2017 NBA Mock Draft: The best choice each team can make

With Dwight Howard at the tail end of his NBA career, the Atlanta Hawks are going to need to find a replacement at the center position for the long-term. Creighton’s Justin Patton would give them someone who could potentially fill that role (recognizing that Patton’s likely career trajectory will in no way follow Howard’s, for better or for worse). Patton has a solid two-way game that was highlighted at its best when the Bluejays’ starting point guard Maurice Watson Jr. was healthy.

The key question surrounding Patton’s upside is what his defensive ceiling looks like. The 7-footer lacks tremendous length and was a solid, but not spectacular rim protector in college, averaging 2.3 blocks per 40 minutes. If Patton cannot provide sufficient resistance at the rim, then he’s not going to turn out to be a very useful NBA player. However, if he does, that skill will mesh well with his lateral mobility on the perimeter to turn him into a starting caliber defensive center.

On offense, Patton is at his best running at the rim whether that’s out of pick-and-roll or in transition. He has a viable set of post moves to attack switches and has shown some potential 3-point range as well. Like with most centers, Patton’s value will be determined by his defense, though, and his offense will be secondary.

Learn more about Justin Patton at The Step Back.