Unless the Kings at some point have a Spurs-like run of success, they'll always need to take risks to potentially become a contender. They are a small market team in a state with a high tax rate. We're in the opposite position of Miami, which is a significantly bigger market, a more desirous place for young millionaire athletes to live, and in a state with lower taxes.
Which is why you have to risk things like trading a budding star like Haliburton for Sabonis. Or (to go back to when the Kings were last actually contenders) trading Mitch Richmond for a player with off the court issues and injury history in Chris Webber.
I'm still not sure you take a kid like Chomche in the lottery, even in this weaker than normal draft, but even if you do, you have to be ready for him to be a non-factor in year one. Colby Jones played 3 years in the Big East, looked really good in Summer League and the G League and he barely got any court time this season. Maxence-Prosper (who you were very high on) entered the NBA as a 21 year old and only appeared in 40 games for the Mavs, averaging just over 8 mpg and providing very little impact.
Ulrich Chomche won't even turn 19 before next season starts and he's been playing against NBA Academy Africa competition so far. Even Shaedon Sharpe (whose last actual games were against HC competition) at least practiced against NCAA guys. I'll be curious to see how Chomche does in Combine scrimmages assuming that (a) he stays in the draft until at least that point and (b) he chooses to participate. Even that will likely be a big step up in competition for him. I think he has a ton of potential. But he's very unlikely to help the Kings at all next season.
Which is why you have to risk things like trading a budding star like Haliburton for Sabonis. Or (to go back to when the Kings were last actually contenders) trading Mitch Richmond for a player with off the court issues and injury history in Chris Webber.
I'm still not sure you take a kid like Chomche in the lottery, even in this weaker than normal draft, but even if you do, you have to be ready for him to be a non-factor in year one. Colby Jones played 3 years in the Big East, looked really good in Summer League and the G League and he barely got any court time this season. Maxence-Prosper (who you were very high on) entered the NBA as a 21 year old and only appeared in 40 games for the Mavs, averaging just over 8 mpg and providing very little impact.
Ulrich Chomche won't even turn 19 before next season starts and he's been playing against NBA Academy Africa competition so far. Even Shaedon Sharpe (whose last actual games were against HC competition) at least practiced against NCAA guys. I'll be curious to see how Chomche does in Combine scrimmages assuming that (a) he stays in the draft until at least that point and (b) he chooses to participate. Even that will likely be a big step up in competition for him. I think he has a ton of potential. But he's very unlikely to help the Kings at all next season.