Sacramento could swap its top-ten slot for a haul of picks. Explore how a Thunder trade might land the Kings draft capital and rising star Brayden Burries.
The Sacramento Kings have various prospects to choose from with the seventh overall pick in next month's draft, but trading down would gift them more draft capital to continue adding young talent.
CBS Sports' Cameron Salerno wrote on X that the Kings should consider trading with the Oklahoma City Thunder if Darius Acuff Jr. is drafted earlier than seventh. Oklahoma City has three picks -- Nos. 12, 17 and 34.
The Thunder are championship contenders, and while adding young talent cycles out some of the more expensive contracts on their team, they do not have the roster space for more rookies. There are rumors about executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti packaging those picks to trade up or obtain more future assets.
Trading down for Sacramento removes the team from analysts' favorite selections in Acuff Jr. and Houston's Kingston Flemings. Salerno highlighted drafting Arizona's Brayden Burries if general manager Scott Perry trades down.
Burries' draft stock has risen from his combine performance, as he impressed teams with his maturity and size. What stands out about the former Wildcats guard is his weight. He weighs 215 pounds, which is 25 to 35 pounds heavier than the other guards in the mid-to-late lottery.
KingsRoundtable's Lorenzo J. Reyna said Burries is an "advanced scorer" in his draft profile on April 27. He said his best attributes are an explosive first step that creates separation off the dribble and spot-up shooting.
"He knows when to become instinctive in attacking the rim," Reyna wrote. "Yet also showed a knack for knowing when to pull up and shoot. Burries shows a great feel for what the defense gives him and adjusts accordingly. He also took on high-pressure moments with no hesitation."
There is a cooperative history between Perry and Presti, which gives this scenario realism. Sacramento did not have a first-round pick last year, and Oklahoma City traded its 24th pick in exchange for future draft compensation.
The Kings selected Nique Clifford, who had a rough start to the year and finished the season strong. Clifford shone in the minutes he received in an injury-plagued season, averaging 14 points from March to April.
Many analysts see Acuff Jr. as the favorite selection because of the Michigan ties between him and the front office. Flemings is another favorite, frequently selected by the Kings in mock drafts.
A trade-down scenario could not happen if Acuff Jr. or Flemings are still available when the clock starts ticking for Sacramento. However, if they are gone, the likelihood of trading down gains momentum.
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