Sacramento

Kings

There aren’t many centers in this class that compare to Raynaud on the offensive end. The 22-year-old averaged 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.9 three-pointers per game for Stanford last season. He didn’t grade out well defensively, but Raynaud the 7’1” big should be able to hold his own on that end in the NBA. He was a decent shot blocker, but his main impact will be made on offense. Raynaud should step into the league as a high-level floor spacing center behind Domantas Sabonis, though Jonas Valanciunas is still in the mix, so the path to minutes will be murky early on.

While Oklahoma City made this pick, Clifford will be headed to Sacramento via trade. The 6'6" forward will have the ability to step into the NBA and make an immediate impact, which can’t be said for many players. He averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 three-pointers for Colorado State last season on efficient shooting splits. He’s a complete prospect, but at 23 years old, that should be expected. He should be able to contribute on both ends of the floor from day one and should be one of the best rookies in the league next season. While Sacramento’s wing rotation is a bit crowded with DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Keegan Murray all figuring prominently, Clifford is capable of providing value off the bench. His improved playmaking has the potential to be a valuable asset for a team that is short on players who can consistently set up their teammates.

Armstrong will serve under new Kings GM Scott Perry. Armstrong played 11 seasons in the NBA, winning three championships with the Chicago Bulls in the early 90’s. He made the All-Star team with the Bulls in the 1993-94 season as he averaged a career-high 14.8 points per game. Over the last two decades, Armstrong has been a player agent. He’s represented players such as Derrick Rose and Bismack Biyombo.

Perry will make his return to Sacramento to take over for Monte McNair, who parted ways with the Kings shortly after their play-in loss to the Mavericks. Perry was hired to be the team’s vice president of basketball operations in 2017 but was hired to become the general manager of the Knicks just months later. Perry remained in that role until after the 2022-23 season. Sacramento moved quickly to find a new general manager, and Perry will now have quite a few decisions to make. Will he remove the interim tag from Doug Christie and make him the full-time head coach? Perry may not have a first-round pick in his first draft; whether the Kings retain their pick will depend on how the final two play-in games play out and then the draft lottery in May.

Carter’s rookie season ended on a positive note individually, as he reached double figures for the fourth time. Offseason shoulder surgery delayed his NBA debut until after the New Year, with Carter playing 36 regular-season games. While he was worth stashing in dynasty league drafts before this season began, the former Providence standout did not deserve a look in redraft leagues. That will likely remain the case next season, but the Kings need to make a decision regarding their head coaching position, as Doug Christie was only the interim. Add in the need for an experienced point guard, and Carter’s fantasy outlook isn’t great.

Murray recorded a complete stat line on Wednesday, but the impact was muted. That was a fitting end to the season for the Kings forward, whose fantasy value took a significant hit. The signing of DeMar DeRozan during free agency did Murray no favors, and that was also true for the addition of Zach LaVine just before the trade deadline. While he did approach his Yahoo! ADP (87) in nine-cat formats, Murray failed to crack the top-100 in eight-cat. Murray is extension eligible this summer, but the Kings have many questions to answer, including who the head coach will be and the future of lead executive Monte McNair. How that impacts Murray remains to be seen, but he’s worth selecting with a top-100 pick in drafts.

It’s fitting that Sabonis would finish his season with a double-double, as he recorded 61 during the regular season. However, his impact was limited, with Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford combining to control the paint for most of Wednesday’s play-in tournament matchup. Regarding fantasy value, Sabonis was a top-25 player in eight- and nine-cat formats for the season. However, his value took a significant hit after the trade deadline, with the De’Aaron Fox deal leaving the Kings with two high-scoring wings (Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan) and no legitimate point guard. How Sacramento addresses that decision during the offseason will impact Sabonis’ fantasy value in 2025-26.

DeRozan went out firing on Wednesday, shooting just under 50 percent from the field and finishing a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line. Like other key Kings players, his fantasy value took a hit after De’Aaron Fox was traded to San Antonio. The lack of a point guard who can set up others consistently proved problematic for the Kings, who now have some significant decisions to make this offseason. DeRozan can approach top-50 fantasy value, but the task gets much easier when on the court with a legitimate lead guard.

LaVine led the Kings in assists on Wednesday, but inefficient play was an issue in the play-in tournament defeat. The turnover count was worse than the field goal percentage as LaVine committed five. After being traded to the Kings, the veteran guard was an eighth-round player in nine-cat formats and a fifth-round player in eight-cat. While reuniting with DeMar DeRozan gave the Kings two high-scoring wings to pair with center Domantas Sabonis, the lack of a legitimate point guard was an issue. LaVine can approach top-50 value, but the task became more difficult when he was traded, which is a limitation that could roll over into next season, barring roster changes.