NBA Draft Rumors: Sacramento Kings a Lock to Move No. 5 Pick

Besides the drama surrounding what the Charlotte Bobcats will do with the second overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, the Sacramento Kings' decision with the No. 5 selection is the next most pressing order of business.

In fact, according to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Kings are one of two teams most like to actually make a deal happen:

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Sacramento at No. 5 and Toronto at No. 8. Those are the picks still generating the most trade chatter on the eve of the NBA Draft

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 27, 2012"

The team appears to be waiting to see what happens with the first four selections, though. If Kansas power forward Thomas Robinson falls to that five-spot, the Kings will apparently hold on to the pick according to ESPN's Marc Stein and Chad Ford:

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Sources told ESPN.com the Kings plan to wait as long as possible before committing to the trade to see who falls to them at No. 5. It's believed that Sacramento will walk away from the trade if Kansas' Thomas Robinson is still available.

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That's really another way of saying they will indeed be moving the pick.

It's nearly impossible to imagine both UNC's Harrison Barnes and Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist going ahead of Robinson, and that's exactly what would have to happen given that Florida's Bradley Beal will almost certainly go second or third.

That means Robinson will likely join Beal and Kidd-Gilchrist among the top four picks.

The high-motor forward can score inside and outside, and he's an excellent rebounder. He averaged nearly 17.7 points in his junior year along with nearly 12 boards a game.

More importantly, he's a tough leader who could do wonders for the locker-room culture on a team like Charlotte, Cleveland or Washington.

In other words, there's a reason that he's the only reason the Kings would hold on to their pick.

And, it's the same reason they ultimately won't be doing so.

Stein and Ford believe "the Rockets have offered even more than the widely reported package of versatile but disgruntled guard Kyle Lowry and multiple picks later in Thursday's first round."

That would be good news for the Kings, who are still very much in rebuilding mode. The club is off to a promising start with the likes of big man DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans and the surprisingly effective Isaiah Thomas.

But, Sacramento was also the worst defensive team in the NBA last season.

Despite the young talent on this roster, general manager Geoff Petrie will no doubt be looking to add interior and perimeter defenders alike, and that could mean seeking veteran help or otherwise trading down in the draft to take less-heralded defenders like Kentucky's Terrence Jones or Vanderbilt's Jeff Taylor.

So yes, the Kings definitely have some options. Just don't count drafting Thomas Robinson among them.