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

The Sacramento Kings need to invest in a long-term solution at the point guard spot and with Lonzo Ball, Markelle Fultz and Dennis Smith Jr. already off the board, the move is to draft Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox. There’s a collection of people who would rate Fox as the second best point guard prospect in the class behind Fultz, so this is a perfectly solid selection for the Kings at No. 5.

Much of what Fox will be as an NBA player will hinge on his jump shot. Point guards who can’t shoot are a difficult archetype to build around as opposing defenses will sag off of them at the point of attack to make it more difficult for the guard to get into the painted area. They will also duck under screens to blow up pick-and-roll attacks. Fox’s shooting struggles this season have been discussed ad nauseam, so we won’t repeat the concerns here, but suffice it to say that if Fox wants to reach the ceiling that many think is possible, he’ll need to make drastic improvements.

Otherwise, Fox’s game is pretty good. His transition attack is elite because of his quickness, he’s a terror once he’s able to get into the lane in the halfcourt and his defensive effort is up there with the best in the class. Landing Fox would give Sacramento a nice piece to build around at the lead guard spot.

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