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

In terms of team independent draft positioning, No. 8 is not out of the question for Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen. While many are concerned about the 7-footers ability to defend — and rightfully so — his offensive value may be too great to pass up. Markkanen is probably the best big man shooting prospect to enter the draft in recent history. He made 42.3 percent of his 3s this season while shooting at a high volume and knocking down his free throws. The difficulty in assessing what he’ll be as an NBA player lies in us not having seen a comparable player. Markkanen is a much more versatile shooter than his traditional comparisons like Ryan Anderson. Sure, he can stand in the corner and hit 3s or play some pick-and-pop, but Markkanen also gets out in transition and can come off of screens, opening up new ways for offenses to run. That’s what makes his ranking so polarizing.

Consider this another case of asset duplication, though. The New York Knicks already have a floor stretching big man in Kristaps Porzingis and he is the building block of the future for the franchise. Having two 7-footers who could rain 3s would certainly be fun, but it’s not something that would likely be sustainable on the defensive end as teams downsize to quicker athletes at the power forward position.

Learn more about Lauri Markkanen at The Step Back.