The Sacramento Kings endured a tough 2024–25 season, missing the playoffs for the second straight year, but a fresh start might benefit the franchise. They’ve brought in a new general manager and assistant GM, and one of their first major responsibilities will be preparing for the 2025 NBA Draft.
Set for late June, the Kings currently hold just the 42nd overall pick—unless they get lucky and move into the top four during next week’s lottery. Although a second-round pick may not excite many fans, there’s still potential to uncover a valuable player at that spot.
In his latest 2025 NBA mock draft, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman projects the Kings to select North Carolina star.
Top prospect, 19, entered college as the No. 11 overall recruit in his class, according to 247Sports. During his freshman year at North Carolina, he posted modest stats—7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game—while shooting 48.3% from the field, 37.9% from three, and 64.8% from the free-throw line. Despite the numbers, he often flashed the high-level potential that made him such a highly regarded prospect.
“Drake Powell will be on teams’ radars following the NBA Combine,” wrote Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report. “This season, 50 percent of his possessions came from spotting up, a shift from the ball-handling and playmaking he showed in high school.
“Even in this off-ball role, he was efficient as a cutter and shooter from deep. With his strong physical profile and defensive upside on the wing, he projects well as a three-and-D player—an increasingly valuable archetype,” Wasserman noted.
At 6-foot-6, Drake Powell has the physical tools and skill set to thrive at the next level, and a strong showing at the upcoming draft combine could significantly boost his stock. While he has the upside of a late first-round pick, his underwhelming freshman season at UNC might cause him to slip to the 42nd pick. If he’s still on the board, selecting Powell would be an easy decision for new Kings GM Scott Perry and his staff.