Kings select Nik Stauskas with the No. 8 pick in 2014 NBA Draft
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The Sacramento Kings selected Michigan guard Nik Stauskas with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday night.
"Just a shooter." That's the description Stauskas was working to shed in the pre-draft process, and his perch at No. 8 confirms that he succeeded to some degree. While his anywhere-in-the-gym range is the primary trait teams were likely salivating over, the Canadian has flashed an ability to get to the hoop for additional scoring.
The question now becomes whether Stauskas can transition to the point, where his handle should play but a lateral quickness deficiency could cause a problem on defense. It's also unclear how good a distributor he could become after averaging 3.3 assists for the Wolverines as a sophomore.
Regardless of the defense and position questions, when your profile includes "best shooter in this deep draft," you're going to find a role in the NBA.
Drafting Stauskas gives the Kings something they've sorely lacked - perimeter shooting. Although it's somewhat surprising to see Stauskas drafted so high, it fits the Kings' backcourt perfectly. His dead-eye three-point shooting will help carve out room for center DeMarcus Cousins to operate in the paint.
Also, in not drafting a point guard, it paves the way for the Kings to bring back restricted free-agent point guard Isaiah Thomas. The pair will form a formidable backcourt, with enough shooting and ball-handling to compliment the Kings' frontcourt.