More photos » Ed Reinke - AP

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I've bleated on about how the extended Kings swoon is neither surprising nor depressing to me. I realize I'm not everyone, though, and it's understandable a significant subset of Sacramento's diehard fans would be perturbed by the latest machinations of failure.

For you, my friends in the bleak, a silver lining: the Kings are currently in line to have the league's fourth-worst record, which comes with it a better chance at the No. 1 pick, and an assuredly higher pick either way.

We know from fresh experience that the No. 4 pick (even in shallow drafts) can turn out juuuuuust fine. Even more, we know that having the league's worst record doesn't ensure the top pick, or even a top-3 pick, and as such there's a great chance for the league's fourth worst team to leap up into the top three. (The team with the fourth-worst record has an 11.9 percent probability of grabbing the No. 1 pick, a 12.6 percent probability of grabbing the No. 2 pick and a 13.3 percent probability of grabbing No. 3. That's a 37.8 percent probability of leaping up into the top three on lottery day.)

We expect Geoff Petrie to make magic anywhere he picks. But obviously, the magic is greater in density at the top.

This also serves to remove some likelihood this particular asset -- the draft pick -- will be in play as we approach the deadline. Trading what could be a 1-in-8 shot at John Wall for anything less than a full-fledged star would be unconscionable (unless, of course, the pick is protected).

More photos » MOTI MILROD - AP

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Eran Soroka of Ma'ariv attended Omri Casspi's press conference this morning in Tel Aviv. He passed along a great dispatch, which you can read after the jump ... along with a couple other treats.

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Israelis love basketball. Gross generalizations are often, well, gross. But I feel comfortable in this blanket statement: Israelis love basketball. Israel is a basketball country.

The Kings made Omri Casspi the No. 23 pick in the NBA Draft at about 6 AM local time in Israel. By 7 AM Israel time, I had received an email from Eran Soroka of the Ma'ariv Sports Newspaper. We discussed Omri's NBA chances, and Eran -- who said he has covered Casspi for several years -- offered this assessment.

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To be a fan of the Sacramento Kings is to endure anguish, confusion, and disappointment. 

On April 13th, 2009, my girlfriend had purchased lower-level tickets for me to see the Sacramento Kings visiting the Denver Nuggets.  It was an amazing early birthday present.  A couple hours before we left for the game, we found out she was pregnant.

Finding out you're going to be a father is a lot like being a fan of the Kings during the NBA Draft.  At first there is a sense of not understanding what has just happened.  Then comes fear.  At a certain point you accept what has happened.  And then you get excited at the idea of it all.

I'm ecstatic to become a father.  But I've struggled with one very important question: Do I want my child to be a Kings fan?

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Like many Kings fans, the selection of Jon "Kent" Brockman at No. 38 was a surprise, and initially a disappointment. I mean, DeJuan Freaking Blair went off the board one pick earlier! I feel safe in saying that had the Kings passed on Brockman for someone like Patrick Mills, Derrick Brown, Danny Green or Nick Calathes, the husky Husky may have gone undrafted.

But just looking at Brockman's body and his draft stock ignores what he could really offer the team.

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More photos » Elise Amendola - AP

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How far will DeJuan Blair fall?

More photos » ARIEL SCHALIT - AP

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Omri Casspi became the first Israeli to be chosen in the first round of the NBA Draft at Pick No. 23. Casspi reportedly had a great workout in Sacramento a few weeks back. Donté Greene watched the audition, and noted that Casspi was "tough." And that's reputation he's built: he reportedly drew blood on Austin Daye at a workout in New Jersey.

The Kings left rebounding beast DeJuan Blair on the board. In fairness, everyone has left Blair on the board. I guess the MRIs which have been circulating were seriously bad.

New thread coming up for the second round.