After landing the number four pick in the NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings find themselves in a unique position. They’re in the lottery, but they’re hoping to make the 2022-23 playoffs.
Their current roster is not the same as the one they started 2021-22 with. When this team effectively traded Tyrese Haliburton for Domantas Sabonis, they made a statement:
Nevermind potential. We’re ready to win right now.
Their fourth overall pick has to be viewed as a trade chip before it’s viewed as a draft pick. If the Kings keep their pick and make a choice, it feels likely that they’ll take the NBA-ready Keegan Murray. That would feel like a poor use of their resources.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kings, Blazers, Pelicans Likely To Trade Top 10 Pick In 2022 NBA Draft
Several teams would give up win-now value to acquire that pick in the interest of selecting one of the higher potential picks like Jaden Ivey or Shaedon Sharpe.
Here are three trade packages that find the Kings making better use of their pick in pursuit of the 2022-23 playoffs.