What is the Kings' best option at No. 6?

By foxsports
Published

We're now at the point of single-digit days in our NBA draft countdown, only nine more until June 25, when the Kings will have the sixth pick.

So, who should Sacramento take? Manuel Vietes has a list over at Kings Scoop. Here's one candidate:

Click here to read the rest.

The Kings are more than just one solid draft pick away from contending in the West, but in a strong draft class, selecting a piece to help in the future is a nice start.

(H/t to Manuel Vietes at Kings Scoop.)

Photo Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

The downside with drafting Cauley-Stein is that his position it is manned by the Kings’ best player. But there’s enough upside with Cauley-Stein to make a transition in the paint.

Most importantly, Cauley-Stein is an impact defender. His ability to protect the rim is unquestioned, as he pairs his 7-foot, 240-pound frame with the production of at least 2.1 blocks per game over his last two seasons at Kentucky.

But Cauley-Stein isn’t just a plodding big man who only stands in the paint. Despite that immense size, he’s got the mobility to defend all three frontcourt positions. He showed some of that against Wisconsin in the Final Four, when he would defend either center Frank Kaminsky or forward Sam Dekker.

That defensive versatility is what makes Cauley-Stein a good option even with Cousins on the roster. As skilled as Cousins is, he’s best defending centers near the basket. Cauley-Stein could play next to DMC and guard either the power forward or small forward without overlapping.