2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 23: The NBA Playoffs are upon us

Draft status: In with an agent

This is the second of two top 10 picks for the Sacramento Kings and is the result of their trade with the New Orleans Pelicans centered around Demarcus Cousins. It only makes sense, then, that the Kings would draft another big man to go along with the plethora of them on their roster. In all seriousness, though, the next best prospects on the board are all bigs and Sacramento would likely be sacrificing the value of their asset by not taking one of them.

Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen is as good as it gets when it comes to 3-point shooting big men. The 7-footer made 42.3 percent of his 163 attempts this season while taking more than five 3s per 40 minutes and shooting 83.5 percent from the free throw line. He’s a versatile shooter, too, capable of hitting off the bounce or on the catch. Markkanen’s release is his and his motion is quick enough that he doesn’t need a ton of space to get the shot off. It’s a skill that should invert the floor, make it easier for guards to attack the paint and trouble opposing defenders who aren’t used to getting out to the 3-point line.

Markkanen will need to find some other ways to contribute to his team, though. He doesn’t really create anything for others on offense even when he puts the ball on the floor and he’s not good defensively. While he moves his feet pretty well, he struggles as a rim protector and doesn’t generate many steals. His offense is going to have to carry the day at least while he’s younger.
Learn more about Lauri Markkanen at The Step Back.