Why Bey would be perfect fit for Kings at No. 12 in draft

• Editor's Note: This is the first installment of a series breaking down the Kings' potential selections with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

After missing out on the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft altogether, the Kings are back in all-too-familiar territory.

The lottery.

Armed with the No. 12 overall pick, the Kings will have plenty of options to choose from. There should be a stack of wings, a big man with some punch and possibly even a few guards still available if Sacramento decides to completely mix up its roster.

In our latest mock draft, we have the Kings selecting Villanova's Saddiq Bey, and we'll start this series with him.

Stats and Measurements

Stats: 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 50 percent FG, 45.1 percent 3-point
Age: 21
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 216
Wingspan: 6-foot-11'

Bey made a massive statistical jump from his freshman to sophomore season at Villanova, in part because he had a bigger role. He has good size to play as a three, but also the length to switch onto mobile fours on defense. 

The forward has a solid frame that can take additional muscle as he grows into his body at the next level. While Bey isn’t an elite leaper, he is mobile enough to get the job done and has no issues getting out in the open court and running the floor.

Strengths

A high-character, high-basketball IQ player, Bey will be ready to contribute on Day 1. He has a mature game and a body built for an NBA small forward.

Bey's shooting ability from strong to elite within the span of a season. Despite shooting two more attempts per game, his percentage jumped from 37.4 percent to 45.1 last year. 

Better as a catch-and-shoot player, Bey moves extremely well without the ball. He doesn’t need a dribble to set up his perimeter shot, and while he shoots slightly out in front of his body, his size and quick trigger will

Bey averaged 2.4 assists per game and only 1.5 turnovers as a sophomore. He’s a steady hand who doesn’t typically force the action. Bey’s not a true distributor, but he's a willing passer whose assists percentage jumped from 8.6 as a freshman to 14.9 as a sophomore. 

While Bey isn’t an elite athlete, he maximizes his skill set and is an active and engaged player. This plays out well on the defensive end, where he holds his own. He can be a 3-and-D wing, especially with a professional training staff working with him to better define his body.

Bey might struggle against superior athletes on the wing, but he can hold his own in most scenarios and should be a strong team defender. 

Weaknesses

How well Bey's athleticism will translate to the NBA is a concern, although he has shown he can maximize his tools. There's also concern he already has hit his ceiling as a prospect.

If that ceiling is, say, 15 points per game as well as four rebounds and two assists per 36 minutes, that's fine for a No. 12 overall pick. If he struggles with the speed and quickness as a pro, then those numbers would potentially dip. 

Bey can score at all three levels, but he’s more methodical off the dribble and he lacks an elite burst.

The 21-year-old also is a bit of a tweener. He might not be able to keep up defensively on the wing, and he isn't strong enough to play most of his minutes at the four. Bey is smart enough to mask a lot of those deficiencies, but those could limit his ability to improve. 

While Bey got to the free throw line nearly three times per game this season, his 76.9 percent shooting from the stripe didn’t mesh with his 3-point shooting ability. Improving his percentage would be a bonus, as would getting better at drawing fouls. 

Bey isn't a great rebounder, especially for someone who spent plenty of time in the frontcourt in college. He doesn't create a lot of of opportunities for his teammates, although his ability to stretch the floor impacts the players around him.

RELATED: Why hypothetical Kings-Hawks Hield trade could make sense

Fit with Kings

Sacramento has plenty of uncertainty on the wing. Harrison Barnes plays a ton, but coach Luke Walton has split Barnes' minutes between the three and the four. Kent Bazemore filled in and played well after coming over in a midseason trade, but he’s an unrestricted free agent.

Bey might be able to fill a void as a switchable combo forward with the potential to start in his second or third year. He's a relatively low-usage player who reads the game well and would be a nice fit on the perimeter with De’Aaron Fox breaking down defenses. 

While Bey won't demand the ball and would know his role as a complimentary player, he also isn't afraid to let it fly and is much more than just a 3-point shooter.

The Kings need a young player like Bey. His versatility would take a lot of pressure off of Barnes and allow Marvin Bagley to play more minutes at center. Bey's ability to knock down a 3-pointer in the flow of the offense would help space the floor and open running lanes.

Player Comparison

Trevor Ariza, DeMarre Carroll