The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery delivered a major surprise with the Dallas Mavericks landing the No. 1 overall pick, but not every team shared that fortune. The Sacramento Kings held steady at pick No. 13, which means their first-round pick—top-12 protected—will now go to the Atlanta Hawks.
Although Sacramento officially loses its first-round selection this year, that doesn’t mean they’ll sit out the draft entirely.
The Kings still own the 42nd overall pick via the Chicago Bulls, and there’s expected to be valuable talent available at that spot.
In ESPN’s post-lottery mock draft, analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo project that the Kings will use the pick to select Tennessee guard.
Top prospect, 23, spent his fifth collegiate season at Tennessee after four years at North Florida. In his lone campaign with the Volunteers—competing in what many consider the toughest conference in college basketball—he posted strong numbers: 18.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 43.1% from the field, 39.5% from three, and 75.8% from the free-throw line.
He is a skilled scorer with a smooth shooting stroke, but with new general manager Scott Perry now leading the Kings’ front office, it remains unclear how he’ll approach the draft and whether Lanier fits into Sacramento’s long-term plans.
Given their current roster makeup, the Kings don’t have an immediate need for a player like Chaz Lanier. However, that could change depending on potential roster moves ahead of the draft.
At the NBA Draft Combine, Lanier measured approximately 6-foot-4 and 206 pounds with an impressive 6-foot-9 wingspan. While his physical tools are intriguing, his limited impact on the defensive end raises concerns. Despite his size, questions remain about how well his frame and defensive instincts will translate at the NBA level.
In this mock draft scenario, the Kings would be passing on several prospects who arguably fit their roster needs more directly—such as Milos Uzan, Boogie Fland, Darrion Williams, and Kam Jones. Each of those players offers positional versatility or defensive upside that aligns better with Sacramento’s current lineup construction.
Still, Chaz Lanier is an intriguing prospect in his own right. If his elite scoring ability carries over to the NBA, he could prove to be a valuable addition. Lanier was not only named a Wooden All-American but also took home the Jerry West Award, honoring him as the top shooting guard in college basketball. He was a standout at the collegiate level, and if the Kings believe his game will translate—and that he’s ready to contribute right away—it could ultimately be a smart value pick at No. 42.