After downsizing their draft capital, Sacramento eyes high-impact veterans and elite rim protectors to maximize pick No. 45 as first-round talents slide into the second round.
The Sacramento Kings have one second-round pick -- No. 45 -- after trading No. 34 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, downsizing their prospect pool in tonight's second round.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic released his updated mock for all 32 teams earlier this morning. Some first-round talents fell to Day 2, ultimately shaking up teams draft boards
Vecenie predicted the Kings to draft a 6-foot-1 guard, but Tuesday's first round showed teams' unpredictability. There are various options for Brooklyn to choose from, whether it's Vecenie's prediction or drafting another player because Vecenie's prospect was drafted earlier.
Listed below are the prospects available for the Nets hours ahead of tonight's second round.
Nick Boyd, Guard, Wisconsin
Boyd is Vecenie's selection for Sacramento. The 6-foot-1 guard led the Badgers last season, serving as a reliable floor general with 20.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
He took responsibility for getting Wisconsin in and out of its sets, breaking down the defense and getting to the rim. Boyd is a decent shooter, nailing 36.5% of his 4.8 three-point attempts last season.
The primary drawback with Boyd is that he's 25 years old. A 25-year-old rookie has likely reached his ceiling as a player, but could offer immediate contribution over a project pick.
Izaiyah Nelson, Forward, USF
Nelson is another high-activity defensive player, averaging 1.4 blocks for the Bulls last season. His 7'2.5" wingspan makes him a pesky secondary defender when blitzing or trapping the ball-handler. He can disrupt the ball-handler's dribble, forcing them to pass elsewhere.
The 6-foot-8 forward is also an explosive athlete, boasting a 38.5-inch maximum vertical. He is a dangerous lob threat in any scenario, but primarily in the pick-and-roll game. Nelson connects on the screen to generate separation and free himself for an uncontested roll to the rim for a lob.
Vecenie predicted the San Antonio Spurs to select him with the 44th pick. However, San Antonio drafted Jayden Quaintance (20th) and Tarris Reed Jr. (26th), two prospects in the front court.
Ugonna Onyenso, Center, Virginia
Onyenso is a 6-foot-11 big man offering instant elite rim protection. He averaged 2.9 blocks last season for the Cavaliers, leading the ACC with 0.4 more blocks than Syracuse's William Kyle III.
The most underrated part of Onyenso's shot-blocking ability is his low foul rate. Onyenso averaged 1.3 fouls per contest, highlighting his capability to block shots without getting into foul trouble.
Vecenie predicted the Orlando Magic to select the Virginia product with the 46th pick. He is within Sacramento's range and could be a nice alternative if Boyd is off the board by No. 45.
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