Kings now in jeopardy of losing first-round pick

With the New York Knicks securing the NBA’s seventh-worst record (32-50), the Kings could lose their 2016 first-round draft pick, which is top-10 protected, depending upon their luck in the draft lottery.

Sacramento (33-48) is tied with the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks for the eighth-worst record entering Wednesday’s regular-season finales. The Kings close the season against the host Houston Rockets, who will clinch a playoff berth with a win. The Nuggets visit the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Bucks host the Indiana Pacers.

The Kings can move up a few spots with some luck in the lottery. But if they drop two or three spots – the most a team can fall – and out of the top 10 picks, the Chicago Bulls get the Kings’ first-round choice stemming from a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. Sacramento does not have a second-round pick this year.

If the Kings keep their first-round picks in 2016 and 2017, which is also top-10 protected, Sacramento loses its 2017 second-round pick to the Bulls.

Bee Sports staff

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 7:56 PM with the headline "Kings now in jeopardy of losing first-round pick."