Sports Illustrated: Raynaud proves No.42 pick can deliver starter value

Sports Illustrated’s Sacramento coverage is making a simple draft case: the Kings should not treat No. 45 as a throwaway after Maxime Raynaud turned No. 42 into a rotation win. (si.com) (nba.com) Raynaud was the 42nd pick in the 2025 draft, selected out of Stanford after Sacramento entered the night without a guaranteed first-round cornerstone. The Kings’ official release listed him at 7-foot and 237 pounds and noted he averaged 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds in his final college season. (nba.com) By the end of his rookie year, Raynaud had averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists across 74 games for a Kings team that finished 22-60. Basketball-Reference lists Sacramento 14th in the Western Conference, with a minus-10.0 net rating. (statmuse.com) (basketball-reference.com) Sports Illustrated’s argument leans on how quickly Raynaud moved from limited minutes into a bigger role when Domantas Sabonis was sidelined. In a December piece, the outlet said Raynaud averaged 15.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 42.9% from three over a five-game stretch that included two starts. (si.com) That matters for Sacramento’s 2026 draft because the Kings are heading into the May 10 lottery after losing a tiebreaker with Utah for draft position. The NBA said that drawing set Sacramento behind the Jazz in the lottery order before the top four picks are determined. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) The second round is scheduled for June 24, and Sports Illustrated’s point is that Sacramento still has a live chance to add a useful player even if the premium picks are gone. The Kings’ recent history gives them one in-house example of that path working fast. (nba.com) (si.com) Raynaud was not drafted as a finished starter. NBC Sports Bay Area described him on draft night as a skilled 7-footer with shooting touch and rebounding, traits that could speed up his path to an NBA role. (nbcsportsbayarea.com) The Kings now have a 2025 second-rounder who became a regular contributor and a 2026 second-rounder at No. 45 to use on June 24. For a team coming off 60 losses, that is the kind of pick Sacramento’s own recent results say it cannot afford to waste. (nba.com) (statmuse.com)