The ill-fated decision to not draft Luka Doncic with the second pick of the 2018 NBA Draft is something that has haunted the Sacramento Kings for the last few years. Watching the Dallas Mavericks head into their third consecutive playoffs while the Kings just ended year 16 of a playoff drought has to sting.
However, the pick was clear to many even at the time. There have been many theories as to why the Slovenian wasn’t selected by the Kings, with the most widely accepted one being that Vlade Divac didn’t get along with Luka’s father and as a result, advised the Kings against selecting Doncic.
However, it seems the decision was something that was made by the top brass. Vivek Ranadive, the owner of the Sacramento Kings believed Bagley to be a better fit for the Kings as compared to Doncic, who was another guard the Kings would have had to add around De’Aaron Fox.
'Basketball Hell': Former Sacramento Kings basketball operations insider reveals how Vivek Ranadive created 'toxic' conditions while turning team into NBA's biggest losers. My story ⬇️https://t.co/gqfLM59vjD
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) April 10, 2022
The information revealed by the Sacramento Bee is pretty damning in their piece, where they also discuss the Kings missing out on a trade for Jordan Clarkson, who was then on the Cleveland Cavaliers and would be traded to the Utah Jazz.
In terms of Doncic and Bagley, the Kings should rue missing out on picking a star like Doncic. Considering the three-guard lineup the Mavericks are playing with right now, surely someone could have figured out a way to make sure Fox and Doncic co-existed together.
Bagley’s tenure with the Kings was short and fraught with tensions from the start. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons this season and is hoping to have a career revival there. Meanwhile, Doncic is closing in on a third consecutive All-NBA First Team appearance as well as leading his team to homecourt advantage in the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
