Busting Brackets
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NBA Draft 2019: Analyzing draft selections of the Sacramento Kings

By Tristan Freeman

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 14: Harry Giles III #20 of the Sacramento Kings reacts with teammates Harrison Barnes #40 and Marvin Bagley III #35 after a technical foul is called against him during the second half at TD Garden on March 14, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Kings 126-120. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 14: Harry Giles III #20 of the Sacramento Kings reacts with teammates Harrison Barnes #40 and Marvin Bagley III #35 after a technical foul is called against him during the second half at TD Garden on March 14, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Kings 126-120. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 14: De’Aaron Fox #5 high-fives Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings during their game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Golden 1 Center on January 14, 2019 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 14: De’Aaron Fox #5 high-fives Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings during their game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Golden 1 Center on January 14, 2019 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

The Sacramento Kings got a champion player in the 2019 NBA Draft. Could he eventually get a spot on the roster?

When it comes to the Sacramento Kings, they had a pretty uneventful 2019 NBA Draft. And they knew that coming in, knowing that their first round pick was already with Boston due to a previous trade. But the Celtics were expected a lot better than what became the No. 14 overall selection, due to Sacramento having their best overall season in a decade.

The Kings did have a trio of second-round picks to work with, starting at No. 40. They selected Wyoming guard Justin James, who averaged 22.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 4.4 apg in a league-high 38.2 mpg. He effectively was the only one contributing for the Cowboys, who finished 8-24 as a team this past season.

The complete antithesis of Wyoming was Virginia, who finally made it to the Final Four and eventually winning it all this past season. Junior guard Kyle Guy played a crucial part in the run, hitting clutch three-pointers and free throws along the way. He averaged 15.4 ppg on the season for the Cavaliers on 43% three-point shooting while taking 7.5 attempts a game. The Kings, who haven’t been winning as a franchise in a while, selected him with the 55th pick.

Sacramento also had the very last pick in the NBA Draft, selecting international guard Vanja Marinovic at No. 60. The 22-year old guard from Serbia is a good shooter who has the potential to make the transition to the NBA. With the recent success of Europeans such as Luka Doncic making headlines, the Kings figured why not take a flyer out.

With a young and up and coming roster, these players have an opportunity to join a franchise on the right trajectory. But will any of them stick around long enough?

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