2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 26: The Timberwolves’ young core improves
By Chris Stone
De'Aaron Fox
PG, Kentucky
Draft Status: In with an agent
With Derrick Rose looking like he’ll never return to the form that put him among the best players in the league, the time is now for the New York Knicks to land their point guard of the future. With a top 10 pick in hand and draft class loaded with lead guards, 2017 is the year. Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox has just about as much potential as any of the other options, but his downside risk is scary.
Much of Fox’s outcome will hinge on whether or not he can improve as a jump shooter as it is increasingly difficult to build rosters around point guards who can’t knock down at least a mid-range jumper. Fox is one of the worst shooting point guard prospects in recent memory, but his solid free throw shooting and floater game offer some hope. With a serviceable jump shot, Fox will become a much more difficult player to defend because of his quickness off the dribble.
On defense, the 6-foot-3 guard won’t switch much, but his potential at the point of attack is there. Fox approaches guarding opposing players with the right mentality and has the quick hands to be disruptive.