Draft picks: (7-ish),36
Signed for next season ($75.3m): PF Zach Randolph, SF Iman Shumpert, SF Bogdan Bogdanovich, C Kosta Koufos, PF Garrett Temple, PG De'Aaron Fox, PF Willie Cauley-Stein, SG Buddy Hield, SF Justin Jackson, PF Harry Giles, PF Skal Labisierre, PG Frank Mason
Sampson and Cooley are on 2-way contracts. Outside of filling out the roster, I don't see why the Kings would want to bring back any of these guys. Did they get enough of a look at Caboclo to think he can become something? (I saw him in an int'l game for Brazil and I thought he looked pretty good, but I'm not sure I've ever seen him in an NBA game--and it feels like he's been around forever!)
The Kings are in line for the 7th pick in the draft which takes them out of range of the cream of the crop. They seem set at big man though I think the best available at #7 projects to be Wendell Carter (Duke) or Mohammad Bamba (Texas). This may be seem like a bit of a reach but I'd recommend Kevin Knox (Kentucky), who should be a SF with a scoring touch (think Aaron Gordon but more reliable with the ball). #36 could net them Hamado Diallo (Kentucky) if they're keen keeping the Calipari soldiers coming.
The Kings are in a weird position: they've got a fine young nucleus surrounded by a raft of veterans for one more year. Then next summer the vets all move on and the young nucleus (Fox, Bogdanovich, Hield, Cauley-Stein, Labissiere, Justin Jackson, Mason, Harry Giles) and a heaping pile of cash serve as lures for big time free agents. So it sets up as one more year of training wheels then they make the big push for the future. Except that 3 of the 4 vets have player options this summer: Shumpert ($11m), Koufos ($8.7m), Temple ($8m). I don't see anyone giving Temple more money but Shumpert and Koufos might could find a raise out there if they're bold enough to seek it. I don't believe anyone has picked up their option yet. It makes a huge difference on the Kings' free agency moves if Shumpert and Koufos, two generally reliable minutes guys, leave now or later. If they stay then this summer is minimal, they add a lottery pick to the young core, let them suck for another year, then open up the vault for a superstar or two to join them; but if they go, then the Kings have less money and less supporting cast for a long term deal now. Also, the big available stars would seem to be Demarcus Cousins and Isiah Thomas (nope and nope); do they really want to take a run at Derrick Favors or Avery Bradley this summer? Or wait and try to add another lottery pick, then go after Klay Thompson or Tobias Harris? It all depends on the player options whether the Kings wait it out or dive right in.
For now: Whatever they do this summer, this team is a youth movement for the foreseeable future. Frankly I like all those guys and I'm curious about Harry Giles and whoever they get in this draft. I think Fox, Bogdanovic and Cauley-Stein make a helluva trio and they've got young depth, as well. Any of those guys are capable of making a leap and the way they grow together could make some real long term magic in Sacramento. That said, I fully expect them to struggle next year on their way to a top ten pick (for somebody else).
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