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

By Chris Stone

Feb 9, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 16, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) celebrates during the first half of the game against the Nevada Wolf Pack in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) celebrates during the first half of the game against the Nevada Wolf Pack in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports /
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Monte Morris

PG, Iowa State

Draft status: Automatically eligible as a senior

As we noted earlier, the Brooklyn Nets are in the midst of a difficult rebuilding process, but snagging a high-level backup point guard who might eventually develop into a steady handed starter shouldn’t hurt. Iowa State’s Monte Morris is about as safe as it gets given that he led the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio in three of his four college seasons.

Morris is a terrific game general who controls the pace, facilitates often and can get his team a bucket when they really need it. As a senior, he averaged 18.6 points, 7.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds per 40 minutes on a 55.5 true shooting percentage. Morris is an excellent passer in both transition and the half court, but most important he protects the ball. In his four year career, he averaged just 1.4 turnovers per 40 minutes. Morris is also a very capable 3-point shooter who made 38.1 percent of his 399 collegiate attempts. If an NBA coaching staff can steer him away from the mid-range, he should develop into a more efficient scorer.

Defensively, Morris is more of a question mark. Although he averaged 1.9 steals per 40 minutes in college, he doesn’t have elite athleticism or quickness and struggles to stay in front of faster opponents.