Despite favorable odds for a top-four selection, Sacramento slides to seventh, missing out on elite prospects. The franchise now aims to find high-impact talent outside the lottery's peak.
The Sacramento Kings' efforts to tank and land a top-four pick failed after they fell out of their desired range, and they landed the seventh pick in next month's draft.
Sacramento had high odds for a top-four pick since it finished tied for the fourth-worst record with the Utah Jazz (22-60). They had a 45.2% chance of landing within the top four and an 11.5% chance of winning the lottery and picking No. 1.
Instead, the 25.5% chance of landing the seventh pick prevailed, and the Kings are losing out on top-end talent such as BYU's A.J. Dybantsa, Kansas' Darryn Peterson and Duke's Cameron Boozer.
The Washington Wizards, Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls round out the top four in that order.
Memphis and Chicago defied the odds. The Grizzlies had a 37.2% chance and the Bulls an even lower one, 20.3%, of landing in the top four. Now, they could walk out of the draft with the top-end talents the Kings ranked for.
Sacramento hasn't had a top-four pick since 2022, when the team drafted Keegan Murray out of Iowa, and the No. 1 pick since 1989, when the team drafted Pervis Ellison out of Louisville.
The Kings have picked five times within the top four since 1989, highlighting their unlucky streak and how often they pick from No. 5 and beyond.
They selected seventh overall six times and drafted some interesting players. Lionel Simmons (1990), Walt Williams (1992), Bobby Hurley (1993), Jason Williams (1998), Bismack Biyombo (2011) and Ben McLemore (2013).
Simmons played six seasons with Sacramento, earning All-Rookie first team in his rookie campaign. Walt Williams played four seasons, earning All-Rookie second team before becoming an NBA journeyman and playing for five different organizations.
Hurley, the brother of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley, played five seasons before ending his career with the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1998.
Jason Williams played three seasons, earning All-Rookie first team and helped the Kings become a playoff contender with his newcomer teammates. His No. 55 jersey was also a top-selling jersey in the NBA during his rookie campaign.
Biyombo was drafted by Sacramento, but traded his draft rights to the Charlotte Hornets. McLemore played four seasons for the Kings before becoming an NBA journeyman.
Sacramento's efforts to tank and earn a top-four pick failed, but the team can still draft a high-impact player to help continue the trend toward getting younger and athletic throughout their rebuilding process.
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