Sacramento Kings: 2017 NBA Draft Grades
There’s a youth revolution underway in Sacramento, led by De’Aaron Fox, Justin Jackson, Harry Giles and Frank Mason.
De’Aaron Fox (5) / Point Guard / Kentucky
Grade: A
Stats: 16.7 points / 4.0 rebounds / 4.7 assists
Analysis: Aside from a an accurate three-point shot, Fox is all the Kings could ask for from their first draft pick. If Fox could shoot, though, he may not have fallen to number 5. Fox is an electric athlete, with blazing end-to-end speed and the length and quickness to be a top-flight defender. The lefty does have to improve his three-point shot, but he is a special talent nonetheless.
Fit: Not only was Fox the best player available at the number 5 spot, but getting a franchise point guard was a top priority for a team that has been without a strong floor leader since Mike Bibby. Fox is already arguably the best player on the Kings roster and should be the opening day starter at point guard. Fox and shooting guard Buddy Hield are a backcourt talented enough to bring excitement to a city that has not had a reason to be excited in a while.
After thoroughly outplaying number 2 pick Lonzo Ball in the NCAA tournament, Fox was still picked behind Ball. Here is how Fox responded.
“It doesn’t matter what order we get picked in, the motivation is already there.”
Here is a brief overview of what the Kings are going to get from Fox:
Justin Jackson (15) / Small Forward / North Carolina
Grade: B
Stats: 18.4 points / 4.7 rebounds / 2.8 assists
Analysis: The best player on the best team in college basketball last year is a great title, but Jackson has a lot to offer at the NBA level as well. Not only is Jackson 6'8" and long, but he is an extremely clever scorer and is becoming a very reliable three-point shooter. Lack of lateral quickness defensively and a non-explosive first step along with a weak frame are going to hurt Jackson’s ceiling, but length and size will be able to make up for some of that. Jackson is NBA ready and should see a lot of time in his rookie season.
Fit: Drafting rookies that can help a team out on day 1 is a great way to spend a team’s second pick. Sacramento swapped out pick 10 for picks 15 and 20 and were able to get relative talent at 15 to what the Blazers got at 10. Jackson has some nice upside and brings a winning culture to a franchise void of it. The Kings are very shallow in wing depth, so Jackson should not have to wait long to make his impact on the Kings.
Harry Giles (20) / Center / Duke
Grade: B
Stats: 3.9 points / 3.8 rebounds / 0.3 assists
Analysis: Giles can be a tough player to evaluate. In his lone season at Duke, Giles was recovering from a torn ACL suffered in high school, and his recovery and missed time hindered him from ever making an impact on the Blue Devils’ season. That being said, before the injury Giles was arguably the best high school player in the nation. Whether Giles’ skill set would transfer well to the NBA was always a concern, but if he is able to get his explosiveness and confidence back, he could provide much more than a team would expect from its 20th selection.
Fit: Giles’s potential is directly related to his ability to come back 100% from two knee injuries endured in his young career and avoid further injury. Giles bullied players in high school with superior strength, size, and athleticism, but wont be able to do that against NBA competition. The size and physical tools are all there for a good NBA player, but making sure those tools are in good form will be the key.
Giles did not get a ton of minutes at Duke so here is a small sample size of what he can offer.
Frank Mason III (34) / Point Guard / Kansas
Grade: B
Stats: 20.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists
Analysis: Frank Mason was a finalist for Player of the Year in all of college basketball. His statistics and impact on the game were as impressive as any other player in the country. Unfortunately, his measurements do not translate well to the NBA game. Standing a shade under 5'11" without being a next-level athlete dropped Mason into the second round. That being said, small guards finding success in the NBA is becoming a more common occurrence.
Fit: It’s no coincidence that the Sacramento GM is trying to change the culture of a Kings franchise whose struggles run more than a decade long. After drafting Mason, the Kings will conclude the draft with players from 4 of the most successful teams in college basketball: Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and now Kansas.
The Kings managed to get players that could both contribute immediately on the court and grow into a stable foundation for a future. With their choices of De’Aaron Fox, Justin Jackson, Harry Giles and Frank Mason, the team is set up for long-term success in a way it hasn’t been for quite some time.
