Marty Mac's World: No. 12 picks in NBA draft haven't been strong over years

OK, Mr. or Ms. NBA general manager: Whom would you like on your squad – Adam Morrison, Shelden Williams or Brandon Roy?

Those were the options facing Charlotte in the 2006 draft, and the Bobcats took Morrison. Roy is on the way to being special, whereas Morrison and Williams have proven nothing.

In that draft, the Kings took Quincy Douby over Rajon Rondo, who went two picks later to Phoenix before his draft rights were traded to Boston. Douby has not received an ample opportunity to do his thing, but right now, I'd take Rondo.

In 2005, Milwaukee took Andrew Bogut, and Atlanta chose Marvin Williams just before Utah selected Deron Williams and New Orleans picked Chris Paul. The Los Angeles Lakers used the 10th pick of that draft to take Andrew Bynum after Portland chose Martell Webster at No. 6; Toronto took Charlie Villanueva with the No. 7 choice; New York got Channing Frye at No. 8; and Golden State selected Ike Diogu with the ninth pick.

Villanueva, Frye and Diogu each have been traded.

For a bonus question, would you rather have the Kings' Francisco García (No. 23), Detroit's Jason Maxiell (No. 26) or New York's David Lee (No. 30)? For sure, we'd all take them ahead of Fran Vasquez and Yaroslav Korolev, the 11th and 12th choices, respectively, chosen by Orlando and the Los Angeles Clippers in '05.

As for the No. 12 choice the Kings have in tonight's draft, my man Rich Viano, a Sacramento Professional Developmental League coach as well as a three-on-three hooper, recommended a look at previous No. 12 choices.

Last year's choice, Thaddeus Young, looked good with Philadelphia, but he was preceded by Hilton Armstrong (2006), Korolev, Robert Swift, Nick Collison, Melvin Ely, Vladimir Radmanovic, Etan Thomas, Alek Radojevic, Michael Doleac, Austin Croshere, Vitaly Potapenko and Cherokee Parks. Shall we go on? Nope, but you get Rich's idea.

However, check out the hits over the years at No. 13 – Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, Corliss Williamson, Richard Jefferson, Corey Maggette, Jalen Rose and Dale Davis.

Teams also have gotten lucky at No. 14 (for example, last year, the Clippers picked Al Thornton). Utah made a nice choice with Ronnie Brewer in 2006. The Kings snared Peja Stojakovic in 1996, and Tim Hardaway (1989), Dan Majerle (1988) and Clyde Drexler (1983) also have been taken 14th.

The Kings would be extremely fortunate for a few teams ahead of them to pick a Korolev or Vasquez to get an impact player. Last year, Detroit was fortunate when teams either didn't need a shooting guard or misread the talent of Eastern Washington's Rodney Stuckey, who was picked 15th.

Also taken at No. 15 were two-time MVP Steve Nash, by Phoenix in 1996, and Minnesota's Al Jefferson, by Boston in 2004. Conversely, in 1999, New York chose Frederic Weis, whose claim to fame is getting jumped over and dunked on by Vince Carter.

Of course, Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie was as informative as Harpo Marx, but sometimes what he doesn't say is better than what he says, especially around draft time.

I don't think the Kings will draft Texas point guard D.J. Augustin (too small) or LSU's Anthony Randolph (wouldn't work for them and too skinny at 6-foot-10 and less than 200 pounds).

From what I can guess, give me Rider's 6-11 Jason Thompson, Georgetown's 7-2 Roy Hibbert, Ohio State's 7-0 Kosta Koufos, North Carolina State's 6-9 J.J. Hickson or Florida's 6-10 Marreese Speights for big players. Unless, of course, Kansas State's 6-8 Michael Beasley (hah, hah), UCLA's Kevin Love or Stanford 7-footer Brook Lopez is available.

There's no need for a swingman type, so if Arizona's 6-3 Jarryd Bayless or UCLA's 6-3 Russell Westbrook isn't there, Kansas' 6-1 Mario Chalmers did work out for the Kings on Monday.