This time a year ago Gavin Maloof did all he could to convince us media types that not winning the NBA Draft Lottery wasn't such a bad thing.
The line that sticks out from that day was about how the impact players all were selected in the top-4.
But the Kings co-owner can admit today that he was "devastated" by the results. The Kings had the worst record in the NBA and the best chance of winning the lottery. Instead, they ended up with the worst-possible scenario, fourth.
Tyreke Evans managed to make that day seem not so bad with his Rookie of the Year campaign.
I didn't get the sense Maloof was crushed by the news today that the Kings would pick fifth. The theme might as well have been "In Geoff Petrie we Trust" today.
Maloof said he expected Petrie's "magic" to be on display with the selection. Even Donte' Greene, who was at the block party, chimed in.
"Geoff's a mastermind at the draft process," Greene said. "You've got to trust him and the organization and work hard and trust they'll brign somebody in that will help us and get us back to the playoffs."
I'll be in Chicago this week at the NBA Draft Combine. Right now there are a few players who are realistic possibilities:
DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kentucky
Wesley Johnson, F, Syracuse
Epke, Udoh, F, Baylor
Al-Farouq Aminu, F, Wake Forest
That's just the start of the short list of players I'll be looking to track down this week.
The Kings also have the 33rd overall pick in the draft. That's where I'd expect the Kings to address the need for another ballhandler.
"That's a good place to pick," Petrie said from Chicago of the 33rd pick. "When you get that far down in the draft sometimes there's not that much difference between the 25 and the 33rd player."
The Kings will begin player interviews tomorrow. Media availability for players begins Thursday, so expect updates on those interviews then.
--Jason Jones
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