Is it time for the Sacramento Kings to write off the North Carolina star? Here's the impact of his season-ending surgery.
The Sacramento Kings are 18 games away from hitting the ground running with their NBA Draft evaluations. But that may now feature crossing off Caleb Wilson of North Carolina.
Wilson shook up the college basketball and June draft landscape with this report from ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania.
"North Carolina's Caleb Wilson broke his right thumb in a non-contact drill in practice Thursday and has undergone season-ending surgery," Charania posted on the social media website X, formerly known as Twitter.
Charania adds that Wilson should be healthy during the draft season, though.
"Wilson is expected to be cleared during the NBA pre-draft process, where he'll compete to be the No. 1 pick in June," Charania said.
But regardless, Wilson shutting down his season presents a new dilemma for his draft status. Plus also impacts the Kings in the event they may consider taking the Tar Heels freshman standout.
Sacramento has long been linked as a popular destination for BYU standout AJ Dybantsa. But the freshman phenom teased the possibility of heading back to Provo, Uta., next season for his sophomore campaign.
Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson is one other mentioned as a Kings possibility, plus a potential top draft pick. Peterson, however, is dealing with late season ailments and cramping...the latter raising doubts on if he can finish out games at the pro level.
Now Wilson presents a new dilemma for the Kings if he's high on their draft board.
Wilson has flashed his enormous potential for the Tar Heels. But the late season injuries raises durability concerns moving forward. He already faces one weakness as pointed out by the website NBADraft.net.
"Wilson is continuing to get stronger, but filling out his thin 215-pound frame will help him even more when dealing with the physicality of NBA frontcourt players for a full 82 game season," the pre-draft evaluation mentioned.
That's not the only setback on Wilson's game.
"At times shies away from contact or is pushed off his pivot when looking to establish low post positioning, demonstrating still-developing lower body strength," NBADraft.net mentioned. "Adequate threat in the mid-range, but his accuracy and comfort shooting from three needs work (26 3FG%, 7 made 3s in 24 games)."
But Wilson does present a high ceiling including how he "runs the floor like a deer" by the website. He also plays with a fiery demeanor and wants to score at will, which should win over Kings general manager Scott Perry.
Yet now his thumb and truncated freshman season raises questions on how much Wilson can withstand the NBA should he make the jump.
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