Kings' draft odds shift. Explore top prospects like Darius Acuff and Kingston Flemings who fit Sacramento's future needs.
The Sacramento Kings haven't had many win streaks this season. But their recent back-to-back victories have huge implications for the draft lottery.
The Kings (21-57) now have the fifth-worst record in the NBA, which downgrades them to the second tier of No. 1-pick odds.
Just last week, I reported on this possibility, as the Kings have remained competitive and ethical in spite of the extremely talented draft class.
If the season ended today, the Kings would have a 48.1-percent chance of ending up within the bottom four, with a 12.5-percent chance at the No. 1 pick. However, moving into the bottom three would boost their chances to 52.1 percent for a top-four selection.
Luckily for Sacramento, this draft class is truly special, with loaded talent in the back-half of the lottery.
Here are some of the best fits for the Kings, should they fall out of the top four, presuming the top-four picks are BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Kansas' Darryn Peterson, Duke's Cameron Boozer and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson, who have frequently sat atop draft boards all college season.
Darius Acuff, Guard, Arkansas
Acuff is the obvious choice if he is there at Sacramento's pick. Acuff shined towards the end of the regular season, ending his freshman campaign averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game, while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 44 percent from deep.
Not only did Acuff win SEC Freshman of the Year, he captured the overall SEC Player of the Year en route to a Sweet 16 appearance.
The explosive point guard was coached by the legendary John Calipari, who has given Acuff major praise, especially as of late.
Earlier this week, Calipari joined Barstool Sports Live, where he said Acuff was one of the most special players he's ever coached, calling him a bigger, more athletic Chris Paul.
The former national championship-winning coach went on, saying each NBA team would live to regret passing on Acuff in the draft, just like 19 teams did with Kentucky standout and current NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey a few years ago.
Kingston Flemings, Guard, Houston
Flemings had one of the best freshman seasons in Cougar history, averaging 16.1 points, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while hitting 47.6 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from 3-point range.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Flemings' game is his intensity, as the 6-foot-4 point guard chose to play under Kelvin Sampson's intense coaching strategy, opting to challenge himself and improve defensively.
Flemings scored 594 points total, setting a Houston freshman single-season scoring record. He also led the Cougars in 20-plus point performances, eclipsing 20 on 12 occasions.
He was also extremely efficient with the basketball, notching 192 assists on just 66 turnovers, nearly a 3-1 ratio. Flemings' 192 assists were also a Houston freshman record.
Keaton Wagler, Guard, Illinois
Wagler was perhaps the biggest riser in all of college basketball, putting together a stellar freshman season on an Illinois team that made the Final 4 for the first time in 21 seasons.
After committing to the Fighting Illini as the No. 149 recruit in the freshman class, Wagler burst onto the scene as a versatile, 6-foot-6 point guard.
Wagler average 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists, shooting nearly 40 percent from distance. He also showed up on the biggest stage for the Illini, posting back-to-back 20-plus point showings in the Elite 8 and Final 4.
In the Final 4 matchup against UConn, Wagler scored a game-high 20 points, leading Illinois in rebounding (8) and assists (2). After being heavily under-recruited in high school, Wagler leaves Illinois as a freshman phenom.
With the recent emergence of rookie big man Maxime Raynaud, along with Dylan Cardwell and Precious Achiuwa's flashes of greatness, the Kings will likely target a dynamic guard.
These three elite guard prospects all have the ability to step in and run the Kings' backcourt right away.
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