Pistons smart to draft Ivey, but Kings not dumb to pass

The Sacramento Kings have been roasted for not taking Jaden Ivey in the NBA draft. However, if you put yourself in their shoes, it was the right thing to do. But the Detroit Pistons also were smart to snap him up on the next pick.

The Sacramento Kings penchant for making, um, not the best choices on NBA Draft night are well documented. The ‘Kaingz’ seem to continually shoot themselves in the foot, a major reason it has been 16 years since they have made the NBA playoffs (not exactly a high bar to achieve either).

Once again, the Kings are getting heavily criticized for their selection in the draft. Picking at No. 4, Sacramento took Iowa forward Keegan Murray instead of the consensus fourth-best player, Purdue guard Jaden Ivey.

Here is The Sporting News on the Kings pick:

"The 2022 NBA Draft was full of surprises. But few shocked as many fans as when the Sacramento Kings selected Iowa forward Keegan Murray over Purdue guard Jaden Ivey."

Now, the people running the Kings basketball operations currently are not the same ones who made those head-scratching draft picks of the past. But there is obviously guilt by association. When it comes to the Kings, a wrong draft decision is kind of expected.

However, when you look at it, the Sacramento Kings made the 100-percent right decision for them in drafting Murray. On the other side, the Detroit Pistons made the 100-percent correct decision to take Ivey.

3 reasons Sacramento Kings were right not to take Jaden Ivey at No. 4

No. 1: He did not want to go there.

What if you were a guy who wanted to ask a pretty girl to the prom but you knew she can’t stand you. But your mom was friends with her mom, and you know she could force her to go out with you.

Would you want to be at a major event like a prom with a girl who thinks you have cooties? That was the position Sacramento was in with Jaden Ivey.

Outside of TP’ing Kings owner Vivek Ranadive’s house, Ivey had made it crystal clear he did not want to go there.

Here is a headline from the Sacramento Bee, the largest newspaper in the Kings area:

"Top prospect Jaden Ivey says Sacramento Kings ‘wouldn’t be worst option’ in NBA draft"

That lukewarm statement does not exactly fill Kings fans, or management, with great desire to pick him.

To be fair, Ivey pretty much had his eyes focused on Detroit. The only teams he agreed to  work out for pre-draft were the Pistons and the Orlando Magic, who held the No. 1 pick (as every player wants to be the first pick).

Houston (No. 3) and Oklahoma City (No. 2), in addition to Sacramento, also did not get to work out Ivey, and there was some buzz the Rockets were thinking of taking him.

Yes, the Kings could have drafted Ivey, this was not a Kobe Bryant situation where he was threatening to sit out the season if they took him. He would have put the Kings hat on and taken his picture with commissioner Adam Silver.

But, you know, in his heart, Ivey would not want to be there. That feeling could change in the coming years, but rookie contracts only last 4-5 years. There is a better chance Ivey would say ‘Adios’ compared to a player happy at the start to be drafted by them.