The end of the first round of the NBA Draft was full of chaos, as there was a trade almost every selection. Toward the end of the round, the Sacramento Kings made a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers to get back into the first, acquiring the No. 29 pick for the No. 34 overall and a second-round pick in 2032.
The 29th pick ended up being Alex Karaban, the two-time NCAA champion from UConn.
The Cavs will have a chance to add a player to their roster early in the second round, and they were able to add another asset for 2032. For now, here are some trade grades for both teams.
Cavs create flexibility with trade
The Cavs are, of course, in win-now mode, and that means they’re in the second apron with the several major contracts they have on the roster. In an attempt to create some flexibility, the best thing they can do is keep moving around their assets, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they ended up trading the No. 34 pick.
The Cavs have some decisions coming up, as Donovan Mitchell is eligible for an extension, as well as James Harden.
Cavs trade grade: B-
Kings add forward depth
The Kings started off the draft by selecting Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 pick, and they were able to get Karaban at the end of the round. Karaban earned first-team All-Big East Conference honors this past season as a senior, averaging 13.2 points and 5.3 rebounds.
He’s a shooter that the Kings should like in the frontcourt, as he shot 37.4% from the 3-point line. There is some uncertainty on what the Kings’ roster could look like, as rumors recently came out that they may waive and stretch DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis could be on the trade block.
The best thing the King can do now is keep adding young talent, which is what they did on Day 1.
Kings trade grade: B
The post Cavs, Kings trade grades for 2026 NBA Draft deal involving Alex Karaban appeared first on ClutchPoints.
