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2015 NBA Draft: 5 Players the Sacramento Kings Should Target

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5 Players the Sacramento Kings Should Target in NBA Draft

Kentucky
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The Sacramento Kings appeared to be in contention for a playoff seed to begin the season, but several injuries and two coaching changes later, the franchise is again in the lottery. On the bright side, Sacramento has performed increasingly well under George Karl, so scoring a home run in the NBA Draft could be the recipe for success. With the framework in place, Karl will add the necessary pieces to become successful.

5. Justise Winslow

Duke
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5. Justise Winslow

Duke
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Duke's Justise Winslow has been a beast this season, playing alongside Kahlil Okafor. His chiseled 6-foot-8 frame will translate perfectly into the NBA. Both he and Rudy Gay are natural small forwards, so Winslow would serve as the catalyst to the bench unit, which again could use a facelift. Coach Karl does enjoy an uptempo game, though, and a lineup with Gay at power forward and Winslow on the wing would be deadly.

4. Kevon Looney

UCLA
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4. Kevon Looney

UCLA
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The Kings' priority should be to bolster the defensive unit this offseason. With that said, UCLA product Kevon Looney is a viable solution to insert into the power forward slot, either in the starting unit or off the bench. He won't exactly light up the scoreboard, but he is a tremendous rebounder with the potential to evolve into a stretch four, which would complement DeMarcus Cousins' game extremely well.

3. Stanley Johnson

Arizona
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3. Stanley Johnson

Arizona
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An Arizona standout, Stanley Johnson is oft compared to a beastly Ron Artest in his prime because of his unprecedented defensive instincts and abilities. Defensive stoppers are quite rare in the college scene because numbers attract scouts. Although Johnson has put up a solid 14.2 points per game, NBA teams are salivating at the opportunity to acquire potentially the generation's best wing defender.

2. Myles Turner

Texas
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2. Myles Turner

Texas
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A legitimate power forward is seldom discovered in today's NBA due to the emergence of the stretch-four. Myles Turner has drawn comparisons to LaMarcus Aldridge, in that he possesses an incredible face-up game, in addition to strong defensive play. Standing at 6-foot-11, a Cousins-Turner tandem would undoubtedly terrify opponents if he reaches his full potential.

1. Willie Cauley-Stein

Kentucky
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1. Willie Cauley-Stein

Kentucky
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Yes, Willie Cauley-Stein is an established center who would interfere with Cousins. Because of the maturity and growth Cauley-Stein has exhibited during his tenure at Kentucky, though, he would make a concerted effort to coexist with Cousins in the paint. Cousins' improvement on the defensive end is well-documented, but an extra rim protector/shot blocker would make it nearly impossible to score in the paint against Sacramento.

Joseph Crevier is a writer for RantSports. Like him on Facebook.
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