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NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 10: Markelle Fultz lands in Boston

By Chris Stone

Dec 11, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) calls a play against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Nevada defeated Washington, 87-85. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) calls a play against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Nevada defeated Washington, 87-85. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) drives to the basket against Oregon State Beavers guard Daine Muller (22) in the second half at Gill Coliseum. The Bruins won 76-63. Mandatory Credit: Scobel Wiggins-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) drives to the basket against Oregon State Beavers guard Daine Muller (22) in the second half at Gill Coliseum. The Bruins won 76-63. Mandatory Credit: Scobel Wiggins-USA TODAY Sports /
as the primary ballhandler or maybe even more dangerously once defenses are moving and he receives the ball along the perimeter. The freshman is also a quality outside shooting. He’s knocked down 43.4 percent of his 88 3-point attempts this season. By allowing Simmons to handle the ball more often, Ball will also be put in more catch-and-shoot situations where he excels rather than being forced to shoot off the bounce with his awkward mechanics.

Defensively, there are some questions about Ball’s ability to keep up with more athletic opponents, but he’s produced nice box score numbers at UCLA. The 19-year old is posting steal and block rates above 2.0 percent.

This pick comes to Philadelphia via the Los Angeles Lakers as a result of the 2015 trade involving Michael Carter-Williams.

Learn more about Lonzo Ball at The Step Back.

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Lonzo Ball

PG, UCLA

With center Joel Embiid looking like a future All-Star, the Philadelphia 76ers are finally reaping the rewards of Sam Hinkie’s “Process” as the former general manager watches from afar. Despite Embiid’s superstar potential, much of how the Sixers fill out their roster will depend on another young prospect. With head coach Brett Brown announcing his intentions to use 2016 number one pick Ben Simmons as the team’s point guard, Philadelphia needs to build around the fact that Simmons will be handling the ball frequently. That means finding an actual point guard who can play off the ball, shoot to space the floor and defend opposing lead guards.

UCLA’s Lonzo Ball definitely offers the first two. Ball has played both on and off the ball for the Bruins this year. He has the best court vision of any prospect in the draft, which he can use attacking as the primary ballhandler or maybe even more dangerously once defenses are moving and he receives the ball along the perimeter. The freshman is also a quality outside shooting. He’s knocked down 43.4 percent of his 88 3-point attempts this season. By allowing Simmons to handle the ball more often, Ball will also be put in more catch-and-shoot situations where he excels rather than being forced to shoot off the bounce with his awkward mechanics.

Defensively, there are some questions about Ball’s ability to keep up with more athletic opponents, but he’s produced nice box score numbers at UCLA. The 19-year old is posting steal and block rates above 2.0 percent.

This pick comes to Philadelphia via the Los Angeles Lakers as a result of the 2015 trade involving Michael Carter-Williams.

Learn more about Lonzo Ball at The Step Back.