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

In Houston, the plan seems relatively clear: give James Harden the keys to Mike D’Antoni’s offense and let him rev the engine to full speed. For Harden to be at his best, though, there have to be complimentary pieces that give him the space to work. That means spacing the floor with shooters to open up driving lanes on the offensive end. That’s where Valparaiso’s Alec Peters fits in.

The senior forward is one of the best shooters in college basketball. Over four seasons, he’s made 41.6 percent of his 664 attempts while hitting 2.7 3s per 40 minutes and shooting 85.0 percent from the free throw line. This season, Peters has experienced some slippage as he struggled to find his stroke during conference play, but he’s shooting 37.3 percent from deep since the start of the Horizon League schedule.

The biggest question is what else Peters can give an NBA team at the next level. He’s been an active defensive rebounder this season, but he’s doing it against lesser competition and doesn’t have athleticism that really stands out in the crowd. His usage rates and assist rates are up, which are intriguing. He won’t be asked to play a major role offensively in the NBA, but if he can move the ball and make the right decisions then that makes him a great complimentary piece. Peters will need to improve defensively, but in Houston his ability to knock down shots should minimize the concerns on that end.

Learn more about Alec Peters at The Step Back.