Projecting Keegan Murray and NBA Glue Guys

An unexpected top-4 draft pick might turn out to be the one that contributes the most and the best. Here is what Keegan Murray, newly of the Sacramento Kings, can turn into, as well as the rise of NBA-level 'glue guys'.

XAVIER MASCAREÑAS

Many were in shock by what the Sacramento Kings did on the night of the 2022 NBA Draft just two weeks ago, I was no exception either. After months Purdue star and Detroit Pistons rookie Jaden Ivey seemingly having the number four spot in the draft locked up, the Kings selected Keegan Murray. Before I continue though, doesn't this sound familiar? Only just last year were the Toronto Raptors in a similar position when they took Scottie Barnes at number four with Gonzaga star and Orlando Magic guard being the consensus best prospect after Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, and Evan Mobley. People were shocked, Barnes was receiving hate for no reason but he simply put on his famous smile and went straight to work. Look how that turned out. It did not take long for people to remember the name 'Scottie Barnes' as he absolutely shined in his first-ever NBA game and continued to shine throughout the regular season on his way to earning the Rookie of the Year award. Now I'm not saying Murray will definitely do the same, but there is some similarity to both of them.

This brings me to what I wanted to write about today. Keegan Murray, just like Scottie Barnes, is a big, tall, somewhat bulky, forward who is not particularly spectacular at any one area like Jabari Smith Jr in shooting, Chet Holmgren in shot-blocking, Jaden Ivey in transition offense. Rather, he is someone who simply does it all, and does it all very consistently well. Coming into the draft, many described Murray as possibly the most NBA-ready prospect and that is not just because of his older age (being one of the oldest in this year's draft), but also because of how polished his overall skill set is. He can shoot the ball, he has the size and skills to post up well, he can set up teammates to a certain extent, and he can even handle the rock to a certain extent. He just simply makes the right plays. While I was initially confused at this pick, I began to realise soon after watching some Summer League. As crazy as this statement sounds, I know it is only the Summer League but there is something great about his game that I believe translates well into the NBA and into this Kings' team. He has looked great almost every game, putting up big buckets, even clutch shots, and making plays for his team. Bringing the ball up the court seems to not be a problem for him either. Versatility will be a word that follows him in his career and these first few games have rightfully shown so.

This brings me to my next point. NBA glue guys. You heard the team describing several players, mostly bigger players who can play any position, and are known for the versatile, swiss-army-knife type skillset, or simply fulfilling any sort of role that their team currently lacks. These guys are just as important as the superstars and leaders of the team. As their name suggests, they hold the team together. We have seen the success of Scottie Barnes and more recently, NBA champion Andrew Wiggins, and how they impacted their teams in winning basketball. They might never be the superstars or the number-one option on their team but they are needed as much as anyone on the team. This is where the value of glue guys should be discussed. How much these guys should be paid is a real question. Are they worth max contracts like their superstar contemporaries? If they are someone like Andrew Wiggins who showed his value time and again when it mattered most, yes. Keep these guys on your team. While I do still prefer Jaden Ivey as a prospect, I now believe Keegan Murray has a lot to offer to the table. Call me crazy but we might be looking at a less athletic Andrew Wiggins or Pascal Siakam in a few years and even with his skillset right now in this rather revamped Kings team, we might be looking at a surprise team in the coming season.