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

The Sacramento Kings may have missed out on a top three pick due to their pick swap with the Philadelphia 76ers, but they should still be able to land an important player for the franchise at No. 5. Given the rebuild happening in Sacramento, perhaps the place to start is at the point guard spot and Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox is the best one remaining on the board.

Fox is an excellent shot creator in terms of his ability to break down defenses out of the pick-and-roll and in transition. That should pair well with shooting guard Buddy Hield who excels finding open spaces on the floor. Most significantly, Fox is a high volume creator of shot opportunities at the rim and he finishes well there despite his slighter frame. He’s not necessarily an explosive athlete, but he’s creative enough to get buckets against larger opponents. The key to Fox’s long-term development, though, will be improvement on his jump shot. He struggled from behind the 3-point arc and in the mid-range this season.

Defensively, Fox will pester the point of attack. He has solid length and plays with the right competitive effort. There will be concerns about him overplaying his hand, but when those gambles are successful, his transition scoring makes him nearly impossible to stop.

Learn more about De’Aaron Fox at The Step Back.