NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 14: Markelle Fultz is still no. 1

Denver center Nikola Jokic is quickly forcing himself into the best young center conversation alongside Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis. However, the Nuggets still need to add a defensive piece to pair with Jokic who can protect the rim because the second year player has posted a block rate of just 2.4 percent in his career so far.

Texas A&M’s Robert Williams would be a nice fit next to Jokic at the power forward spot. For starters, he’s the best rim protector in the 2017 draft class. As a freshman, he’s blocked 4.1 shots per 40 minutes for the Aggies while posting an 11.2 percent block rate. He has excellent length (7-foot-4 wingspan) and athleticism that allows him to challenge a significant number of shots on the interior. Having a player who can defend the rim — the place where all shots must eventually make it too — is still vitally important and it’s Williams’ best skill.

Williams is also a developing offensive piece who still gets most of his baskets on offensive boards, as a roll man or via dump-offs. That’s still been enough for him to average 18.8 points per 40 minutes this season. He’s shown some interesting promise from the mid-range and has attempted nine 3-pointers, although he’s yet to make one.

For Denver, pairing Williams with Jokic would create one of the more promising young frontcourts in the NBA.