NBA Mock Draft: Sacramento Kings Select Lauri Markkanen from Arizona

New, 1 comment

SB Nation's NBA Network conducted a mock draft with bloggers from each team site making their team’s picks. To continue the 2017 NBA Mock Draft, Sactown Royalty takes Lauri Markkanen from Arizona

By Dakota Schmidt@Dakota_Schmidt Jun 15, 2017, 4:30pm EDT

1 comment / new

NBA Mock Draft Pick #10: Lauri Markkanen, Power Forward, Arizona

SBNation’s Sacramento Kings blog Sactown Royalty explains their pick:

The Kings already have several young and talented big men, but Markkanen provides a new dimension as a floor spacer and should be able to pair well with guys like Willie Cauley-Stein and Skal Labissiere. With De'Aaron Fox as the selection for the Kings at 5, the Kings will need all the shooting and spacing they can get. Markkanen will need to become a better defender at the next level, but if his scoring and shooting translate, he'll be a welcome addition. Sacramento also considered OG Anunoby, Zach Collins and Donovan Mitchell here.

Ridiculous Upside Analysis

With De’Aaron Fox lined up as the team’s point guard, it makes sense for the Kings to use their second lottery pick on a potential pick-and-roll partner. Markkanen is probably the best player that the Kings could select at this spot as he might be one of the shooters in this year’s Draft despite being a 7-footer. That status was etched in stone as he shot 42% from beyond the arc on 5.9 attempts per-40 minutes.