The Sacramento Kings entered the 2025 NBA Draft without a clearly defined direction. After finishing as the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference and falling short in the Play-In Tournament against the Dallas Mavericks, the franchise was at a crossroads. That sense of uncertainty only deepened when the team made the stunning decision to trade longtime franchise cornerstone De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs.
In return, Sacramento received Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks, and three second-round picks. While the haul provided valuable draft capital, the headline piece was LaVine—who was soon reunited with his former Chicago Bulls teammate, DeMar DeRozan.
However, for fans familiar with that duo’s time together in Chicago, the reunion came with skepticism. While both are individually talented scorers, their pairing in the past has shown clear limitations, particularly on the defensive end and in late-game execution. As a result, there’s a sense that a team led by LaVine and DeRozan has a capped ceiling, and that the Kings may be treading water rather than taking a meaningful step forward.
Another notable move the Kings made during the regular season was trading recently acquired Sidy Cissoko, along with two second-round picks, to the Washington Wizards in exchange for veteran big man Jonas Valančiūnas. While Valančiūnas brought value as a reliable low-post presence and strong rebounder, his role—and price tag—may soon be challenged.
In the 2025 NBA Draft, the Kings selected a player who could potentially offer similar production in the paint at a much lower cost. This signals a possible shift in Sacramento’s long-term strategy, aiming to get younger and more cost-effective at key positions while still addressing immediate roster needs.
With the 42nd pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings selected Maxime Raynaud out of Stanford. Though considered a late bloomer, Raynaud had been projected by many as a potential first-round talent, making his slide to the middle of the second round a surprising development.
While it’s still uncertain whether Raynaud will secure a spot on the Kings’ final roster, he’s expected to get ample opportunity to prove himself during the NBA Summer League. His size, rebounding ability, and offensive polish in the post make him an intriguing prospect—especially for a team looking to balance talent and affordability in its frontcourt.
If the Kings truly struck gold with Maxime Raynaud, it wouldn’t be out of the question to experiment with lineups that feature him alongside Domantas Sabonis. While traditional two-big lineups have become less common in today’s NBA, Raynaud’s offensive skill set and potential versatility could make such a pairing viable—especially if he can space the floor or serve as a complementary rebounder and interior presence.
Sabonis, known for his passing and playmaking from the high post, could benefit from having another capable big man who can score around the rim, battle on the boards, and hold his own defensively. If Raynaud proves he can handle the physicality and pace of the pro game, Sacramento may have uncovered a cost-effective frontcourt duo worth developing together.
If these draft picks turn out to be home runs, the Kings could find themselves firmly in the mix for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Maxime Raynaud emerging as a reliable rotation piece, along with first-round pick Nique Clifford making an immediate impact, would significantly raise the team’s ceiling.
However, if the rookies struggle to adjust or the roster fails to gel—especially without a clear solution at point guard—the Kings may once again find themselves fighting just to stay in the Play-In Tournament picture. The success of these selections could ultimately determine whether Sacramento takes a meaningful step forward or continues treading water in a competitive Western Conference.