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

A significant portion of Harry Giles’ so-called draft stock will depend on how his medical results from the NBA Draft Combine turn out, but if a team is comfortable with those scans, he could warrant a selection as high as the Oklahoma City Thunder here at No. 21.

Giles is coming off of an ACL tear and follow-on knee procedure that took place prior to the 2016-17 season. Both the injuries and his lack of preseason practice time seemed to limit his effectiveness. Giles was stuck behind senior center Amile Jefferson for much of the year as Duke trended towards small ball lineups with Jayson Tatum at the power forward spot. Giles played only 11.5 minutes per game and didn’t look much like himself over the course of the season.

So, why is Giles worth the risk? If he recovers fully, he has the potential to be the best defensive center in the class. Prior to the knee surgeries, he was a terror laterally on the perimeter. Without confidence in his knees, that skill lagged this season. Still, Giles put together solid defensive numbers, averaging 2.3 blocks and 1.2 steals per 40 minutes. Those aren’t elite shot blocking numbers, but additional court time could see his feel improve and those numbers go up.

Oklahoma City has plenty of needs, but finding a big man who can hold down the floor when Steven Adams goes to the bench is a priority. Giles is a risky pick because of the injury concerns, but if he lands, the Thunder would get a starter quality player all the way down at No. 21.

Learn more about Harry Giles at The Step Back.