Grubel drafts an elite scoring guard and a back-to-back national champion in this three-pick haul for Sacramento, addressing backcourt depth and championship pedigree through a savvy mock draft scenario.
The 2026 NBA Draft is three weeks away, and mock drafts are ramping up, as No Ceilings' Nathan Grubel posted his newest mock on X on Monday morning.
The Sacramento Kings have three picks -- Nos. 7, 34 and 45 -- and could leave with impactful additions despite failing to land within the top four in the May 10 lottery reveal.
KingsRoundtable will focus on the prospects Grubel would take if he drafted for the team. His second-round selections are interesting, in particular.
No. 7: Keaton Wagler, Guard, Illinois
Grubel selecting Wagler is no surprise, as he has gained traction as a potential pick for the Kings. Former Kings coach Jerry Reynolds heralded the Fighting Illini guard as a sleeper selection.
Wagler is a versatile player who can play on and off the ball. He has a high IQ, often on display in the pick-and-roll game as the ball handler. Wagler averaged 4.2 assists during his freshman campaign.
The 6-foot-6 guard recorded a career-high 46 points against then-No. 4 Purdue and was extremely efficient. He shot 13-for-17 from the field, including 9-for-11 from three-point range.
No. 34: Alex Karaban, Forward, UConn
Karaban recently had a pre-draft workout with the Kings last week, and said he's carrying his winning pedigree into the next chapter of his career. He is a do-it-all forward who can score, rebound and defend at a high level.
The 6-foot-8 forward boasts a 116-24 record in his five years at UConn. Karaban became a crucial part of his team's college basketball dominance, as they won back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024.
Many mock drafts have the former Husky as an early-second-round pick. ESPN's Jeremy Woo had the New York Knicks selecting him with the 31st pick, and Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor had the Oklahoma City Thunder selecting him with the 37th pick.
No. 45: Tamin Lipsey, Guard, Iowa State
Grubel is selecting Lipsey to round out the Kings' draft haul. It is an interesting selection, given the Cyclones guard hasn't appeared in mock drafts often.
Lipsey was a hometown hero for Iowa State, growing up in the program's backyard, Ames. He averaged a career-high 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in his senior campaign.
The 6-foot-1 guard is a pesky defender, evidenced by his 2.3 steals per game in his career, but his weakness is shooting. Lipsey shot 33.5% from three in his career, and paired with his size, could make it difficult for him to succeed in the NBA.
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