Just days removed from the Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship parade, the NBA world has moved on to Wednesday’s 2025 NBA Draft.
New Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry inherited no first-round picks this season, conveying to Atlanta from the Kevin Huerter trade. Their lone pick sits in the second round, 42nd overall.
Plenty of rumors are swirling that Perry could look to go in a wide variety of directions in his first offseason at the helm. Including potentially trading into the first round this week.
Vocal about their need for a point guard, the Kings could look to acquire a young, promising talent via the draft. How the would acquire the trade is another story.
Brooklyn owns five firsts (8, 19, 22, 26, 27) and would probably listen to offers. Miami owns the 20th. The Hawks are sitting at 22. Options will likely arise.
If they were to move up, there’s no reason for them to feel a need to take a guard. They need cohesive talent in any form, but accomplishing both at once wouldn’t hurt.
Here are three first-round projected guards Perry could consider trading up for.
Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida): 6’3 | 6’4 wingspan | 199 lbs | 22 years old
2024-25 Stats: 39 games played (32.6 mpg) | 18.3 points | 4.2 assists | 3.7 rebounds | 1.2 steals | 44.8 FG% | 38.6 3P% on 7.8/g | 87.5 FT%
Clayton is a name college basketball fans will be familiar with, or anyone who filled out a March Madness bracket. The senior guard led Florida to a national championship as their leading scorer. He was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, consensus first-team All-American, and a top-five finalist for the Wooden Award.
His stellar run throughout the tourney undoubtedly helped his stock as an NBA prospect, displaying off-the-bounce scoring.
Discussed as one of the best shooters in the class, the 6’3 guard can knock down triples in every way. Off-the-dribble, he shot 38.8 percent from deep, while converting 39.8 percent on catch-and-shoot attempts.
Given the Gators’ flowing offense, he projects well in various roles within an NBA offense. With or without the ball, he can find ways to make an impact offensively.
A large part of the value in a starting point guard comes from their ability to run an offense, more specifically, a pick-and-roll.
Clayton grew plenty comfortable doing that in college, earning a national championship in the process. It’s easy to see how his scoring ability, on and off ball, could thrive alongside Domantas Sabonis while not disappearing when guys like Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, or DeMar DeRozan handle the ball.
While passing comes secondary to his scoring skillset, he’s continued to develop that game since he was a freshman at Iona.
Strengths: Shot creation, running the pick-and-roll, three-point shooting, three-level scoring, proven
Weaknesses: Questionable defender, underwhelming length/athleticism, decision making, age
Draft Ranking: 19th (The Athletic), 19th (The Ringer), 28th (ESPN)
Nolan Traore (Saint-Quentin): 6’3 | 6’8 wingspan | 175 lbs | 19 years old
2024-25 Stats: 30 games played (22.6 mpg) | 11.6 points | 5.1 assists | 1.7 rebounds | 39.2 FG% | 30.4 3P% on 4.2/g | 71.0 FT%
It seems like there’s been an uptick in raw, high-potential teenagers being selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Tidjane Salaun, Nikola Topic, and Bilal Coulibaly, just to name a few from the last two years.
Well, Traore is one of four French players who fit the bill for 2025. Playing in the French league, he picked up steam as a prospect years ago, but it’s calmed down since that time.
His combination of size and lightning-quick first step leaves the blueprint for a dynamic pick-and-roll threat. But his sub-40 percent field-goal percentage last season is cause for concern, along with his currently underdeveloped left hand.
Keep in mind, very few 19-year-olds are going to be without flaws, but Traore is truly a ball of clay at this point. His jump shot could need some work, with last year’s results being encouraging.
After a tough start to the season, he bounced back with promising flashes that reminded NBA scouts of his remaining potential.
For the Kings, he would be a project, but they lack promising, high-end internal development options on their current roster and could fill their starting spot with more temporary options via free agency.
Strengths: Athleticism (elite first step), length, potential, disruptive defender at POA
Weaknesses: Efficiency, handling, weak hand, strength, off-ball lapses
Draft Ranking* *: 22nd (The Athletic), 26th (The Ringer), 23rd (ESPN)
Jase Richardson (Michigan State): 6’1 | 6’6 wingspan | 178 lbs
2024-25 Stats: 36 games played (25.3 mpg) | 12.1 points | 3.3 rebounds | 1.9 assists | 49.3 FG% | 41.2 3P% on 3.2/g | 3.4 FT%
Jase, son of former NBA dunk champion Jason Richardson, doesn’t quite have the same hops as his pops, but his stellar feel for the game shone through in his freshman season at Michigan State.
Earning the starting role by the end of the regular season, Richardson averaged 16.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in his final 15 games. He recorded double-digit performances in all of their tournament games expect one, including a 20 point-game on eight shots in the Sweet Sixteen.
Not functioning as the primary facilitating guard at just under 6’2 isn’t ideal for the NBA, but his connective playmaking and ability to limit mistakes bode well. Richardson recorded 30 turnovers compared to 68 assists (2.3 AST:TO) as a freshman in the Big Ten.
Converting 45.7 percent on catch-and-shoot triples along with 68.8 percent at the rim shows Richardson’s offensive prowess. He didn’t look like one of the younger players on the floor, moving at his own pace and always seeming to have a sense of balance and poise.
As a lefty, he currently struggles going towards his weak side, but very few teenagers come into the NBA ready to contribute early.
While it could take some time for Richardson to develop, getting some young talent with a promising upside could benefit Sacramento’s position.
Strengths: Three-point shooting (off the catch, off movement), poise, touch/finishing, connective passer, potential
Weaknesses: Size could lead to defensive issues, currently far from a primary playmaker, low volume collegiate player, going to his right
Draft Ranking* *: 17th (The Athletic), 24th (The Ringer), 18th (ESPN)
More Sacramento Kings coverage on Sactown Sports:
With the Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship parade marking the end of the 2024-25 NBA season, teams are already maneuvering their rosters for next season.
The 2025 NBA Draft being one day away adds to that, obviously, as teams look to trade away/for picks ahead of their selection.
Offseasons also often come with coaching changes, especially when a new* head coach is being hired. Some faces remain alongside Doug Christie from his interim stint last year, but plenty of new faces will contribute.
On Tuesday, Sacramento announced their full coaching staff. The following is via Kings PR Press Release:
Read More:
Sacramento Kings announce full coaching staff for 2025-26 season
What’s next for the Sacramento Kings offseason?
Although the Sacramento Kings do not own a first-round pick, they are in the process of preparing for June 25-26th’s 2025 NBA Draft.
Sacramento’s first-round pick was finally conveyed to Atlanta in what was the final ripple effect from the 2022 offseason trade that brought Kevin Huerter to the Kings.
While they won’t select in the first round, Sacramento owns the 42nd pick in the draft, meaning they will select at least one player on Day 2 (June 26th) of the draft.
Be sure to keep up on all Kings offseason news right here on Sactown Sports 1140, with live on-air coverage every Monday-Friday from 6 am to 6 pm PT.
Upcoming offseason schedule for the Sacramento Kings:
Wednesday, June 25th – 2025 NBA Draft
Monday, June 30th – NBA free agent negotiations can begin
Sunday, July 6th – NBA free agents can officially sign with teams
July 10th-20th – Las Vegas NBA Summer League
August TBD – Release of 2025-26 regular season schedule
September TBD – Start of NBA training camps for the 2025-26 season
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