Latest NBA mock drafts show Sacramento Kings picking new player at No. 7
A month ago, most NBA analysts projected the Sacramento Kings would select Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 pick in the draft, but not anymore.
The latest round of mock drafts show Sacramento pivoting to Houston point guard Kingston Flemings with Acuff going to the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 5 or the Brooklyn Nets at No. 6.
A current NBA agent and former scout ranked Acuff ahead of Flemings as the top two point guards in the draft, telling The Sacramento Bee that Flemings will be a “10-year starter” but “not an All-Star.”
Acuff has a higher ceiling due to his elite scoring and passing abilities despite some serious defensive concerns. Flemings has a higher floor as a borderline star and two-way standout who is considered one of the best point-of-attack defenders in this year’s draft.
Yahoo Sports still has the Kings selecting Acuff at No. 7, but USA Today has them selecting Illinois combo guard Keaton Wagler while ESPN, CBS Sports, Tankathon.com, NBADraft.net and NBADraftRoom.com all have Sacramento selecting Flemings.
BYU small forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas combo guard Darryn Peterson, Duke power forward Cameron Boozer and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson are widely projected as the top four picks in the draft. The Clippers, Nets and Kings are expected to choose from Acuff, Flemings and Wagler.
Acuff averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 0.8 steals while leading Arkansas to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. He shot 48.4% from the field, 44% from 3-point range at 80.9% from the free-throw line.
Flemings averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals to lead Houston to the Sweet 16. He shot 47.6% from the field, 38.7% from 3-point range and 84.5% from the free-throw line.
Wagler averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 0.9 steals to lead Illinois to the Final Four. He shot 44.5% from the field, 39.7% from 3-point range and 79.6% from the free-throw line.
Acuff and Flemings went head-to-head in a battle between Top 25 teams at the Never Forget Tribute Classic on Dec. 20 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. At the time, Houston was ranked No. 8 and Arkansas was No. 14.
Flemings scored 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting with six rebounds, five assists, one turnover and three steals in 36 minutes, leading the Cougars to a 94-85 victory over the Razorbacks. Acuff scored 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting with five rebounds, seven assists, four turnovers, one steal and one blocked shot in 39 minutes.
Flemings and Wagler faced off in the Sweet 16. Wagler had 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting with 12 rebounds, three assists, one turnover, one steal and two blocks to help the Illini beat the Cougars 65-55. Flemings had 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting with six rebounds, four assists and zero turnovers.
