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2017 NBA Mock Draft: The worst picks every team can make

By Chris Stone

Feb 26, 2017; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) looks on form the bench during a game against the Washington State Cougars during the second half at Friel Court at Beasley Coliseum. The Cougars won 79-71. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) looks on form the bench during a game against the Washington State Cougars during the second half at Friel Court at Beasley Coliseum. The Cougars won 79-71. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 4, 2017; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard De’Aaron Fox (0) looks on against the Florida Gators during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard De’Aaron Fox (0) looks on against the Florida Gators during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
rumors floating around regarding the possibility that the franchise could package its two top 10 picks to move up to No. 3 to select him. That would be a disastrous mistake.

For starters, there’s a pretty reasonable chance that the 6-foot-3 point guard will fall into their laps at No. 5 as he has done here and in several prior iterations of the mock draft. Plus, even if Fox is off the board, it’s unlikely that North Carolina State’s Dennis Smith Jr. will also get snatched up before the Kings’ first selection and Smith is a comparable prospect to the Kentucky guard. Finally, Sacramento is in the middle of a massive rebuild and dumping off additional assets would be terrible given the talent deficit the team currently has. The Kings need to put those top 10 picks to work on a pair of players who could help them in the future. Packaging them for Fox doesn’t make much sense.

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

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5

De'Aaron Fox

PG, Kentucky

Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox would be a perfectly good pick for the Sacramento Kings at No. 5. In fact, he was the selection in the “A” mock draft that we ran a week ago. Fox fits a position of need for the franchise and he’s an excellent prospect in his own right. He can get out quickly in transition, break down defenses off the dribble and defend the point of attack. Fox is merely a jump shot away from being a top three pick in the draft.

However, Fox finds himself back at the Kings in the “F” version of the mock draft because of some of the rumors floating around regarding the possibility that the franchise could package its two top 10 picks to move up to No. 3 to select him. That would be a disastrous mistake.

For starters, there’s a pretty reasonable chance that the 6-foot-3 point guard will fall into their laps at No. 5 as he has done here and in several prior iterations of the mock draft. Plus, even if Fox is off the board, it’s unlikely that North Carolina State’s Dennis Smith Jr. will also get snatched up before the Kings’ first selection and Smith is a comparable prospect to the Kentucky guard. Finally, Sacramento is in the middle of a massive rebuild and dumping off additional assets would be terrible given the talent deficit the team currently has. The Kings need to put those top 10 picks to work on a pair of players who could help them in the future. Packaging them for Fox doesn’t make much sense.

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