The Sacramento Kings are unlikely to have a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but that fate will be sealed on Monday night during the NBA Draft Lottery.
When acquiring Kevin Huerter from the Atlanta Hawks a few years back, then general manager of the Kings, Monte McNair, traded a future first-round in the deal that included year-by-year protections.
It was top-14 protected in 2024, and Sacramento ended up with the 13th-worst record, taking Providence’s Devin Carter with their selection. The protections then became top-12 in 2025, which will be decided via ping pong balls on Monday afternoon.
Their 40-42 regular season record (and a won coin flip over the Hawks) landed them the 13th-best odds, barely outside their protections.
The only possible outcomes for the Kings are remaining at 13th, falling to 14th (3.4 percent odds), or somehow jumping into the top four, which they have a 3.8 percent chance of doing. That includes a 0.8 percent chance of securing the number one overall selection, where most experts expect Duke’s Cooper Flagg to be selected.
The lottery odds for the No. 1 pick… Tune in to ESPN tonight to find out which team gets it 🍿
7:00pm/et: #NBADraftLottery Presented by State Farm
7:30pm/et: Celtics/Knicks, Game 4
10:00pm/et: Timberwolves/Warriors, Game 4 pic.twitter.com/X03KJbCQRj
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2025
More likely than not, Sacramento’s pick will finally be conveyed to Atlanta. If that takes place, they will be exempt from their future protections, but if the outlier scenario takes place and they jump into the top four their 2026 first-round pick would be top-10 protected or otherwise owed to the Hawks.
Giving up the pick now would free up next year’s first-round pick (along with two second-rounders) for new general manager Scott Perry to work with moving forward.
The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets all share the best odds (52.1 percent) at the number one pick.
More Kings coverage on Sactown Sports
The Athletic‘s Sam Amick joined The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross on Friday morning to discuss the Sacramento Kings adding B.J. Armstrong and Mike Woodson to their staff, the impact of former agents in front offices, and more.
Given that Armstrong spent nearly two decades as a player agent following his extensive time as a player and front office member with the Chicago Bulls, what do those relationships mean for the Kings now that he’s been named assistant general manager under Scott Perry?
Read More:
Amick on what B.J. Armstrong, Mike Woodson bring to Sacramento
Upcoming schedule for Scott Perry, B.J. Armstrong, and the Kings:
Monday, May 12th – NBA Draft Lottery
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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