2017 NBA Mock Draft: Fultz to Celtics, Ball to Lakers after lottery
By Chris Stone
De'Aaron Fox
PG, Kentucky
Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox is allegedly in discussions to potentially go as high as No. 2 in this draft, so him falling to No. 6 would be a nice surprise for the Orlando Magic. Fox is a high character kid off the court and a terror on it. He’s one of the most explosive athletes in the draft in terms of his quickness and ability to get up and down the floor. Fox was excellent in transition with the Wildcats and can put pressure on defenses simply with his prowess for getting to the rack. He also isn’t nearly as bad a finisher at the rim as most people think, converting better than 60 percent of his chances this season.
Fox should also translate well as a defender at the point of attack where his length and lateral mobility will be bothersome to opposing point guards. He generated steals at a high rate at Kentucky as well.
The key for Fox, and for Orlando, will be the development of his jump shot. He struggled both from beyond the 3-point arc and in the mid-range this season despite shooting it pretty well from the foul line. If he doesn’t improve his jumper, then the Magic will be stuck with a pair of non-shooting point guards. That’s a tough archetype to build around.