishing in the lottery (with the 13th overall pick), the pick was transferred to a protected top-12 pick in 2025.
That’s not to say it was a bad trade. Despite the bad year, Huerter was a quality role player for the Kings since he joined the team two years ago. However, there is a way for us to reap the benefits of trading Huerter and reclaim our 2025 first-round pick.
Look, I want everyone reading this to know that I am very much against tanking. I am not ignorant of the logic behind it. The higher your draft pick, the more likely you are to get a franchise-changing player. That is indisputable. But as a human being, I find it a waste of time here on Earth to intentionally waste precious seasons. So, in no way am I saying that the Kings should do what I’m about to write.
That said, there is a chance the Kings could quietly get their first-round pick back. For now, many websites having the Kings as a playoff team (thanks to their rockstar offseason), thus depriving them of a top-12 draft pick.
But remember, the Western Conference is ultra-competitive this year (as usual). Every team outside of the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers will be competing for a playoff spot. If the Kings are hit by injuries (*knock on wood* to make sure that doesn’t happen) or get off to a slow start, they could easily do like the 2020-21 Toronto Raptors and sneakily work their way into a top-10 pick. And if they do get a top-10 pick, the pick they owe the Hawks rolls over to 2026 (that pick would be protected in the top-10).
As you may recall, the player the Raptors got in the draft they passed up was none other than All-Star forward Scottie Barnes. Obviously, we’d prefer for the Kings to stay healthy, play well, and have a solid playoff run. But if that’s not possible, we might as well try to take advantage of a deep draft class.
dark. Next. Best Kings Contracts. The Kings’ top 5 contracts heading into the 2024-25 season
