The Kings have taken some heat for selecting Keegan Murray ahead of Jaden Ivey with the fourth pick Thursday night, but general manager Monte McNair said the decision was “unanimous” among the front office, writes Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. Owner Vivek Ranadive also endorsed Murray because of concerns about Ivey’s awkward fit alongside De’Aaron Fox, Anderson adds.
“Ultimately, after sitting in the room with my front office staff, our whole staff, our scouting department, our analytics department, it became unanimous that Keegan Murray was the best player available, and we jumped at the chance to draft him,” McNair said.
In an introductory press conference today in Sacramento, Murray talked about how far he has come, noting that he had difficulty finding a Division I scholarship out of high school (video link from The Sacramento Bee). He called the experience since draft night “the best time of my life.”
“I’m excited to be here in Sacramento,” Murray said. “It’s a dream come true to be able to pull on the purple and black so I’m grateful to be in this position. Sacramento has welcomed me with open arms so far. So I’m excited to see everyone at the games and things like that. For me, it’s been a journey from where I’ve came from and to where I am now.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Cameron Johnson knows he’s not the first priority this summer as he waits to see if the Suns will offer a rookie scale extension, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Rankin estimates that if Phoenix makes the offer, Johnson can expect between $15-20MM per year. “There’s a lot of stuff that’s got to happen before we get to that, you know,” Johnson said. “Even if you talk about the stuff with (Deandre Ayton), like that is obviously more at the forefront of things, but I trust that whatever is meant to happen, will happen.”
- The Warriors viewed Ryan Rollins as a potential first-round pick, which is why they were willing to give the Hawks $2MM to move up from No. 51 to No. 44, according to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. Rollins told reporters that Golden State tried to trade up to No. 30, but wasn’t able to complete a deal with the Nuggets.
- Second-round pick Moussa Diabate will be a project during his first season with the Clippers, notes Austin Meek of The Athletic. A five-star recruit out of high school, Diabate spent just one year at Michigan before declaring for the draft. “I think there’s an evolution to his game: getting more comfortable with the ball, more spatial awareness,” Wolverines assistant Phil Martelli said. “He is a very, very, willing learner.”
Kings take a player at 4 that would of been taken by Detroit at 5 and they catch grief. Only in Sacramento.
It is about value.
If Kings don’t want Ivey, Kings can select Ivey and trade him to Pistons for Murray. (ask Pistons to select Murray)
Trade proposal
Kings get Murrey and a future protected first from Pistons
Pistons get Ivey
I always think I am better than Knicks and Kings GMs.
Lord help us, Sillivan, you probably are.
I think we all are, and by we I mean everyone on earth not currently working for them, well maybe not Bobby Marks.
The Pistons aren’t making that deal if they know the Kings aren’t taking Ivey. The biggest blunder by the Kings wasn’t the pick it’s that most knew they didn’t want Ivey
Right. Pistons would of taken Ivey or Murray, whoever was on the board. They had no motivation to trade up.
I thought Ivey was the hot ticket? They could have traded down and and received quite a bit. Didn’t have to be Murray, Could Have Been another great wingman plus assets for the fourth pick.
Instead Sacramento just winds up with one great Wing man and nothing else that was readily available if they had only played it right.
Ivey made it quite clear, that he did NOT want to come here, so why draft him, to do WHAT, be disgruntled and demand a trade or sit out the season. We can NOT continue to Draft PGs every year, period. We already have two good PGs. We tried running with two PGs on the floor at the same time and it didn’t go well for us. Murray was a great pick for this team.
It worked out both for best. Ivey had strong ties to Detriot. I am glad he is there. Keegan is what the kings need a wing.
Ok but you CAN draft the best possible player THEN TRADE HIM!!!
Kings should be contracted anyway, what a cursed franchise – proof Sacramento isn’t a pro sports town. Just be Warriors fans you idiots….
Murray is better than Ivey, but at the end of the day there is no point in taking a guard as a top selection, unlike big men, guards are a dozen a dime, right?
Warriors continue to spend …
$2 million is a lot, man.
Some reporters thought Warriors would sell 2nd round picks for cash.
For cash? Warriors have plenty of that stuff. No need to try to acquire 2 mil when they have it growing on trees via other income streams.
If anything they would have acquired second round picks for their first and do draft and stash. No need to SELL second round picks.
Some reporters? Don’t listen to them.
After you #1 GM online, it’s me #2 GM online rankings by number of positive and negative replies combined, then divided by number of quickest posts in relation to article timing factor of +/- 4 minutes.
Warriors sharpshooter Justinian Jessup Could Return, Make Roster
4 rookies next season
Jessup (replace Klay)
Santos
Rollins
Baldwin
8 rookies contracts?
8 Rookies to rebuild next season
Dynasty II starts
Rebuild II starts
Is it Dynasty or is it rebuild? Or both at the same time? Actually some truth to that.
No room for Jessup yet he’s still developing. But he’s coming eventually could be a good one. Same with Santos. Won’t be here for three years. Develop elsewhere. Rollins steps right in to replace a guy like Lee or even Chioza.
Replace Klay? Not on your life brother, Warrior for as long as he wants. Slight chance of him being 38 or 40 and shooting jumpers for the Lakers but other than that he’s a warrior.
From what I read the Warriors intention is to give Rollins a full contract (not a 2 way). So that would mean he would replace Lee. On the other hand Lee is Steph’s bro in law, so that might not be how it goes in the end.
LOL. Jessup replaces Klay? I would bet Jessup never plays a regular season game for the Warriors. He simply is not a consistent enough shooter to make up for the deficiencies in his game at the NBA level.
Cam Johnson should be more important for them than Ayton
I personally liked Murray in the scouting process, and Ivey wouldnt back e fit at all, so I dont get the issue. If Ovey was a consensus there, I could see trying to get value in some kind of trade, but I actually think you lose leverage b/c of the obvious fit issues
Man what are some of these autocorrects even turning into…*ivey wouldn’t be a fit at all
I’ll give the Kings some heat too. BPA Best Player Available, Kings did not do that, or trade, they went for “fit”. Well we’ll see how Murray works out. I hope he does become a piece for their sake.
To be fair, Murray had the best college season by box plus/minus of anyone, besides Zion…he needs to work on stuff offensively in the half court, and he defends well, but might have some issues with quick guards. Otherwise I like him. 3 people I could see comparing him too in some way being Otto Porter, lesser Pascal Siakam, and I sort of see a smaller, lesser Al Horford. He can probably give them some minutes at small ball 5, or even on the wing.
Honestly though, they’ve messed up several players/not used them the last couple of years, so who knows. I just dont think it’s nearly as bad as Ayton and Bagley over Luka that year
“$2M is a lot” lmao to who? $2M is pocket change to all NBA owners, weird take….
Thomas Robinson 2.0