2017 NBA Mock Draft: The 76ers lock up a point guard

The Detroit Pistons are rumored to be looking into trading the No. 12 pick for an established veteran who can help them win now, which is about par for the course for franchises in which the personnel decisions are also made by the head coach. It’s difficult to imagine the Pistons getting adequate value out of the pick with that rumor out there, so for now we’ll slot them with Indiana’s OG Anunoby, one of the top defenders in the class.

At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a strong lower body, Anunoby profiles as the type of versatile defender that has excelled in recent seasons. He has the mobility to guard along the perimeter and the combination of length and athleticism that can help him protect the rim. As a sophomore, he averaged 2.1 blocks and 2.1 steals per 40 minutes before suffering an ACL tear in January. Those box score stats and his versatility should keep him on the floor at the NBA level.

The concern, though, is what Anunoby will be able to bring offensively. There’s simply not much there to be excited about at this point. Anunoby’s 3-point percentage is solid, but his mechanics are out of whack and his free throw shooting suggests that number won’t be sustained over a larger sample. Anunoby also doesn’t create any offense at this point, so he’ll need to rely on his energy to get buckets until that skill set develops.

Learn more about OG Anunoby at The Step Back.