NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 10: Dennis Smith Jr. to the Sixers

Last season, the Phoenix Suns invested a pair of draft picks in selecting high upside frontcourt prospects. This time around, the Suns have an opportunity with the fifth pick to shore up a need at the wing spot.

Duke’s Jayson Tatum is ranked on some boards as the top wing prospect in the class. His penchant for scoring, particularly in isolation, is attractive in a world where it’s often necessary to have a player capable of getting his own shot late in the game. Tatum likes to operate out of the mid-post where he’s capable of shooting a jumper or driving to the hoop. That doesn’t necessarily lend itself to efficient scoring, though. Tatum’s made just 36.8 percent of his 2-point jumpers this season, per Hoop-Math. On the plus side, his mid-range game and high free throw percentage (86.4) makes it likely that he’ll develop into a viable 3-point shooter at the next level.

One area where Tatum has also been impressive is on the defensive end where he does a great job creating events. Tatum has been a solid weakside rim protector this season and has also been able to use his length to blow up passing lanes. Assuming those translate, he should be a valuable piece on defense.

Learn more about Jayson Tatum at The Step Back.