Draft talk: Zuby as value pick
Fans are pushing the Kings to use one of their two second-round picks on Zuby Ejiofor as a potential value steal in the draft (x.com). Season-long injury issues have also thrust younger players into bigger roles, which is driving the draft chatter about roster upgrades and upside picks (x.com).
St. John’s senior Zuby Ejiofor is averaging 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting roughly 54–55% this season, according to his ESPN profile. (espn.com) Ejiofor was named a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year this week and is a multi-year All‑Big East honoree for St. John’s, per the NY Daily News and St. John’s athletics records. (nydailynews.com) (redstormsports.com) Scouting services describe him as a 6‑9 forward with physical strength, finishing ability, offensive rebounding and pick‑and‑roll growth, and note a long wingspan and mobility that project him as a frontcourt depth piece at the next level, according to NBA.com and Sports Illustrated draft profiles. (nba.com) (si.com) Sacramento enters draft season with two second‑round selections in 2026 — its own pick plus an acquired Charlotte second‑rounder with protections — per RealGM’s future draft‑picks tracker. (basketball.realgm.com) The Kings’ 2025‑26 campaign has been marred by long‑term absences: Domantas Sabonis underwent season‑ending knee surgery, Zach LaVine required season‑ending hand surgery, Keegan Murray has missed large chunks of the year with recurring injuries, and Russell Westbrook has been on the shelf with a foot issue, according to ESPN and Sports Illustrated injury reports. (espn.com) (si.com) Those absences have expanded roles for young players: rookie Nique Clifford has logged meaningful minutes and praise from local coverage, Devin Carter has been thrust into high‑leverage lineups and delivered breakout scoring bursts, and Maxime Raynaud has earned rotation work, as reported by NBC Sports Bay Area, Sactown Sports and MSN. (nbcsportsbayarea.com) (sactownsports.com) (msn.com) The NBA has set the draft‑process calendar around a May 10 lottery and a May 8–17 G League/Draft Combine window, giving teams with second‑round capital a defined evaluation stretch before the June draft period, per the NBA’s draft page. (nba.com)
