The Sacramento Kings hold the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and they appear primed to capitalize on the trade value it holds.
The order of the top three picks remains to be seen but the prospects expected to be off the board by the time the No. 4 overall pick is on the clock include Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, and Jabari Smith Jr. Had the Kings landed a selection in the top three, any of those players could have made sense.
The problem for the Kings is the best player available at No. 4 overall is Jaden Ivey. He’s a prospect who not only doesn’t fit their team, but he also reportedly doesn’t want to be there either.
Many teams covet Ivey and are looking to trade up in order to be the team that drafts him. The two teams directly behind the Kings in the NBA Draft order — the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers — may have the simplest outlook to trade up given how close they already are to the selection.
LATEST NBA DRAFT NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Jaden Ivey Would Prefer Not Going To Sacramento Kings In NBA Draft
In order to entice the Kings to part with the No. 4 overall pick, it’s likely a team will need to have an impactful veteran that projects as being a good fit with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
The Detroit Pistons could get creative by constructing a trade package that includes Jerami Grant if they are motivated enough to make a deal. He would be a strong fit next to Sabonis due to his ability to shoot, attack off the dribble, and general defensive versatility.
It would be more challenging for the Indiana Pacers when considering Myles Turner and Malcolm Brogdon are their main ‘win-now’ trade chips. More challenging doesn’t mean impossible, though. There’s been trade interest from the Kings in Turner in the past, but it’s difficult to envision Sacramento wanting to re-create the Turner-Sabonis frontcourt duo.
LATEST NBA DRAFT NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Jaden Ivey Would Prefer Not Going To Sacramento Kings In NBA Draft
Other teams that have been in the mix to pursue a trade-up for Ivey include the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks in terms of lottery teams. Given that both teams are seeking to be competitive in the 2022-23 season, it could be challenging to have enough of an enticing offer for Sacramento to be willing to move down that far in the order.
The New York Knicks and Washington Wizards each have tried to take chances on veteran point guard options with some red flags. None of those gambles have panned out and they seemingly want a young option to develop long-term in Jaden Ivey.
