The curtain came up early today in Sacramento, allowing the media an extended look at Wisconsin power forward Frank Kaminsky and a group of NBA hopefuls. Askia Booker, T.J. McConnell and Brad Winslow joined Kaminsky for some two-on-two action before breaking into smaller groups for shooting drills.
All of the Kings brass were in attendance, including Mike Bratz, Dean Oliver, George Karl, advanced scout George McCoud and Vlade Divac. Divac fielded questions after the workout as the Kings wrapped up their pre-draft calendar.
“It’s hard to move up,” Divac said of the team’s current draft position. “If we don’t stay at number six – I would like to stay at number six, but if we got something good there talent(-wise) we might go down, but for right now, we’re going to stay at six.”
With the draft just three days away, the Kings are fielding calls all day long and according to Divac, there is hope they will make a minor move before the draft kicks off on Thursday night. What is known is that the 7-foot Serb will be the one making the ultimate decision.
“I hope it’s only going to be my voice, but not loud, just say who we pick, that’s all,” Divac said with a chuckle. When he was pressed as to whose call it would be, Divac confirmed it is his pick to make.
Divac continues to maintain that the Kings may make a move before the draft that will provide clarity on what the team’s needs are. And despite published reports that big man Willie Cauley-Stein is struggling with a lower leg issue, the Kings are likely still interested in the Kentucky product.
“NBA’s a tough sport,” Divac said of Cauley-Stein. “Injuries are part of the game. I don’t see any big issue there.”
Frank Kaminsky
- Age: 22
- Position: Power Forward
- College: Wisconsin
- Height: 7′-1″
- Weight: 231 lbs
- Draft Express’ Top 100 Ranking: 9
- Quick Breakdown: An offensive-minded big with post moves and a sweet perimeter stroke.
Analysis: Kaminsky comes into the draft as polished a prospect as any. After four years at Wisconsin and an NCAA player of the year trophy, he is confident in who he is as a player. He was also clear that he still had room for growth.
“I think there’s things I can keep adding,” the 7-foot-1 big man said. “I hear a lot of people trying to tell me I’ve tapped my potential, and that’s just not true. I know I have so much left in me and I’m going to continue to improve as much as I can.”
Slated to play the power forward position at the next level, Kaminsky clearly needs to add strength if he hopes to play major minutes in the post. He struggled on both ends of the floor with 6-foot-10, 287-pound St. Mary’s product Brad Barlow during the scrimmage portion of the workout.
While he can drag players out of position and bomb over the top of them, he is going to have a difficult time defending and rebounding against stronger bigs and more athletic bigs. The confident 22-year-old didn’t see his strength issue as a major problem.
“At the end of the day, they’re going to have to guard me too, and that’s something I think about,” Kaminsky said.
The Badger big man doesn’t see himself as a typical stretch four, nor does he like that specific term.
“I like face-up four better, it kind of opens the door up to people thinking you can’t do anything but stretch the floor and I know I can do more than that,” he said.
He has 3-point range, but also a knack for scoring in the post, much like Divac did as a player. He can also pass and has an extremely high basketball IQ.
“Obviously I know can shoot the ball, I can bring that to the table,” Kaminsky said. “I’m not afraid to shoot the ball at any point. I can play inside, I can play outside, so it’s just how the team wants to utilize me or they see me fitting in. I’m going to take on that role and do it to the best of my abilities.”
The Kings are wide open at No. 6. They can go in a variety of different directions, including adding a player like Kaminsky who would really open up things for Cousins in the middle.
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