The lone positive about the 2025-26 Sacramento Kings owning the worst record in the NBA (14-49) with 19 games left to play is that they sit atop the NBA Draft lottery.
Since the league flattened the odds in 2019 in an attempt to limit tanking — unsuccessfully, it seems fair to say — all three teams with the worst record share an equal 14 percent chance of landing the first overall pick. All hail the ping pong balls.
The benefit of remaining first is that they wouldn’t be able to fall below the fifth overall pick. Unfortunately, falling to fifth also has the highest odds (47.9 percent). On Tuesday’s edition of The Drive Guys with Kevin “Whitey” Gleason and Allen Stiles, they debated whether Sacramento should consider trading down in that scenario.
“We’re in a position right now where nobody really knows what the Kings would do at five,” Stiles said. “Nobody really knows what anybody would do at five. And y’all know me, if there’s a situation where you don’t know what you want to do, maybe you could look at different opportunities out there.”
In the simulation they ran, Sacramento fell to fifth while the Atlanta Hawks (via the New Orleans Pelicans) rolled into the seventh overall pick. Also owning the Cleveland Cavaliers’ pick, which currently would place 23rd.
So, in that scenario, should the Kings consider trading the fifth pick for the seventh and 23rd? Of course, that’s if the Hawks would even be willing to offer that package.
“It’s a great question, and I understand where you’re going, and I would have to consider it,” Gleason said of the hypothetical. “But given the quality available in this draft, I know seven is only two spots after five, but I’ve got to maximize my opportunity with that fifth pick. So, I would not.
“Also considering that I have two later picks, and I know they’re not till 31 and 43 have that already. So I, personally, would keep five and try to convert that into a very special player. Still might get a franchise-type player there.”
They had varying opinions, debating the best way to proceed given their current most likely outcome.
Check out the full conversation by scrolling to the top of the page or by clicking here.
Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
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Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Tuesday, March 3rd vs. Phoenix Suns – 8:00 PM PT
Thursday, March 5th vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 7:00 PM PT
Sunday, March 8th vs. Chicago Bulls – 6:00 PM PT
Tuesday, March 10th vs. Indiana Pacers – 7:00 PM PT
Wednesday, March 11th vs. Charlotte Hornets – 7:00 PM PT
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