On May 15, 2018, the Kings were given the 2018 NBA draft second pick via the lottery, their highest first round pick since the 1989 NBA draft,[1] and selected Duke University's Marvin Bagley III.
The Kings entered draft night with two selections, the first of which had them rise up from tying the Chicago Bulls with the sixth-worst record of the draft the previous season turned into having the #2 pick of the draft and the second pick resulting in them having the higher of second-round picks after losing the first-round tiebreaker to the Bulls.
With the second pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, Sacramento selected early freshman power forward Marvin Bagley III from Duke University.
Marvin was one of the few top competitors entering the draft this year, and even though he was first projected to be a senior at Sierra Canyon High School earlier in the previous season, he jumped up into the collegiate rankings early to play a single season at Duke.
As for their second-round selection at #37 (which became Gary Trent Jr. from Duke University), it was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for two future second round picks and cash considerations.