2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 21: Malik Monk to the Sixers

Like Lauri Markkanen to the Detroit Pistons at No. 11, this is another odd spot where the best player available is a big man for a team that already has a good one. Jusuf Nurkic has experienced a bit of a resurgence after being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, but snagging Gonzaga’s Zach Collins and figuring things out later is probably the best play for the franchise here.

Collins, one of the few first round prospects playing in the Final Four, has been super productive for the Bulldogs as a freshman. He’s averaging 23.1 points, 13.1 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per 40 minutes while shooting 65.4 percent from the field this season. Collins’ game is well-suited to the modern NBA game. He’s a fluid athlete who excels in pick-and-roll situations. His developing jump shot should allow him to be more effective in pick-and-pop situations as well. Collins also has enough of a post game to attack switches when he gets smaller players on him.

With Robert Williams headed back to school, Collins is one of the top rim protectors in the 2017 class. He has good length and a nice understanding of verticality. Collins is also capable of switching onto smaller players on the perimeter for stretches, opening up additional options for defending ball screen actions.