It’s NBA draft day — What you need to know: Start time, how to watch on TV, top prospects
Draft day always arrives with a sense of excitement and anticipation in Sacramento.
The Kings don’t have a lottery pick this year, but they still have an opportunity to find a hidden gem or orchestrate a trade to improve a team that is coming off its first playoff appearance since 2006.
The 2023 NBA draft will be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Kings, who have the 24th overall pick, won’t make their first selection until sometime around 7 p.m. Sacramento also has two second-round picks at No. 38 and No. 54.
The Sacramento Bee will provide live updates throughout the day with news, notes and analysis before, during and after the draft.
The San Antonio Spurs will use the No. 1 pick to select 19-year-old French phenom Victor Wembanyama, the hottest prospect to enter the draft since LeBron James. Other top players include Alabama forward Brandon Miller and G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson.
The Boston Celtics acquired All-Star Kristaps Porzingis on Wednesday in a blockbuster three-team trade that sent 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies and Tyus Jones to the Washington Wizards. That could set off more fireworks Thursday as teams try to keep pace in the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Top prospects
According to ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony, the top 10 prospects in this year’s draft are:
Victor Wembanyama | C | France
Brandon Miller | SF | Alabama
Scoot Henderson | PG | G League Ignite
Amen Thompson | PG | Overtime Elite
Ausar Thompson | SG | Overtime Elite
Cam Whitmore | SF | Villanova
Jarace Walker | PF | Houston
Anthony Black | SG | Arkansas
Taylor Hendricks | PF | UCF
Gradey Dick | SG | Kansas
Kings roster
Under contract
G: De’Aaron Fox
G: Kevin Huerter
G: Malik Monk
G: Davion Mitchell
G/F: PJ Dozier
F: Keegan Murray
C: Domantas Sabonis
C: Richaun Holmes
Free Agents
G: Terence Davis (unrestricted)
G: Matthew Dellavedova (unrestricted)
G: Keon Ellis (two-way)
F: Harrison Barnes (unrestricted)
F: Trey Lyles (unrestricted)
F: Kessler Edwards (team option)
F/C: Chimezie Metu (unrestricted)
C: Alex Len (unrestricted)
C: Neemias Queta (two-way)
This story was originally published June 22, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
