Jase Richardson Reportedly Linked to Suns, Kings As Possible NBA Draft Landing Spots
Michigan State guard Jase Richardson has been connected to the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings as potential landing spots with the first round of the NBA draft looming on Wednesday, per NBA insider Jake Fischer for the Stein Line newsletter.
"I believe there's a chance Richardson could be on the board at No. 29, where the Michigan State-laden Phoenix Suns would face the choice between drafting a talented guard from the school they are known to love and the Suns' well-chronicled interest in drafting a center," Fischer wrote. The Suns are notably led by governor Mat Ishbia, who once played for the Michigan State men's basketball team.
However, the Kings could also be in the mix, per Fischer.
"Many rival teams have slotted [Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr.] to Miami at No. 20 itself … while there is also no shortage of league insiders who think Clayton and Michigan State guard Jase Richardson are two of the targets for Sacramento in the event that the Kings — as we've been reporting since mid-June — succeed in their long-running quest to acquire a first-round pick in the 20s."
Richardson averaged 12.1 points on 49.3 percent shooting (41.2 percent from three), 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his lone season at Michigan State.
The 6'1", 178-pound Richardson ranks 10th overall on the final Bleacher Report big board via Jonathan Wasserman. He landed 25th to the Orlando Magic in Wasserman's final mock draft and got a pro comparisons to Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey and Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard.
"Jase Richardson's 6'0.5" barefoot measurements could scare a few teams, particularly since his skill set is better suited for a 2-guard rather than a point guard," Wasserman wrote in his big board article.
"However, his shooting, touch, finishing and decision-making may all be sharp enough for Richardson to get by and still thrive while undersized."
Richardson garnered third-team All-Big Ten accolades and made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team as well.
The Suns and Kings make sense as potential landing spots.
In Phoenix, Richardson would come off the bench on a team that currently has a glut of guards (e.g. Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Bradley Beal, the latter of whom came off the bench to end last year).
The Suns certainly need more depth at all positions as they embark on the post-Kevin Durant era, and Richardson can help in that endeavor. Phoenix is also a rebuilding team after the Booker-KD-Beal experiment fell through, so adding young and talented players with potentially high ceilings (even if Richardson is a bit undersized) would be a wise move.
In Sacramento, the Kings are trying to figure out their own identity after trading away De'Aaron Fox last season. They notably got Zach LaVine and three first-round picks in that deal. Sacramento has a solid core of four veterans to lead the way in LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk.
However, last season did not end well for the Kings, who finished 40-42 and lost 120-106 to the Dallas Mavericks in the opening game of the play-in tournament. Sacramento needs to add as much young talent as possible, preferably in the backcourt, in order to become a playoff contender once again. A team that once had both Fox and Tyrese Haliburton could use some guards, and Richardson may at least help to fill that portion of the depth chart.
