Sixers Engaged Kings Over Eighth Pick?

With the tenth overall pick, five second rounders, and a disgruntled power forward in Thaddeus Young, the Sixers looked prime to make some moves higher into the draft lottery. Yet the third pick came and went with no movement, and eventually the Sixers drafted Elfrid Payton at 10 for Orlando in exchange for Dario Saric, among other things. Once the dust cleared, it turned out Philadelphia did indeed make a play for the Sacramento Kings eighth overall pick, albeit not an incredibly strong one.

In the second part of a Grantland documentary short following the Sacramento Kings front office, Kings owner Vivek Ranadive announced Philadelphia had offered the tenth overall pick, as well as two second rounders (which picks are unknown) for pick number eight. This came after the Kings apparently tried to make a play for the third overall pick in which they would have seemingly taken Joel Embiid. The Sixers would keep their pick and take Joel Embiid, and Sacramento would stand pat and select Michigan's Nik Stuaskas.

Frankly, I'm pretty glad things worked out the way they did. Liberty Ballers had received word that Noah Vonleh would have been the target at ten, so it's safe to say a move up to eight would have been for him. I've always been a big Vonleh fan, and he would have fit in perfectly well next to Nerlens Noel, Embiid, Matt Geiger, whomever. But being able to stay at ten and get their 2017 1st round pick back, a 2015 2nd rounder, and Dario Saric (who they would have selected at ten if not for the Orlando deal) likely far exceeds anything Vonleh would have done here.

Not to mention, there was not a whole lot of motivation for Sacramento to accept this deal. Second rounders don't really hold too much weight value wise, and there's a good chance they could have missed out on Stauskas at ten. Charlotte would end up taking Vonleh on draft night, but under this hypothetical deal he would have already been on the board at eight, and the Hornets could have very easily taken the Michigan product  at nine. The Kings would've been left with their asses out at ten, and all they go out of it would have been some measly second rounders.

Throwing Thaddeus Young in that deal probably doesn't help facilitate things either, because they have a lesser version of him in Derrick Williams, and his contract is still a turnoff. What they opt to do with him this year will be an interesting storyline, as it's been made clear he plans to opt out after the 2014-15 season.

Regardless, a non-deal between Philadelphia and Sacramento ended up working out really well for both sides.