After the surprising selection of Davion Mitchell with the No. 9 pick, the Kings decided to hold onto pick No. 39 and bring a big man aboard.
Kings general manager Monte McNair gambled on potential with his second-round selection, taking Utah State giant Neemias Queta. He can score, rebound and block shots, but can he do it at the NBA level?
Here is a look at what the 7-footer brings to the table.
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The Numbers
Height: 7-foot-.5 Wingspan: 7-foot-4 Weight: 248 Age: 22
Stats: 14.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 3.3 blocks, 55.9 FG%
This is a huge man with a knack for blocking shots. Whether he has the overall speed and quickness to excel at the NBA level is a question mark, but the 7-footer out of Barreiro, Portugal is a low-risk, high-reward pick up this late in the draft.
NBA
A true rim protector, both on the ball and on the weak side, Queta has potential to become a defensive stopper. He’ll struggle to defend the perimeter and teams will take advantage of that issue, but he’s a player that will not only block shots, but deter a few more.
He can’t stretch the floor, but he has a soft touch around the rim and good feel as a passer. He turns the ball over too much and is a bit of a mess when he puts the ball on the floor. He also needs to work on his roll to the basket, especially with the Kings.
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How he fits in Sacramento
With Hassan Whiteside unlikely to return in free agency, the Kings could use a big body for those moments when they get pushed around by larger centers down low. He might take time to develop, but it’s likely that Queta won't be asked to step on the court for the Kings anytime soon.
Sacramento has two young guys fighting for minutes at the end of the bench in Chimezie Metu and Damian Jones. Queta is considered more of a 15th man on the end of the bench or a two-way player with potential.
If he can get stronger and work on his craft at the G League level, there might come a time when the Kings give him a shot.
Grade: C+/B-
The second round was already getting a little bit lean when the Kings selected and the majority of players were either point guards, which the Kings have plenty of, or development 7-footers like Queta.
Whether or not he makes it in the league will take a year or two to figure out, but if you are going to gamble on a big man, finding one with an elite skill makes plenty of sense.