Sacramento bet big on Emanuel Sharp, awarding the 45th pick a rare multi-year guarantee to bolster their perimeter defense and revitalize one of the league’s coldest offenses.
Emanuel Sharp preferred organizational fit over draft position as a second-round selection, and he landed with the Sacramento Kings, where he felt valued.
Sharp said he loved the vision laid out by general manager Scott Perry and coach Doug Christie in their meetings. They likely believe the rookie could become a key contributor during a crucial rebuilding era.
Sacramento signed its 45th overall pick to a three-year, $6.35 million contract, which includes two fully guaranteed years. It's a bold commitment, as players selected in the mid-40s typically sign two-way deals or don't receive multiple fully guaranteed years.
While risky, the Kings' decision is validated by their previous success with second-round picks. Maxime Raynaud, drafted 42nd last year, won Western Conference Rookie of the Month in March and made the All-Rookie Second Team.
The 7-foot-1 Frenchman signed a very similar deal at three years, $5.49 million, with the first two seasons guaranteed. Another risky move, but they were rewarded with a young, rising center.
Sharp could continue the trend of second-round steals for Sacramento. He brings much-needed shooting and defense to help the team win games again.
At Houston, he shot 36.7% from three and averaged 1.1 steals per game over four seasons. His accuracy did not falter in the NCAA Tournament, shooting 38.1% from beyond the arc in three postseason matches.
Those traits showed themselves in the summer league. When Sacramento struggled to score, Sharp's hot shooting got it back in the game. He shot 6-for-11 from three against the Brooklyn Nets and 4-for-9 against the Charlotte Hornets.
Sharp is undersized at 6-foot-3, but he isn't a player teams can target. He gets up in the ball-handlers' space and pokes at the ball to make them uncomfortable.
The former Cougar is an ideal pickup for the Kings as a 3-and-D guard. They ranked 27th in points allowed (121 per game) and tied with the Brooklyn Nets for the worst three-point percentage (34%).
He has a difficult road carved ahead for rotational minutes next season. Sharp could be the third-string shooting guard behind Zach LaVine and Nique Clifford.
LaVine's uncertain future with the organization is contributing to the positional logjam. His $49 million contract hasn't drawn much attention from trade suitors. The 12-year veteran is likely to stay with the Kings until they receive an offer to part with his large salary for depth.
The rookie has the potential to climb up into coach Christie's rotation with his shooting and defense. Sactown Sports' radio host Carmichael Dave likened him to Marcus Smart.
"Maybe on the high end, a Marcus Smart type," Dave said on "The Carmichael Dave Show" on Wednesday morning. "If Emanuel Sharp can be what we hoped Devin Carter would be, I’m going to be very happy.”
