An evening of intrigue and suspense started when the Orlando Magic selected Duke power forward Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft.
Orlando’s decision came as a bit of a surprise after weeks of speculation that Auburn power forward Jabari Smith Jr. would be the first player off the board. The Oklahoma City Thunder took Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren at No. 2. The Houston Rockets then took Smith at No. 3.
That set the stage for Sacramento, putting the Kings on the clock at No. 4 to choose among a group of prospects that included Purdue guard Jaden Ivey and Iowa forward Keegan Murray. Most mock drafts predicted the Kings would choose Ivey, but Murray was Sacramento’s man.
The Kings chose Murray from a group of prospects that included Ivey, Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin, G League Ignite guard Dyson Daniels and Kentucky guard Shaedon Sharpe.
Murray, 21, is a 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward who averaged 23.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.3 steals as a sophomore at Iowa last season. He shot 55.4% from the field, 38.8% from 3-point range and 74.7% at the free-throw line.
Murray was asked several questions about his meetings with the Kings and his potential fit in Sacramento during a Zoom call with reporters last week.
“I’ve visited with them, met with them, talked to them, so I think just me fitting in with them, kind of being another guy who’s versatile, knows the game, and I think I just kind of bring a winning culture,” Murray said. “I feel like I have a winning mentality; not really that many distractions. Just focus on the task at hand and try to get that job done. I think I just fit in with all the other guys and bring in that winning mindset.”
Kings trade No. 49 pick to Cavaliers
The Kings made the first draft day trade Thursday morning when they agreed to send a second-round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for a veteran EuroLeague standout.
Sacramento traded the 49th overall pick to Cleveland for All-EuroLeague forward Sasha Vezenkov and cash considerations, a league source told The Sacramento Bee. Vezenkov, 26, is a 6-foot-9, 225-pound combo forward who was selected by the Brooklyn Nets with the 57th overall pick in the 2017 draft. The Cavaliers acquired the rights to Vezenkov in a multi-team trade involving James Harden in January.
Vezenkov has yet to appear in an NBA game, but he has enjoyed a decorated career overseas. He was named Greek League MVP after averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists for FC Barcelona in 2015. He was an All-EuroLeague First Team Selection with Olympiacos in 2022 after averaging 14.5 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 54.7% from the field and 39.6% from 3-point range.
Vezenkov is under contract with Olympiacos until 2024, but the deal reportedly includes a clause that would allow him to leave for the NBA.
