It was a massive disappointment for the Sacramento Kings to miss the playoffs this season. A year ago, they were the third seed in the West with a 48-34 record. They only won two fewer games this season, but dropped from third to ninth. Such is life in a loaded Western Conference. But, had the Kings made the playoffs, they would've had to send their first round pick to the Atlanta Hawks. Instead, they keep their pick and hold the 13th best odds of winning the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery.
Everyone wants to play postseason, but the Kings will take the opportunity to add a lottery pick to a core that has won 96 games over the past two seasons. With Malik Monk poised to become a free agent, the Kings could look for a replacement or insurance policy with their first-round pick. Finding a backup for Domantas Sabonis isn't a bad idea either. Fortunately for them, they will have options if they stick with the 13th overall pick.
Devin Carter, Guard, Providence
The Kings do not have much scoring creation in the backcourt beyond Monk and their All-Star De'Aaron Fox. Those two were the only players on the team with a usage rate above 22% last season according to NBA.com. But after Monk went down in March, too much of the scoring burden was placed upon Fox. Sacramento could use another guard to take some pressure off those two and provide depth in case one gets injured.
Providence's Devin Carter looks like he can be guy to do just that. The former South Carolina Gamecock was outstanding for the Friars in his junior season. He averaged 19.7 points per game on outstanding efficiency (59.7% true shooting percentage and 56.4% effective field goal percentage). He looked the part of a three-level scorer.
Not only can Carter really get busy as a scorer, but he's also a stout defender. That's important for a Kings team that ranked 14th in defensive efficiency last season and could lose Davion Mitchell in free agency. Carter not only provides depth but another scoring punch Sacramento could certainly use.
Jared McCain, Guard, Duke
If the Kings don't look in Carter's direction, they could also go after Duke's Jared McCain. McCain may not be the scorer that Carter is, but he may be a better fit next to Fox and Sabonis because of his shooting acumen. He shot 41.4% from three and 88.5% from the free throw line in his lone season at Durham. McCain is an outstanding shooter off the catch and can also hit shots on the move.
McCain had plenty of experience playing off of a big man who can pass the ball in Kyle Filipowski. He'd be directly walking into a similar situation in Sacramento with Sabonis. The former Blue Devil looks like a perfect fit with the Kings. He should warrant a lot of attention from their front office.
Zach Edey, Center, Purdue
The Kings don't have to spend a top-notch pick on a backup big man. But if they did, it's hard to see how Zach Edey wouldn't shine in Sacramento. Like Sabonis, Edey is an outstanding post-player. He buried smaller players (which was everybody he played against) on the block and on the glass. His defense and playmaking continued to get better throughout his career in West Lafayette as well.
There are better landing spots for the two-time Naismith Player of the Year, but Sacramento would be a fun one. They already know how to play off of a bruising brute force of a center and Edey would allow them to play a similar style even when Sabonis sits.
It would be a luxury pick, however. The Kings do have more pressing needs elsewhere on the roster. But there isn't another center other than Sabonis that is currently under contract there. Edey would make for a hell of a backup with the Kings. At the very least, he should be under consideration for Sacramento.
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