NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 17: Portland uses three first round picks

Syracuse’s Tyler Lydon would be a perfect fit as a small ball power forward in between George and budding young center Myles Turner. Lydon has been a low usage offensive player at Syracuse, but he’s an effective 3-point shooter with the ability to attack in straight lines. Over two seasons, he’s made 40.6 percent of his 234 3-point attempts while shooting 80.4 percent from the foul line. Lydon isn’t an offensive creator, but he should slide into a system nicely.

On defense, there’s a lot of potential for Lydon who has spent most of his college career playing in the Orange’s 2-3 zone defense. At 6-foot-9, he has been an effective rim protector for the team, averaging 2.0 blocks per 40 minutes on a 5.7 percent block rate. He’s athletic enough to get down in a stance and move laterally as well.

Lydon projects as a 3-and-D combo forward. He would obviously benefit from having George around, but can fit alongside Turner to help the Pacers build for the future should George decide to head west.

17

Tyler Lydon

SF/PF, Syracuse

The Indiana Pacers stood pat at the trade deadline despite reported rumors that small forward Paul George plans to join the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. While it sounds like those talks may reopen this summer, the Pacers are in the awkward spot of having to build their team without the commitment of their star player.

Syracuse’s Tyler Lydon would be a perfect fit as a small ball power forward in between George and budding young center Myles Turner. Lydon has been a low usage offensive player at Syracuse, but he’s an effective 3-point shooter with the ability to attack in straight lines. Over two seasons, he’s made 40.6 percent of his 234 3-point attempts while shooting 80.4 percent from the foul line. Lydon isn’t an offensive creator, but he should slide into a system nicely.

On defense, there’s a lot of potential for Lydon who has spent most of his college career playing in the Orange’s 2-3 zone defense. At 6-foot-9, he has been an effective rim protector for the team, averaging 2.0 blocks per 40 minutes on a 5.7 percent block rate. He’s athletic enough to get down in a stance and move laterally as well.

Lydon projects as a 3-and-D combo forward. He would obviously benefit from having George around, but can fit alongside Turner to help the Pacers build for the future should George decide to head west.