2021 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: How the picks should fall
. C. Sacramento Kings. Alperen Sengun. 9. player. 84
2021 NBA Mock Draft — 9. Alperen Sengun, Sacramento Kings
The Kings need good players. The leap to contention feels inevitable, even if the path there is somewhat obscured. De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton are too good to keep losing, so the Kings should target an immediate contributor. Alperen Sengun fits the bill, and at a position of need.
Sengun won Turkish League MVP at 18 years old. He’s a highly skilled offensive player, with the potential to run sets from the elbow and distribute the ball as a center. His high basketball I.Q., combined with an advanced post game and feather-soft touch, should give Sacramento confidence in his offense, even if his jumper needs considerable recalibration.
On defense, Sengun can move his feet well. He’s may not switch onto point guards freely, but he can navigate different forms of drop coverage, and his 240-pound frame gives him enough physicality to deter shots at the rim. Add in his elite rebounding potential, and there’s a lot to like about the young Turk.