NBA Draft Preview: Devin Vassell and the Sacramento Kings are a match made in heaven

The Sacramento Kings have a lot to consider between now and the 2020 NBA draft. Questions are more plentiful than ever with the season on hold, including where the team’s first selection will end up.

It appears Sacramento’s first-round pick will be in the lottery. The exact position of the draft slot would be determined by chance. All teams that fail to make the playoffs will have a shot at picking at the top of the draft, with the best odds going to the teams with the worst records.

As it stands, Sacramento will first face a random drawing to break a tie with the New Orleans Pelicans. If they win the tiebreaker, the Kings would have a 1.3 percent chance at the first overall pick and a 6.2 percent chance of landing in the top four. If they lose the tiebreaker, those figures are reduced to 1.2 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively.

It’s also possible the teams behind the Kings in the lottery order could jump into the top four, bumping Sacramento down. The chance to fall is 7.7 percent if they win the tie breaker and 2.3 percent if they lose it. The latest the Kings could pick is 14th.

The best bet is that the Kings pick 12th or 13th. No scenario exists where the Kings pick in the fifth to 11th spots, unless more regular season games are played that rearrange the standings.

We can’t put a number on the chance that play resumes, or predict if doing so would help or hurt the Kings draft position. But for now, it is safe to say the Kings should pay extra attention to the players projected to go in the late lottery.

Among those players, 6-foot-6 small forward Devin Vassell of Florida State stands out in a major way. His fit with the Kings would be spectacular. If the pieces fall into place, Vassell would be the next ideal building block for Sacramento.

STRENGTHS

Vassell is the best team defender in the 2020 draft class. He’s a savvy decision maker who communicates his choices well. He is a disruptive off-ball playmaker who uses his 6-foot-10 wingspan to intercept passes and swat shots at the rim. His defensive numbers clocked in at 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, which should translate nicely to the next level.

There are a few areas Vassell could improve when defending ball handlers, but not many. He is on the light side and strong players can bully him occasionally, but he has plenty of time to add strength. Vassell is an incredibly smart player who rarely gets fooled by even the trickiest crossovers. His defensive feel for the game is outstanding.

Thankfully, Vassell’s skills are not limited to the defensive side of the ball. He made 41.5 percent of his 3-point attempts as a sophomore and will be a strong shooter at the NBA level. His form is textbook, with a high release and a quick trigger. He has shown nice versatility and can hit from a stationary position, off movement, or directly out of his dribble.

The other selling point for Vassell is effort. He is a hustle machine. It’s obvious to see on defense, where his hands are always up and he is constantly on his toes, but it’s there on offense too. He frequently surprises defenders by quickly cutting to the basket or stealing inside position for an offensive board.

WEAKNESSES

Vassell might be a little too cerebral. There is not much physicality or toughness to his game. A big part of that is due to his skinny frame that weighs in under 200 pounds. He is not likely to be an above-average rebounder or get to the free-throw line frequently.

And while his strength needs work, his quickness is also lacking. He is fast in the open court and will score in transition, but he rarely beats defenders who are in front of him with acceleration. He struggles to turn the corner, which leaves his driving game flat. There are plenty of dunks in his highlight reel, but his play-to-play athleticism is far from elite.

Vassell is not a plus passer or ball handler either. His intelligence and feel for the game help; he makes astonishingly few mistakes, but the talent isn’t there for Vassell to initiate an NBA offense. He will keep the ball moving and he won’t hurt his team, but he also won’t add much in this department.

Ultimately, the case against Vassell is that he has very little chance of being a star. Most of the teams at the top of the draft need someone to build around. Vassell is much more of a role player rather than a leading man. That’s why the first 10 or so teams to pick could look elsewhere. Vassell would help every franchise, but he won’t revolutionize any.

FIT WITH THE KINGS

The Kings could certainly use a star player, but their expected draft spot does not make that easy. If they don’t move up, the Kings are better off going for a solid base hit than swinging for the fences. That means drafting for fit and position.

De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Cory Joseph have the guard spots covered. Harrison Barnes, Nemanja Bjelica, Marvin Bagley III and Richaun Holmes can hold down the power forward and center spots. The small forward position is the clear area of need.

Deni Avdija, Tyrese Haliburton and Isaac Okoro might be able to fit that role, but are also likely to go in the top 10. Aaron Nesmith, Patrick Williams and Saddiq Bey could work too, but don’t feel worthy of a lottery pick.

Vassell is the prototypical modern small forward. He will provide great defense, shoot the lights out and give maximum effort. He won’t slow his team down, mess up ball movement or offer any glaring weakness.

In other words, he’s exactly what the Kings need. If Vassell is available at pick 12 or 13, the fit is too perfect for the Kings to pass up.

This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 4:00 AM.