NBA: Predicting the 2019 draft lottery teams

SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy dribbles during a game against Mater Dei High School during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy dribbles during a game against Mater Dei High School during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: Marvin Bagley III poses after being drafted second overall by the Sacramento Kings during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: Marvin Bagley III poses after being drafted second overall by the Sacramento Kings during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

2. Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings had a strange season last year. After appearing to be going young with the DeMarcus Cousins trade, they did a 180 and signed several veterans. Vince Carter, Zach Randolph, and George Hill all joined the roster last offseason. Carter and Randolph weren’t expected to get heavy minutes but Randolph ended up leading the entire team in points.

Hill signing off a career year in Utah was an odd decision considering they had just drafted a promising young point guard from Kentucky in DeAaron Fox. The $20 million per year price tag assured he would be starting over the newly drafted Fox. That’s exactly what he did until the trade deadline when the Kings did eventually dump Hills contract to Cleveland in their effort to retool around LeBron James.

Carter is unlikely to return for what would be his 21st NBA season and 42nd year of life. Garrett Temple has been shipped to Memphis in return for Deyonta Davis and former Kings draft pick Ben McLemore. Randolph will cede the majority of his minutes to the 2nd overall pick Marvin Bagley III.

The Kings are finally committed to going young. They have a core in place that could end up being special, but for now, they will lose a lot of games.