Former Kings GM Vlade Divac on why he handed on drafting Luka Doncic, ‘I already had De’Aaron Fox’

All the time draft the most effective participant, no matter place, then determine the remainder later. All the time.

That brings us to Vlade Divac, the Corridor of Fame basketball participant who spent 5 years because the Sacramento Kings normal supervisor. As he has completed earlier than and must till his dying days, Divac defended his 2018 alternative of drafting Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic with the No. 2 decide (the Suns took Deandre Ayton No. 1 that 12 months). This time, Doncic did it to Croatian on-line newspaper Index (hat tip Hoopshype).

“At that place, I already had De’Aaron Fox, whom I had drafted a 12 months earlier. On the time, I believed Fox was a participant who may develop into a franchise star within the coming years. Time will inform if I used to be unsuitable. As issues stand now, it appears I used to be, however I nonetheless place confidence in Fox having an amazing profession.”

We should not diminish Fox, an All-NBA participant who has gained the Clutch Participant of the 12 months award, and averaged 26.6 factors and 5.6 assists a recreation final season. Nevertheless, he is no Doncic, a top-five participant within the league and a perennial MVP candidate. Why not play them subsequent to one another, like Doncic and Kyrie Irving do now, a combo that took the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals a season in the past?

“No. Irving is a traditional scorer, similar to Luka. Fox is not; he is a playmaker who wants the ball, similar to Luka. I may’ve taken Luka, however then I might have needed to commerce Fox. Curiously, Phoenix additionally handed on Luka, and on the time, their coach was Igor Kokoškov, who had coached Luka in Slovenia. Atlanta drafted Luka, however they traded him away. It was Dallas that ultimately took him. I like watching Luka; I actually take pleasure in his type of basketball. I had my very own causes for making that call. Possibly I made a mistake, however time will inform.”

Time has advised. Fox is an excellent participant, a top-10 level guard within the NBA proper now, however Doncic is on high of that checklist—a future Corridor of Famer.

Divac made clear that one in every of “my very own causes” for the decide was not a feud with Doncic’s father, a rumor he has shot down earlier than. Divac believed Bagley’s ceiling was larger than Doncic’s, and to be truthful on the time different scouts thought that as nicely (they did not anticipate the shift within the NBA away from conventional bigs). There was a phase of the scouting group that didn’t purchase in on Doncic pre-draft (and a phase that emphatically did).

Phoenix drafted Ayton No. 1 as a result of then proprietor Robert Sarver ordered it, believing within the conventional middle and that taking the Arizona standout and preserving him within the state was good for the field workplace, in keeping with league sources. Many groups had been excessive on Ayton on the time, whereas Doncic suffered from the outdated mindset of “Positive, he dominated the EuroLeague, however that is the NBA, and it will likely be completely different.” Atlanta was betting on Trae Younger in that commerce.

Which brings us again to the opening paragraph of this story: All the time draft the most effective participant, no matter place, then determine the remainder later.

For Kings followers, this can at all times sting. Divac’s determination will likely be remembered in the identical class because the Path Blazers drafting Sam Bowie in entrance of Michael Jordan as a result of Portland had Clyde Drexler and did not want a wing participant. Divac missed and the franchise continues to pay the worth.