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It was an easy night for the Sacramento Kings, as the front office only acquired one rookie. The organization traded both of its second-round picks away to gain more draft capital in the future. Even so, Sacramento selected Keegan Murray who is an exciting prospect in his own right. We'll see how his career plays out, but for now, we go over our draft grade for the Kings' pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
There was a ton of trade buzz leading up to the No. 4 selection, as many speculated Sacramento would deal the pick away to an opposing team. All eyes were on Jaden Ivey being the main trade target. Instead, the Kings used their pick to reel in Keegan Murray.
With that said, here is our draft grade for the Kings' lone pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
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Kings 2022 NBA Draft Grades
Keegan Murray – A
Considering Sacramento has a plethora of guards on the roster, it makes sense why the front office took a forward at No. 4 overall. His playing style should pair well with the Kings' stars, De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. While those two run havoc on opposing defenses, Keegan Murray can serve as a strong third option until he further develops his game.
Murray proved to be a scrappy defender who eventually became a consistent scorer in college. We should see him make an immediate impact doing the dirty work for the Kings until he becomes better acclimated to the professional level. Sacramento has been missing the high-energy type of players needed in the NBA and they now have that in Keegan Murray.
There is some concern regarding his three-point shot, however, there is reason to believe he will be a consistent shooter from the jump. After shooting just 29.6% from three-point range in his freshman year, the Kings' rookie drastically improved from behind the arc in the 2021-22 season, shooting 39.8%. Keeping that in mind, Keegan Murray should be able to develop his game and become a versatile weapon for Sacramento.
With that said, his potential is unclear for the time being. Many speculate his ceiling isn't too high. Even so, his current floor is well above average for most rookies taken within the top-five. The Kings need as much immediate help as they can get after selecting busts in the NBA Draft for numerous years. Keegan Murray might be the safest pick the front office could have made.
We'll see how his career plays out. Sacramento has brought in an exciting rookie who compliments the current roster well. It's been a while since we've seen the Kings be competitive so hopefully, Murray pans out. They now have a solid starting rotation and will have a chance to bring in some key role players through the NBA free agency. Considering Keegan Murray fills a hole at the power forward position, this team should improve next season by default.
Keep an eye on this kid, as the Kings are going to get him in action right away. It'll be fun watching him participate in the Summer League, as Murray will have a chance to generate some buzz before the start of the season.