2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 11: Love and hate edition

What to love: Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen is a prized draft prospect because of his combination of size and shooting. As a 7-footer, Markkanen has made 46.5 percent of his 86 3-point attempts this season. His past performances in European competitions and his 82.5 free throw percentage suggest that his shooting is not just a flash in the pan. Markkanen’s ability to shoot in pick-and-pop situations and coming off of screens makes him a difficult matchup for opposing power forwards because of his mobility. The 19-year old is currently averaging an impressive, pace adjusted 22.4 points per 40 minutes as a college big man.

What to hate: Markkanen’s performance on the defensive end leaves a lot to be desired. Despite his size, he’s averaging just 0.6 blocks per 40 minutes. His seemingly average wingspan and lack of vertical explosiveness suggests that’s not a trait that will improve in the future. For Markkanen to stay on the court to close games, he’ll need to show that he can defend when put into pick-and-rolls. His lateral movement isn’t awful, but he’s often not engaged enough to be effective in these situations. Markkanen’s defense will be a point of emphasis for whichever team drafts him, but it’s his unique offensive skill set that makes him a lottery talent.

Learn more about Lauri Markkanen at The Step Back.