2017 NBA Draft: 5 best fits for De’Aaron Fox

De’Aaron Fox has a wide range of NBA Draft projections and could go anywhere from No. 2 to the Lakers, to No. 8 with the Knicks. Where does he fit best?

Of all the guard prospects in the 2017 NBA Draft, De’Aaron Fox is one of the most exciting. Exploding with two-way potential and a dynamic style, the young Kentucky guard would make any team better.

He is destined to go in the top half of the lottery, and every team that high needs a ball-handler. Fox is in a great position to get drafted and immediately have a chance to contribute. However, certain situations will mask his weaknesses or elevate his strengths better than others. These are the top five landing spots for Fox, ranked from lowest to highest.

5. Brooklyn Nets

Any time the Nets have an opportunity to gather assets, they should pull the trigger. By way of a trade dating back to the Paul Pierce trade in 2013, they are picking in the Celtics’ spot this year. Seeing their pick get to number one probably burning a hole in their souls, and they would surely love to move into the lottery. Fox could be a target if they do.

Is a package of Brook Lopez and their own first-rounder enough to move up a dozen spots into the late lottery? It could be. And though Brooklyn is already loaded with guard prospects, Fox could really help them. This team is in desperate need of defense from any player, and most of their guards are very scoring-focused. Fox could change the feel of their backcourt overnight.

As with most of the teams on this list, the team would have a veteran ahead of Fox on the depth chart, which would help to insulate him from the hardships of a rookie season. Jeremy Lin has grown into a smart, dependable offensive player through stops in Charlotte and Houston. He has never been a big-minutes starter in his career though, and would also benefit from a good backup behind him. Give Lin a few minutes to get the tempo right and get a few points on the board, and then Fox could either play next to him or in his place while Lin rests. It makes a lot of sense.

Fox also fits well next to Isaiah Whitehead, Caris LeVert and Sean Kirkpatrick, the Nets’ three main backcourt prospects. They are all smooth drive-and-kick players and excellent scorers who have thrived in Brooklyn’s up-tempo system. Fox does not lack in the speed department, and any player entering the Nets’ ecosystem is going to have the added benefit of player development maven Kenny Atkinson as their coach.