2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 26: The Timberwolves’ young core improves
By Chris Stone
Bam Adebayo
C, Kentucky
If the Los Angeles Lakers do snag UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball with their initial first round selection, then pairing him with an athletic big man adept at catching alley-oops seems like a good plan. Kentucky’s Bam Adebayo is that type of player and he could easily be available when the Lakers’ second first round pick rolls around.
Adebayo is a 6-foot-10 center with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and bouncy athleticism. He has a great frame and should physically be able to hold his own against NBA players in short order. Offensively, Adebayo is more of an energy guy at this stage in his development with most of his points coming out of the pick-and-roll or on the offensive glass. His post game and mid-range jumper have shown some promise, but certainly aren’t ready for an NBA debut.
Defensively, there’s some intriguing versatility to Adebayo’s game. He’s quick enough lateral to give a coach some options when deciding how to defend ball screens and he should at least provide some level of rim protection. However, Adebayo only averaged 2.0 blocks per 40 minutes this season, so don’t expect him to be an eraser around the basket.