2017 NBA Mock Draft: Fultz to Celtics, Ball to Lakers after lottery

Draft status: Automatically eligible

There are plenty of Spurs-y players late in the first round for San Antonio to target, but landing a hard-nosed shooting guard who can defend multiple positions and knock down 3-pointers would make a lot of sense in terms of structuring a roster around Kawhi Leonard going forward. Comparing any incoming player to the defensive prowess of current shooting guard Danny Green is difficult, but look at South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwell as a sort of Danny Green-lite.

Thornwell is 6-foot-5 and 212 pounds with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. He’s an impressive strong and versatile defender who averaged 2.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per 40 minutes in his senior season. Thornwell’s age and physical maturity should give him the ability to step in and contribute right away for a team that is already deep in the playoffs.

The key for the South Carolina alum will be how well his 3-point shot translates. Thornwell is a career 34.0 percent shooter from the college 3-point line, but he knocked down 39.5 percent of his attempts this season and saw his free throw shooting drastically improve. If his improvement is sustainable, then he’ll be an excellent 3-and-D selection late in the first.